Many may not yet know that a new crossword starts on Monday (March 10) in The Times. It’ll be a 13×13 square version of the main Times Crossword.
To be known as the Times Quick Cryptic, it will appear along the bottom of the back page of the Times Two section (in MindGames) and also of course at the Times Online and digital versions the way other puzzles do now.
It is supposed, in general, to be easier than the main puzzle and might hopefully attract new people to crosswords, and encourage those who struggle with the main cryptic.
So, I think we need to get recruiting – blogging is fairly time-consuming, so I wouldn’t expect current bloggers to increase their workload (unless they really want to). As it’s designed to encourage newcomers, perhaps some of the less experienced solvers who come here might be willing to have a go? So we could have six new blogging spots up for grabs – please do all rush at once, first come first served.
Across | |
1 | LISP – LIPS (pair involved in speech), with the P moved to the end (quietly retreating). |
4 | JACK HORNER – JACK (raise) + HORN (alarm) + RE (on) reversed. |
9 | COCKCHAFER – COCK (haystack) + CHAFER (rubber). |
10 | BIOG – BIG (major) around O (nothing). |
11 | IMPROV – IMPROVE (enhance) minus the last letter. A winger in crossword-speak is a letter at either end of a word. |
12 | EVERYDAY – EVE (girl) + DAY (light), around RY (railway = track). |
14 | ANTI – hidden reversed inside “wait naturally” |
15 | HIT THE SACK – HACK (journalist) around I (one) + TT (motorbike racing) + HE’S (fellow’s). |
17 | DEFENSIBLE – (belief, ends)* |
20 | IBIS – first letters of Bend In Stream, after I (current, physics abbreviation) |
21 | MYSTIQUE – sounds like MISS (pine for) TEAK (furniture wood). |
23 | EDGIER – ED (journalist) + GIVER (presenter) minus the V (releasing volume). |
24 | RANK – triple definition, the film executive being J. Arthur Rank. |
25 | OZONE LAYER – LAYER (better, e.g. on horses) next to O(ld) + ZONE (patch). |
26 | NOSY PARKER – (prayer’s on K)* |
27 | TONY – ANTONY (Shakespearean title role) without AN. |
Down | |
2 | IRONMONGERY – (inn room, grey)* |
3 | POKER DICE – POKER (jabber) + C (about) inside DIE (finish). |
4 | JEHOVAH – HAVE (own) + J(udge) around O(ligarc)H, all reversed. |
5 | COFFEE-TABLE BOOK – cryptic definition. |
6 | HARLECH – R (king) inside HALE (blooming) + CH(eck). Well-known Welsh castle. |
7 | NAIAD – alternate letters of “antacid and“. |
8 | RUGBY – RUG (one walked on) + BY (past). Well-known public school, just a few miles down the road from me, where William Webb Ellis famously cheated at football in 1823. |
13 | ARCHIMEDEAN – AREA (place) + N(ame), around CHIMED (rang a bell perhaps). |
16 | SKIN GRAFT – FT (paper, the Financial Times) underneath (sink)*, (rag)*. |
18 | SEQUOIA – QUOI(t) (ring shrunk a bit) inside SEA (salt water). Giant tree and one of the shortest words containing all 5 vowels. |
19 | EYEWEAR – EAR (listener) around YEW (material out of which bows are made), E(nglish). |
21 | MORON – MO (tick) + R(ight) + ON (leg). |
22 | SINUS – SUN (star) + IS, all reversed. |
I will resist the temptation to extend my blogging activities, although the new crossword does sound intriguing. Also, I suspect that initially it will only be available in the print edition or on The Times website, ie not through the crossword club, so I won’t see it
NB: you know you do have free membership of The Times online until the end of June, as do all current Crossword Club members?
Edited at 2014-03-08 11:43 am (UTC)
Edited at 2014-03-08 12:21 pm (UTC)
I look forward to hearing from you.
I had “not qualified to give order” as all one definition at 24ac but I see now it can be two.
Wasted time on HIT THE DECK at 15ac.
I emailed separately about the new puzzle but need to add it’s dependent upon it being available on-line.
Edited at 2014-03-08 11:40 am (UTC)
Work prevents me from adding to my current blogging commitments, but hopefully when I retire, I might be interested.
I’d be up for having a go at blogging but my life just isn’t predictable enough for me to fill a regular slot reliably.
Although I have been able to post every day for quite a while that may change shortly, so for the time being I won’t make an offer to blog.
I probably don’t count as a less experienced solver, but if you don’t get enough volunteers fitting that profile then I’d be willing to blog this new puzzle.
In principle more than happy to put my hand up to have a crack at blogging the new offering. I’d be coming at it very much from the less experienced perspective.
Before committing, I’d like to take a look at a few to make sure I have the appropriate level of skill (no point in having a blogger who has to admit “b*ggered if I know…”).
Cheers
Nick
I’m sorry but I don’t think I can step up to the blogging plate just now. Starting in early April about 3 days per week I will be out of range of reliable internet until October. But I have put on my calendar that I should get back to you then just in case reinforcements are still needed. At that point I would be very willing.
Does anyone know if the new puzzle submits will be incorporated into the existing cryptic leaderboard or will they have a separate one? If they are incorporated I foresee an even worse horlicks than we already have.
linxit: I do think you should repeat your call for new volunteers on Monday, when more of the newer arrivals will be reading. I really do think it should be blogged by people quite new to cryptic puzzles if possible.
PS The Quiptic is in the Guardian 🙂
Will
I’m about to start a new job with long and irregular hours. If I get it under control I’ll see if there’s still a blogging spot open, but I won’t know for a couple months.
Edited at 2014-03-08 05:12 pm (UTC)
Thanks
Sorry, but I haven’t received a private message from you. I’ve just had another look and there’s one from william_j_s, but that’s all.
I’ll be contacting all those who have offered to help tomorrow, as hopefully we now have enough volunteers to cover the first week at least.
Sounds like you’ve had a few volunteers for blogging, but I’m happy to make up the numbers if needed.
Allan