Quick SNITCH

A quantitative guide to the degree of difficulty of the Times Quick Cryptic Crossword

Reference solvers for March 2026

The following solvers are used as references for the NITCH calculations in this month. The time indicated is their average solving time for error-free puzzles during the prior six months. The solvers average NITCH for each day of week is also shown, with the number of solutions for that day.

RankSolverSolutions usedAverage time MonTueWedThuFri
1 cmjhutton 89 02:07 88 (17) 103 (18) 106 (19) 97 (20) 102 (15)
2 Paul Gilbert 122 02:07 85 (25) 101 (24) 106 (24) 100 (25) 106 (24)
3 lili 127 02:13 84 (26) 97 (26) 106 (24) 103 (25) 109 (26)
4 Jason 117 02:30 86 (21) 102 (26) 100 (22) 100 (24) 110 (24)
5 verlaine 124 02:33 88 (25) 100 (26) 99 (22) 100 (26) 110 (25)
6 mistigris 96 02:34 85 (17) 101 (20) 105 (19) 104 (21) 101 (19)
7 Magoo 92 02:36 85 (19) 98 (18) 104 (16) 99 (18) 112 (21)
8 aphis99 125 02:45 84 (26) 98 (26) 106 (25) 99 (24) 111 (24)
9 hilarym 104 02:46 87 (23) 98 (23) 101 (23) 109 (21) 105 (14)
10 HoneyBadger 126 02:56 87 (24) 99 (26) 102 (24) 100 (26) 110 (26)
11 Flimmy flammy 121 03:02 85 (25) 93 (24) 102 (23) 98 (26) 123 (23)
12 Askival 79 03:13 76 (16) 100 (17) 108 (14) 98 (15) 116 (17)
13 Ciolf 107 03:14 84 (20) 102 (22) 103 (20) 101 (23) 109 (22)
14 Amoeba89 122 03:15 86 (23) 96 (25) 110 (24) 96 (26) 109 (24)
15 markdobell 120 03:21 90 (22) 96 (24) 106 (23) 100 (26) 106 (25)
16 richard 79 03:29 83 (15) 98 (19) 105 (14) 100 (20) 115 (11)
17 Heyesey 107 03:35 88 (24) 103 (23) 104 (17) 101 (22) 103 (21)
18 Deane Short 102 03:38 96 (21) 95 (19) 109 (22) 98 (21) 100 (19)
19 SimonAnthony 116 03:50 83 (23) 100 (25) 103 (21) 105 (23) 106 (24)
20 Kinghedger 110 03:53 92 (24) 102 (22) 102 (21) 103 (23) 100 (20)
21 MikeOsborne 66 03:58 88 (13) 101 (14) 99 (14) 98 (14) 114 (11)
22 glheard 92 03:58 83 (23) 103 (17) 106 (19) 102 (17) 110 (16)
23 philjordan1147 118 04:01 88 (24) 100 (26) 101 (22) 97 (24) 111 (22)
24 EricK 120 04:02 83 (26) 100 (24) 100 (22) 104 (25) 111 (23)
25 Topical Tim 116 04:08 92 (24) 98 (25) 104 (20) 97 (23) 108 (24)
26 MikeOsborneMason 39 04:09 86 (9) 92 (9) 108 (7) 105 (6) 113 (8)
27 lickert 124 04:11 88 (26) 94 (24) 98 (25) 104 (25) 115 (24)
28 Aybee 112 04:19 87 (25) 102 (24) 101 (24) 102 (22) 110 (17)
29 morleyterrier 79 04:21 88 (16) 100 (17) 101 (13) 101 (17) 108 (16)
30 Bluejacket 54 04:22 94 (9) 89 (12) 93 (11) 109 (10) 112 (12)
31 cdb_100 79 04:22 83 (20) 105 (18) 111 (13) 105 (16) 100 (12)
