Category: Quick Cryptic

This one should find plenty of finishers – most pretty easy but 3 or 4 clues have chewy wordplay. Lots went in by just spotting the definition which is nearly always at the front or … Read more “Quick Cryptic no. 87 by Hurley”

My Times subscription expired last week though my Crossword Club sub didn’t, leaving me in the situation where I can access all the puzzles … except the one that I need to blog. As such, … Read more “Quick Cryptic 86 by Joker”

A good, balanced crossword containing several clues with which to find a way in. There are a few testers in the mix too, though, including one bit of general knowledge that I had to cheat … Read more “Quick Cryptic Number 85 by Tracey”

At 10 minutes I found this one easier than some of late and I hope it will prove so for the newbies amongst us too. As I didn’t expect to be blogging today, speed was … Read more “Quick Cryptic 84 by Grumpy”

Significantly gentler than the last couple of days, I thought, but it had some challenges. Never felt quite on the wavelength, so I probably struggled a bit more than I should have done. An unusually … Read more “Quick Cryptic No. 83 by Teazel”

I’ve been away from crosswords for a couple of weeks so maybe that is why I found this really tough or maybe it’s just really tough. Please check the time/comments of the regulars to get … Read more “Quick Cryptic 82 by Mara”

Here’s the link to today’s puzzle currently missing from the Times button: http://feeds.thetimes.co.uk/timescrossword/20140630/195/ This is Flamande’s 8th puzzle and after his (?) first three I had him down as one of the more demanding setters. … Read more “Quick Cryptic 81 by Flamande”

A fine, well balanced puzzle from Joker again, IMO easier than Wednesday’s blog although that might be down to a lack of hangover today. Nothing obscure and a few to make you smile when the … Read more “Quick Cryptic No. 80 by Joker”

Time taken: Middling (Longer by NHS!) Apologies for the delay. Poking and prodding (and tweaking) took longer than expected. Enjoyable stuff from our setter with some nice clues to tease the mind. Favourite clue is … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 79 by Marty”

This took me eleven minutes with a fuzzy head from last evening’s festivities. It seems to me that the Quickies are approaching the easier main puzzles in degree of difficulty, with fewer really obvious clues … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 78, by Hurley – not that quick I’m afraid.”