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Times for The Times: Times and comments on The Times crossword from a team of solvers

Author: vinyl1

Mephisto 3418 – If you are a Kiwi familiar with Scots….

Author   vinyl1Posted on 8th March 2026 at 2:08 AM8 March 2026Categories Mephisto

…you might do well.   But I found this one rather chewy.   While there are a few easy clues to get you started, there is some difficult vocabulary and some tough parsing here.

View9 Comments on Mephisto 3418 – If you are a Kiwi familiar with Scots….

Times 29479 – Our colleague down under, say

Author   vinyl1Posted on 2nd March 2026 at 2:54 AM2 March 2026Categories Daily Cryptic

This was not too difficult, only I started a bit too confidently and had to think again.  Experienced solvers should find this a typical Monday puzzle.

View67 Comments on Times 29479 – Our colleague down under, say

Mephisto 3416 – Close encounters of the feline kind

Author   vinyl1Posted on 22nd February 2026 at 2:56 AM23 February 2026Categories Mephisto

This puzzle was surprisingly mild for a John Grimshaw, and was able to answer a number of the clues without consulting my Chambers.

View15 Comments on Mephisto 3416 – Close encounters of the feline kind

Times Cryptic 29467 – Done and dusted

Author   vinyl1Posted on 16th February 2026 at 2:46 AM16 February 2026Categories Daily Cryptic

I’m in a bit of rush tonight, so I wanted a quick solve.  That didn’t quite work out, as I solved rapidly for a while and then got thoroughly stuck. 

View57 Comments on Times Cryptic 29467 – Done and dusted

Mephisto 3414 – Nous for youse

Author   vinyl1Posted on 8th February 2026 at 2:08 AM8 February 2026Categories Mephisto

As often happens, a Paul McKenna puzzle which is not particularly difficult but provided several hours of pleasure.    A relatively high percentage of the answer words are not obscure, which helps the solver get enough crossing letters to finish off the more difficult clues.

View15 Comments on Mephisto 3414 – Nous for youse

Times Cryptic 29455 – No pictures on scorecards!

Author   vinyl1Posted on 2nd February 2026 at 2:25 AMCategories Daily Cryptic

Well, I did solve the puzzle, my solution is all correct, and I did have a pretty good time.   The only problem is I didn’t understand several of the clues, and simply put in the most likely answer. 

View77 Comments on Times Cryptic 29455 – No pictures on scorecards!

Mephisto 3412 – The Devil You Know

Author   vinyl1Posted on 25th January 2026 at 1:32 AM25 January 2026Categories Mephisto

Robert Teuton has provided us with a middle level puzzle with a few clues requiring a bit of special knowledge, but nothing that is too hard to figure out. 

View10 Comments on Mephisto 3412 – The Devil You Know

From the Editor, Jason Crampton

Author   vinyl1Posted on 19th January 2026 at 1:14 PMCategories Announcement

Jason has been kind enough to post a reply to the complaints about extremely difficult puzzles on Friday.

View45 Comments on From the Editor, Jason Crampton

Times 29443 – Monday – another tricky day?

Author   vinyl1Posted on 19th January 2026 at 3:46 AM19 January 2026Categories Daily Cryptic

I seem to have found this puzzle a lot harder than everyone else, but the leaderboard and the SNITCH seem to be surprisingly sparse. 

View62 Comments on Times 29443 – Monday – another tricky day?

Mephisto 3410 – Pi in the sky

Author   vinyl1Posted on 11th January 2026 at 2:14 AM12 January 2026Categories Mephisto

The trend of easier Mephisto puzzles continues, but I’m sure the trend will reverse itself shortly.   I solved this one in one session on a Saturday night while waiting for George’s blog.   Nearly all the words, and many of the cryptic elements, are not in any way obscure, and most of the answers were short.

View21 Comments on Mephisto 3410 – Pi in the sky

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