32 JayEm 103 04:26 79 (17) 99 (21) 98 (19) 106 (24) 110 (22)
33 Morphosis 41 04:28 98 (10) 96 (9) 102 (8) 105 (7) 99 (7)
34 canismiser 83 04:30 88 (21) 104 (18) 100 (13) 100 (15) 108 (16)
35 tilbee 97 04:30 89 (20) 98 (22) 102 (22) 109 (16) 102 (17)
36 tiggis 52 04:33 84 (8) 99 (15) 105 (9) 93 (10) 114 (10)
37 chindit 111 04:33 97 (22) 96 (23) 102 (22) 99 (23) 104 (21)
38 andrewlake 118 04:33 86 (25) 115 (22) 102 (25) 100 (23) 95 (23)
39 rrricharrrd 102 04:34 80 (23) 99 (17) 105 (21) 103 (23) 113 (18)
40 Freemers1968 115 04:37 84 (26) 97 (22) 95 (20) 123 (24) 99 (23)
41 alexh 108 04:38 89 (25) 96 (20) 104 (23) 104 (20) 106 (20)
42 LouWeed 112 04:38 88 (25) 91 (23) 107 (25) 106 (25) 108 (14)
43 Jon Delfin 126 04:38 78 (23) 96 (26) 105 (26) 107 (25) 109 (26)
44 MK76 105 04:41 91 (22) 100 (19) 98 (21) 99 (22) 111 (21)
45 alisonm74 63 04:43 89 (14) 102 (15) 109 (9) 104 (15) 97 (10)
46 March 116 04:43 86 (24) 100 (23) 104 (22) 100 (23) 108 (24)
47 ram80 69 04:45 89 (10) 103 (13) 106 (17) 95 (14) 100 (15)
48 Tom Stubbs 123 04:45 86 (25) 102 (26) 97 (24) 108 (24) 103 (24)
49 Liari 39 04:46 86 (10) 108 (9) 100 (7) 114 (6) 97 (7)
50 The Dabbler 83 04:47 94 (20) 103 (16) 100 (18) 101 (13) 102 (16)
51 lucyg43484 107 04:47 81 (23) 102 (24) 100 (18) 108 (20) 108 (22)
52 daulbs 45 04:49 82 (12) 94 (11) 113 (7) 106 (8) 118 (7)
53 benbush 52 04:52 89 (12) 100 (10) 98 (9) 110 (12) 101 (9)
54 andy 114 04:55 84 (21) 91 (23) 108 (24) 106 (24) 106 (22)
55 Riche 92 04:56 92 (22) 96 (16) 101 (17) 104 (19) 106 (18)
56 trux 69 04:57 82 (15) 102 (15) 102 (15) 113 (17) 94 (7)
57 Ed freshpot 104 04:57 85 (24) 96 (24) 104 (18) 106 (22) 111 (16)
58 babka 48 04:58 76 (11) 99 (8) 104 (9) 124 (6) 106 (14)
59 Paul Hammond 79 05:01 85 (17) 102 (16) 106 (13) 99 (14) 106 (19)
60 Anomalospiza 106 05:01 86 (23) 96 (21) 101 (21) 103 (21) 113 (20)
61 Streaky Bacon 95 05:09 88 (19) 93 (17) 99 (22) 106 (20) 111 (17)
62 Rabbitoh 96 05:09 87 (20) 95 (20) 103 (20) 113 (19) 100 (17)
63 neilr 99 05:09 88 (21) 98 (22) 103 (19) 105 (23) 107 (14)
64 Squallaby 117 05:10 87 (24) 97 (24) 101 (24) 109 (22) 105 (23)
65 Vannyx 88 05:13 83 (20) 91 (19) 116 (16) 97 (18) 116 (15)
66 lyndaw 91 05:16 86 (23) 97 (17) 101 (18) 106 (17) 113 (16)
67 7dPenguin 115 05:17 87 (25) 94 (22) 109 (20) 102 (25) 107 (23)
68 AndyKnott321 46 05:19 87 (9) 105 (8) 106 (10) 97 (10) 103 (9)
69 Zander 105 05:19 82 (21) 109 (23) 102 (21) 95 (21) 109 (19)
70 Tibthorpe 105 05:20 88 (24) 100 (23) 101 (21) 103 (17) 108 (20)
