Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 7:03 A fairly easy puzzle (third in a row, so doubtless a cue for people telling us there’s been a management decision to water down the Times crossword), with some mild difficulties like … Read more “24607”

Straightforward fare today, especially with two quickly spotted long down solutions; anything that might not be known either in the clueing or solution is, I think, sufficiently explained by wordplay (except, on reflection, perhaps the … Read more “Times 24,606”

Solving time: 3:44 A very strange puzzle. Most of the clues are fine and some are good (at least by Sunday Times standards), but there are three that seem to be faulty: 1ac (SHIPMENT), 12ac … Read more “ST 4391 (Sun 25 Jul) – An almighty mess”

Solving Time: 32 minutes Mostly straightforward, but with some vocabulary and a foreign phrase which might put it beyond the entry level category. If I hadn’t attempted to start in the SW corner (where I … Read more “Times 24605 – One for the ladies?”

After 30 minutes I was left with 20,21,24 and 25 outstanding and took another 10 to crack these. For some reason I had a blind-spot at 21 and this led to my very few problems … Read more “Times 24603 – Nice time in the park, Jimbo?”

Solving time : Well after 20 minutes I have a complete grid, but I’m not 100% satisfied with it. This is one I wish I had swapped weeks with, because I’m sure my Thursday sharer … Read more “Times 24602… no, just talking”

The indefatigable Peter B is otherwise engaged so I am standing in for him today. As luck would have it, this is quite a standard Times puzzle with no awkward hard-boiled eggs. Nevertheless, very enjoyable … Read more “Times 24601 – Locum Tenens”

Solving time 25 minutes A high standard puzzle that required concentrated attention. There are no less than six clues that are double or triple meanings. I think the only real obscurities are the chess term … Read more “Times 24,600 The Forked Zugzwang Gambit”

Solving time: 33 minutes Music: Mozart, Nocturnes and Serenades, Maag/LSO This puzzle has a good mixture of straightforward and tricky clues. It is quite easy to get started, but it may not be so easy … Read more “Times 24599 – Flattery will get you somewhere!”

Solving time: 5:30 The solving time includes some despairing head-shaking at the clearly flawed 2dn (where ABELIA is apparently an anagram of ‘I label’), plus further bemusement at 25ac which I also don’t understand so … Read more “ST 4390 (Sun 18 Jul) – Abelia bloomer”