Author: Chris

This one is not to be undertaken lightly and any tendency to biff should be fully restrained. At first sight it looks like the 4×13 letter clues may cause problems (and certainly 5dn did) but … Read more “Quick Cryptic 781 by Orpheus”

11 minutes for this rather elegant crossword from Breadman (an unusual setter? – I’m sure someone will let us know). A lot of clues seemed complex but broke down easily. There were a few clues … Read more “Quick Cryptic 776 by Breadman”

I’m really pleased to have been on blog duty for this one. Solving took 8 minutes (so a good quick QC) but compiling the blog allowed me to fully relish some of the clues. I’d … Read more “Quick Cryptic 771 by Flamande”

Some unusual vocabulary/use of terms to be found in some definitions (11ac, 12dn, 13ac and 20ac) but all clued so that they couldn’t really be anything else. These gave me the additional pleasure of diving … Read more “Quick Cryptic 766 by Orpheus”

A quite swift (just under 10 minutes), saucy (see 11ac) and beautifully formed crossword with which I had some fun (see 18dn) – so a big thank you to Tracy. Three 13 letter clues may … Read more “Quick Cryptic 761 by Tracy”

A wholly enjoyable 15 minutes – this period of fun and frivolity extended by the long clues round the edges. I was also easily led into misdirection – particularly at 8ac and 14dn. Unusually we … Read more “Quick Cryptic 756 by Pedro”

I am reliably informed (as always by jacckt) that our setting duo, having premiered a long time ago, now grace the stage with their second QC. Quite a performance it is too – some very … Read more “Quick Cryptic 751 by Bob and Margaret”

Longer to solve than yesterday’s at 11.11 as there were plenty of good clues to get the teeth into. The SW became my final tussle – I wasn’t sure of 15dn but the cluing allowed … Read more “Quick Cryptic 746 by Hurley”

13 minutes with 15dn/20ac being the last to fall. The long clue at 8ac could prove the key to faster times as it provides many crossing letters including the first letter of the long 9dn … Read more “Quick Cryptic 741 by Pedro”

After yesterday’s it is a bit of a relief that today’s qualifies for the ‘Q’ of QC without being an easy write-in. There is some interesting vocabulary (which headed me off into some diversions) but, … Read more “Quick Cryptic 736 by Teazel”