71 nina s 80 05:26 82 (15) 111 (17) 95 (16) 102 (18) 106 (14)
72 chriswestontour 61 05:28 96 (18) 102 (15) 92 (10) 101 (11) 110 (7)
73 Looch 114 05:28 85 (23) 100 (23) 108 (20) 100 (25) 107 (23)
74 Encota 92 05:31 93 (16) 99 (20) 106 (21) 96 (19) 102 (16)
75 esmeralda 101 05:31 81 (22) 105 (22) 106 (18) 97 (21) 112 (18)
76 KET 66 05:39 93 (18) 94 (19) 111 (12) 102 (8) 107 (9)
77 Mike C 77 05:41 85 (16) 101 (15) 102 (15) 101 (17) 109 (14)
78 KarenR 95 05:47 80 (18) 94 (21) 102 (20) 106 (17) 115 (19)
79 GeorgeTz 43 05:49 88 (9) 98 (11) 96 (7) 108 (8) 109 (8)
80 Finzi 128 05:49 89 (26) 106 (26) 100 (26) 105 (25) 98 (25)
81 julian_w 85 05:51 85 (18) 102 (21) 105 (17) 98 (15) 108 (14)
82 Onelug 65 05:52 86 (17) 98 (13) 115 (17) 102 (6) 96 (12)
83 Crossiant 101 05:54 82 (16) 102 (20) 100 (17) 98 (24) 109 (24)
84 hopkinb 115 05:57 82 (25) 97 (21) 106 (21) 106 (23) 108 (25)
85 Shabbo 48 06:00 85 (11) 94 (13) 107 (7) 116 (9) 103 (8)
86 andrewfeist96 79 06:02 85 (16) 94 (16) 96 (13) 104 (18) 116 (16)
87 james150374 40 06:05 83 (9) 97 (7) 97 (9) 112 (8) 112 (7)
88 paul.whitehouse69 70 06:13 89 (17) 101 (13) 108 (15) 100 (16) 103 (9)
89 PGooden 105 06:14 82 (18) 102 (22) 102 (21) 95 (22) 113 (22)
90 Tudds 115 06:14 87 (22) 102 (25) 96 (22) 104 (23) 108 (23)
91 Jamie Fox 121 06:15 85 (25) 100 (24) 105 (25) 104 (23) 103 (24)
92 Michael Dove 54 06:17 90 (13) 95 (11) 101 (12) 110 (12) 103 (6)
93 Dzhigit 113 06:18 84 (22) 97 (22) 104 (23) 99 (22) 112 (24)
94 mjsaunders9 121 06:18 83 (26) 100 (23) 105 (24) 106 (24) 105 (24)
95 gnome123 52 06:21 88 (11) 88 (10) 105 (9) 117 (9) 102 (13)
96 Rosron 61 06:27 88 (13) 91 (9) 104 (15) 104 (12) 108 (12)
97 tds 62 06:30 80 (9) 97 (11) 99 (15) 97 (12) 114 (15)
98 jimwetzler 70 06:30 85 (18) 100 (16) 100 (11) 109 (11) 111 (14)
99 James P 107 06:34 77 (22) 105 (21) 98 (20) 101 (23) 117 (21)
100 jon 63 06:35 87 (9) 102 (14) 99 (10) 98 (14) 106 (16)
101 Adrian Cobb 83 06:35 89 (14) 102 (16) 101 (17) 103 (20) 101 (16)
102 Kalakuta72 49 06:41 79 (13) 103 (8) 108 (8) 101 (10) 114 (10)
103 GMcD 110 06:41 86 (23) 97 (25) 105 (23) 100 (21) 111 (18)
104 mw7000 49 06:42 67 (8) 107 (11) 100 (9) 82 (13) 150 (8)
105 Dvynys 94 06:44 88 (20) 100 (17) 98 (20) 101 (18) 112 (19)
106 The Caffeine Kid 70 06:48 84 (16) 96 (17) 94 (16) 108 (8) 124 (13)
107 Nangle 75 06:48 82 (18) 104 (14) 108 (14) 95 (12) 110 (17)
108 uvofiz 106 06:48 87 (22) 95 (19) 105 (23) 97 (22) 113 (20)
109 Kevin Gregg 77 06:55 90 (22) 103 (17) 105 (13) 103 (13) 101 (12)
