Cryptic crosswords
Discussion
marshalla said:
Get a copy of Colin Dexter's "Cracking Cryptic Crosswords" if you want to understand the sort of wording that is used in the clues.
I've got the book and have found it quite good, but just need to practise. I find it disheartening as it's really quite hard to get to grips with it so want something that is attainable.Oh the joys of the cryptic crossword! 
My aunt used to do them all the time and I was always really frustrated at never understanding how she got the answers. Then I saw a programme about it on the beeb and then it all made sense. I love words so decided to give them a try.
I found the Telegraph ones the best because even though they've got a few proper stinkers, they do throw you a bone from time to time. The Times crosswords just leave you twisting in the wind. These are dead cheap http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daily-Telegraph-Book-Crypt... and much cheaper than buying the paper every day or subscribing online.
Just for S's & G's, try this.
Two men, arrested (6)
A Prize* for whoever gets this by 13:09...
(* a round of applause)
My aunt used to do them all the time and I was always really frustrated at never understanding how she got the answers. Then I saw a programme about it on the beeb and then it all made sense. I love words so decided to give them a try.
I found the Telegraph ones the best because even though they've got a few proper stinkers, they do throw you a bone from time to time. The Times crosswords just leave you twisting in the wind. These are dead cheap http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daily-Telegraph-Book-Crypt... and much cheaper than buying the paper every day or subscribing online.
Just for S's & G's, try this.
Two men, arrested (6)
A Prize* for whoever gets this by 13:09...
(* a round of applause)
Nidjit said:
Oh the joys of the cryptic crossword!
My aunt used to do them all the time and I was always really frustrated at never understanding how she got the answers. Then I saw a programme about it on the beeb and then it all made sense. I love words so decided to give them a try.
I found the Telegraph ones the best because even though they've got a few proper stinkers, they do throw you a bone from time to time. The Times crosswords just leave you twisting in the wind. These are dead cheap http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daily-Telegraph-Book-Crypt... and much cheaper than buying the paper every day or subscribing online.
Just for S's & G's, try this.
Two men, arrested (6)
A Prize* for whoever gets this by 13:09...
(* a round of applause)
Halted ?My aunt used to do them all the time and I was always really frustrated at never understanding how she got the answers. Then I saw a programme about it on the beeb and then it all made sense. I love words so decided to give them a try.
I found the Telegraph ones the best because even though they've got a few proper stinkers, they do throw you a bone from time to time. The Times crosswords just leave you twisting in the wind. These are dead cheap http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daily-Telegraph-Book-Crypt... and much cheaper than buying the paper every day or subscribing online.
Just for S's & G's, try this.
Two men, arrested (6)
A Prize* for whoever gets this by 13:09...
(* a round of applause)
Nidjit said:
Two men, arrested (6)
"Nicked"I used to do the Telegraph cryptic crossword pretty much every day. I was fortunate in having been at university with someone who showed me how to "read" the clues. There's a pretty standard form of wording which makes a lot of clues very easy to understand once you know how they're worded.
The Telegraph used to start reasonably easy on a Monday and get harder as the week went on.
But I never really got to grips with the Times crossword, so there may be something to the idea that you just get used to the way one compiler, or group of compilers, produce their clues.
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