Category: Quick Cryptic

Another Quite Challenging QC, made a bit easier if you were prepared to trust the wordplay and consider some unlikely-looking letter combinations, such as 8ac. Also made a bit easier if you’re the observant sort … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2048 by Felix”

I’ve been off the ball recently, with another sluggish solve today. Your comments will tell if we’re in a tough patch, or if it’s just me. I had to solve this grid in four quarters … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2047 by Wurm”

I found this a very testing tease from our setter today. I hope I was just having a bad day, because, unlike many from this setter, I found today’s puzzle rather dry and prickly (like … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2046 by Teazel”

My FOI was 1A quickly followed by several others in sequence and I thought I might be in for a sequential solve but I got derailed somewhere in the middle so didn’t quite make it. … Read more “QC 2045 by Izetti”

I enjoyed this, though it took me over my target at 8 minutes. Looking back I’m not altogether sure why. It seems straightforward enough. 7dn probably my COD. Across 1 Judge and I am occupying … Read more “Quick Cryptic 2044 by Pedro”

… and The Rotter Awards for 2021. At under 7 minutes this was one of my fastest QC solves for a long time, and everything just seemed to roll off the tongue for a mostly … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2043 by Tracy…”

Introduction 3:30, which is probably the closest I’ll ever come to one of Verlaine’s times. Probably got lucky with the big anagrams, but I wouldn’t be surprised if many find this on the easier side. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2042 by Mara”

8:30 for an approachable QC today – although I nearly tripped myself up at 1dn. Otherwise, plenty of short answers helped and many clues simply ‘fell in’. Hopefully the SCC will have fewer members today … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2041 by Hurley”

Solving time: 15 minutes. I just avoided the red zone on this one by coming in a few seconds under 15 minutes but having written the blog I can’t explain what held me up. I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2040 by Joker”

We have reached the last Quick Cryptic of the year, so Happy New Year to all our solvers and setters when it comes tonight. Our setter today is Breadman and I found this mostly straightforward … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2039 by Breadman”