110 janesa 61 06:58 95 (20) 89 (12) 109 (13) 109 (8) 102 (8)
111 Puzzleplease 106 07:05 82 (18) 99 (24) 105 (23) 100 (21) 108 (20)
112 KenD51 55 07:11 98 (7) 89 (11) 103 (16) 98 (8) 106 (13)
113 DamienKnapma 100 07:13 92 (23) 92 (22) 96 (18) 106 (19) 116 (18)
114 Sheen 45 07:17 79 (11) 101 (6) 99 (9) 113 (9) 109 (10)
115 Corymbia 93 07:17 77 (16) 98 (16) 103 (20) 100 (20) 114 (21)
116 Jamescheck 46 07:21 83 (11) 86 (9) 122 (8) 102 (11) 114 (7)
117 earlylight 67 07:21 75 (17) 101 (15) 100 (13) 114 (12) 121 (10)
118 raincloud 47 07:22 69 (11) 85 (8) 122 (12) 104 (9) 119 (7)
119 ilan 95 07:23 90 (18) 88 (19) 104 (22) 104 (16) 111 (20)
120 intentional rounding 96 07:23 87 (16) 91 (18) 96 (21) 110 (22) 111 (19)
121 cerid 71 07:24 83 (14) 102 (17) 100 (11) 106 (13) 106 (16)
122 mjwiseman 74 07:27 81 (17) 99 (18) 94 (11) 107 (13) 119 (15)
123 Desdeeloeste 85 07:27 85 (19) 105 (18) 106 (16) 99 (20) 108 (12)
124 Mike Harper 113 07:28 81 (22) 96 (23) 111 (26) 100 (20) 107 (22)
125 endafk 81 07:29 81 (17) 102 (19) 110 (15) 109 (14) 97 (16)
126 ChrisBrea 93 07:30 83 (19) 97 (15) 104 (20) 106 (17) 108 (22)
127 plett11 119 07:30 81 (25) 98 (24) 99 (23) 111 (23) 110 (24)
128 Templar Redux 120 07:30 90 (23) 100 (25) 102 (25) 96 (24) 109 (23)
129 robinh 102 07:34 86 (20) 104 (17) 104 (21) 99 (23) 104 (21)
130 1234 70 07:36 82 (17) 107 (12) 105 (17) 100 (13) 108 (11)
131 metagloria 60 07:37 72 (13) 106 (12) 89 (12) 125 (10) 111 (13)
132 JPTC 56 07:41 82 (13) 92 (10) 108 (11) 116 (11) 102 (11)
133 Solving slo mo 63 07:42 92 (9) 95 (15) 102 (11) 99 (17) 110 (11)
134 Rosey6 44 07:43 80 (9) 103 (9) 87 (8) 115 (10) 110 (8)
135 smalley552 51 07:45 82 (14) 82 (11) 110 (10) 121 (10) 118 (6)
136 Married Admirer 64 07:47 90 (12) 90 (13) 100 (12) 104 (13) 111 (14)
137 nigel 59 07:50 85 (15) 92 (11) 113 (10) 98 (13) 118 (10)
138 Cuppa378 69 07:56 80 (14) 96 (11) 112 (12) 99 (15) 111 (17)
139 john.brassey 49 07:57 86 (9) 92 (8) 109 (13) 95 (6) 106 (13)
140 phatman 66 07:57 88 (17) 86 (14) 120 (12) 115 (15) 88 (8)
141 LiamD 94 08:01 73 (19) 90 (18) 107 (18) 113 (20) 114 (19)
142 johndun 113 08:01 85 (23) 98 (25) 104 (23) 105 (21) 107 (21)
143 ulaca 108 08:03 85 (22) 97 (22) 100 (20) 104 (22) 110 (22)
144 mich_punk 70 08:08 84 (18) 96 (11) 110 (16) 99 (12) 110 (13)
145 m5harp 81 08:10 88 (18) 90 (16) 100 (15) 108 (17) 114 (15)
146 John Arnold 94 08:15 84 (20) 92 (20) 111 (15) 107 (21) 107 (18)
147 vefatica 88 08:18 93 (23) 101 (21) 100 (14) 100 (15) 108 (15)
