“This puzzle was presented as a British cryptic challenge to contestants at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in March. The fastest solving time was 12 minutes”. I don’t think we’ve ever had an individual solving time … Read more “Times Cryptic 27038”
Author: jackkt
Times Quick Cryptic 1090 by Flamande
Once again we celebrate a ton-up as Flamande reaches his 100th QC today, so congratulations and thanks to him for this fine puzzle. I think only one other of the original setters is due to achieve … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1090 by Flamande”
Times Cryptic 27032
Continuing the run of quite tricky puzzles this one took me 58 minutes. I found it satisfying and was pleased there were no unknown words or references so that I was able to complete the … Read more “Times Cryptic 27032”
Times Cryptic 27026
I’ve no solving time to offer for this one but it was somewhere off the scale, though not as far off it as yesterday’s. All the clues seem fair enough in retrospect with only two … Read more “Times Cryptic 27026”
Times Quick Cryptic 1080 by Teazel
I needed 17 minutes to complete this, held up by a few things bordering on the obscure. On edit, perhaps I should have said ‘bordering on the obscure even in the main puzzle, but definitely … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1080 by Teazel”
Times Cryptic 27020
I needed 46 minutes to complete the grid. Much of it was straightforward enough but there were a few unknowns along the way and these slowed me down. As usual definitions are underlined in bold … Read more “Times Cryptic 27020”
Times Cryptic 27014
I needed 67 minutes for this one and found it very hard. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones] … Read more “Times Cryptic 27014”
Times Quick Cryptic 1070 by Joker
Mostly completed within 10 minutes but I had a mental block over my last one in at 10ac and went off the scale, forgettting to note my actual finishing time. As usual definitions are underlined … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1070 by Joker”
Times Cryptic 27008
A little on the tricky side at times but there were enough straightforward clues here to provide checkers to help with the more difficult ones. I completed the grid with everything parsed in 38 minutes. As usual … Read more “Times Cryptic 27008”
Times Cryptic 27002
I needed just a few minutes over my target half-hour for this one, a very enjoyable lively workout with a few bits of wordplay that were lost on me until I buckled down to writing the … Read more “Times Cryptic 27002”