Category: Quick Cryptic

A solidly professional puzzle from the ‘Don’ that took me 12 minutes to crack, so towards the easier end of the Rotterometer – for an Izetti. STROBE was first one in (look away if you … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1903 by Izetti”

Introduction 4:16. Was really hoping for my second sub 4 minute time, but I just couldn’t crack 14 Down in time. Solutions A brief summary of cryptic crosswords —feel free to skip— : Each clue … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1902 by Trelawney”

I found this tricky, and, as opposed to yesterday’s found the edges hard to complete – so I bounced around in the middle for some time. I noticed some great clueing on the way through … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1901 by Tracy”

Solving time: 9 minutes. A pleasant puzzle by Hurley with no great surprises. I wondered if there might be something to celebrate the 1900 milestone but I haven’t been able to find anything. As usual … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1900 by Hurley”

Oh dear. I came a bit of a cropper with this one, getting stuck on my last clue (1A) and having to resort to a wordfinder to finish. I can’t remember the last time I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1899 by Orpheus”

A touch under 11 minutes, around a minute longer than yesterday’s, so tricky enough and it took a while to get going properly. A top-notch puzzle, with lovely surfaces and satisfying misdirection throughout. A few … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1898 by Wurm”

A bit of slang I didn’t know (5dn), but this didn’t really hold me up. Otherwise, staple fare finished comfortably within target. After a second look, I thought there might have been something fishy going … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1897 by Joker”

Short of time again today. Sorry for the minimal blog – and I’ve probably made tols of misteaks! Went just over 10 minutes – unnecessarily held up by 1d but then struggled to finish in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1896 by Jalna”

OK please move on everybody. Nothing to see here. Thanks to Teazel, my oldest adversary I believe, for a gentle Monday-morning stroll. FOI was 1A. A lot of clues went in sequentially after that, with … Read more “QC 1895 by Teazel”

So after a run of tricky ones, I think this will come a bit of welcome relief, being a romp for the most part. That said, I couldn’t get started in the usual place, and … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1894 by Pedro”