148 mattindoha 94 08:19 90 (16) 97 (20) 105 (17) 97 (20) 107 (21)
149 vinyl12345 91 08:21 86 (20) 104 (18) 101 (19) 99 (20) 111 (14)
150 hemantyd 70 08:29 78 (15) 90 (15) 98 (15) 119 (18) 120 (7)
151 Jeeves 112 08:29 85 (22) 100 (21) 101 (23) 105 (22) 106 (24)
152 RPY 40 08:34 73 (9) 106 (12) 114 (6) 90 (6) 120 (7)
153 gsriordan52 97 08:34 82 (18) 105 (21) 97 (19) 107 (21) 104 (18)
154 crucihacker 90 08:36 93 (20) 89 (17) 85 (15) 107 (20) 119 (18)
155 nigelmzzz 104 08:36 80 (20) 102 (24) 96 (19) 98 (17) 117 (24)
156 Peloton 82 08:39 83 (14) 91 (16) 102 (16) 117 (18) 100 (18)
157 Mudge 105 08:39 79 (23) 94 (17) 104 (20) 103 (21) 117 (24)
158 Joseph T 88 08:42 78 (19) 96 (14) 107 (20) 105 (17) 112 (18)
159 goblin 127 08:43 90 (26) 99 (26) 101 (26) 101 (23) 107 (26)
160 starstruck 90 08:57 83 (21) 95 (16) 102 (22) 100 (16) 124 (15)
161 Poff 49 09:00 94 (7) 103 (11) 86 (10) 98 (8) 111 (13)
162 horners1974 60 09:02 92 (16) 102 (12) 103 (11) 100 (13) 102 (8)
163 timbo 79 09:05 80 (16) 97 (16) 111 (17) 109 (15) 100 (15)
164 Mkgnao 83 09:06 81 (19) 93 (17) 104 (17) 113 (14) 112 (16)
165 Deezzaa 108 09:06 80 (21) 103 (21) 99 (19) 102 (25) 113 (22)
166 johnusa 82 09:07 87 (20) 96 (16) 106 (17) 104 (16) 108 (13)
167 Word Psmith 47 09:10 99 (9) 97 (11) 100 (7) 96 (9) 106 (11)
168 crosswordian 68 09:28 79 (14) 84 (13) 108 (15) 110 (12) 115 (14)
169 Stozzer John 70 09:48 80 (14) 99 (15) 100 (14) 116 (17) 99 (10)
170 martinr486 67 09:59 89 (16) 97 (12) 103 (14) 103 (12) 107 (13)
171 The Real Steve Snackman 115 10:00 80 (25) 101 (25) 107 (24) 104 (24) 110 (17)
172 Srb1 79 10:03 76 (15) 107 (17) 116 (16) 88 (17) 110 (14)
173 chabuduo 116 10:06 82 (21) 104 (23) 98 (23) 97 (25) 115 (24)
174 Alias Noble 88 10:12 88 (15) 91 (19) 103 (18) 104 (19) 111 (17)
175 Struwa 50 10:17 92 (10) 97 (12) 96 (7) 100 (10) 110 (11)
176 Pendrov 54 10:33 101 (15) 85 (9) 103 (12) 105 (12) 99 (6)
177 Muckypuppy 93 10:33 85 (22) 104 (19) 105 (16) 100 (20) 108 (16)
178 Birdingbob 89 10:36 79 (18) 91 (17) 110 (16) 105 (19) 111 (19)
179 simjt 114 10:41 89 (23) 97 (23) 95 (22) 109 (24) 108 (22)
180 barracuda 58 10:49 90 (7) 97 (12) 103 (11) 91 (14) 112 (14)
181 Captain Burnaby 46 10:55 79 (9) 112 (10) 98 (6) 98 (12) 109 (9)
182 maisiemae 94 10:55 87 (19) 88 (18) 105 (17) 99 (20) 118 (20)
183 Sonofjim 71 10:58 86 (16) 106 (14) 102 (16) 97 (13) 111 (12)
184 TonyN6 93 10:59 98 (17) 96 (23) 100 (21) 98 (16) 108 (16)
185 rlowin2 40 11:02 90 (11) 102 (10) 98 (6) 98 (6) 112 (7)
186 Mark from Ipswich 100 11:14 85 (21) 94 (19) 97 (21) 110 (19) 112 (20)
187 Gordon B 41 11:26 78 (6) 108 (7) 97 (9) 106 (12) 100 (7)
188 Col-y-wobble 62 11:28 77 (9) 101 (11) 98 (16) 107 (12) 109 (14)
189 symbenall2 63 11:30 84 (15) 97 (14) 104 (10) 102 (10) 113 (14)
190 danielbluebisson 78 11:32 74 (18) 86 (15) 123 (18) 96 (13) 120 (14)
191 youngbaz 43 11:36 82 (9) 109 (9) 102 (8) 94 (7) 109 (10)
192 WordPlodder 124 11:41 88 (25) 92 (25) 104 (24) 101 (25) 112 (25)
193 BertieVII 97 11:45 87 (22) 95 (18) 105 (18) 107 (19) 106 (20)
194 suethepotterer 91 11:49 90 (18) 97 (21) 102 (16) 100 (15) 107 (21)
195 kapietro 93 12:02 86 (17) 95 (22) 107 (17) 107 (19) 104 (18)
196 Steve Wood 101 12:06 90 (22) 86 (20) 101 (20) 103 (18) 118 (21)
197 tyrotim 73 12:10 90 (16) 96 (14) 100 (14) 101 (18) 114 (11)
198 HCOONamatata 64 12:27 76 (16) 106 (16) 108 (10) 100 (11) 116 (11)
199 david.14587 80 12:48 67 (19) 99 (16) 102 (14) 120 (16) 117 (15)
200 ifincham2 56 12:51 81 (8) 104 (12) 95 (14) 102 (10) 110 (12)
201 Mendes 90 12:58 88 (19) 100 (17) 101 (17) 102 (18) 107 (19)
202 pfalloon 99 14:09 73 (23) 95 (19) 156 (20) 82 (20) 93 (17)
203 Solvitflav 54 14:28 70 (9) 104 (11) 111 (7) 108 (14) 100 (13)
204 Guy Hatton 53 14:47 86 (7) 104 (13) 97 (9) 100 (11) 104 (13)
205 Holly O 50 15:04 85 (13) 88 (11) 125 (8) 94 (9) 118 (9)
206 kfb20 90 15:16 81 (18) 87 (18) 108 (17) 114 (20) 108 (17)
207 RPE10538 72 15:38 80 (13) 95 (14) 93 (16) 111 (18) 119 (11)
208 james 49 15:46 80 (11) 84 (11) 74 (9) 76 (6) 161 (12)
209 ian.shepherd 80 16:20 85 (18) 98 (18) 102 (13) 98 (15) 116 (16)
210 TonyK 96 18:32 87 (16) 100 (21) 97 (18) 104 (19) 107 (22)
211 gimmicky 65 18:33 81 (13) 83 (11) 123 (13) 107 (10) 101 (18)
212 Geldart 81 18:47 95 (15) 90 (10) 95 (16) 101 (18) 109 (22)
213 bangsar 66 18:51 91 (11) 92 (15) 97 (12) 100 (15) 118 (13)
214 tomtom2 92 19:33 65 (19) 99 (18) 163 (17) 88 (19) 89 (19)
215 philby 63 19:41 84 (14) 99 (17) 99 (11) 110 (14) 112 (7)
216 Hazelnut 40 19:45 93 (8) 98 (8) 101 (7) 109 (8) 97 (9)
217 thechan 53 20:53 55 (9) 161 (14) 74 (8) 88 (12) 87 (10)
218 jlloyd4424 52 22:06 74 (7) 96 (13) 110 (11) 114 (12) 92 (9)
219 dominic.c-b 44 22:48 79 (6) 106 (13) 101 (8) 102 (9) 99 (8)
220 matt_o 51 23:55 89 (7) 92 (11) 105 (13) 95 (10) 112 (10)
221 shankar 52 25:03 73 (14) 97 (11) 90 (8) 121 (8) 127 (11)
222 andybry 52 31:32 80 (10) 80 (9) 111 (10) 100 (13) 124 (10)
223 crossworder 92 44:33 78 (19) 86 (21) 107 (17) 108 (17) 123 (18)
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