Any crossword aficionados out there?

randella

I'm making a concerted effort to learn how to do cryptics. Been using the one in the Daily Mirror to get used to anagram indicators, common abbreviations and the like. Got to the point where I can do them pretty much in one go.

I normally read the Guardian, and buy the Telegraph a couple of times a week, but the crosswords in both are utterly impenetrable. Is there anything in the middle in terms of difficulty?  Any suggestions gratefully received!

notanon

Keeping the grey cells alive? Try chess - see my posts :-) I remember that with most crosswords you master for the specific paper but of course they have their own calibre of questions - just keep reviewing the answers the next day. Solving chess puzzles much more fun IMHO

HAL9000

Stick to one paper. You'll get to learn the compilers' style. Any answers you don't get you can check in the next day's paper and try to work out how the answer was arrived at. 

Also, solve what you can in, say, fifteen minutes then put the paper down and go back to it an hour later. Youl'll almost certainly see things that you didn't see first time around.

Good luck.

PolarityMan

rock n roll

SteveRobinson

I've done the Guardian crossword for decades. After studying a few you'll get to know each compliler's style.

TheBlueWolf

I've recently got back into chess and it's keeping the brain cells I've got left busy. There's some good apps about that walk you through the basics if you're new to the game or returning after a break

randella

Thanks everyone - guess I'll just persevere with the Guardian.  I'm a paid member so I get them all online with the solutions too.  I got four in the Everyman yesterday and felt like Inspector Morse

I've been cheating a bit and keeping a thesaurus and a list of crossword abbreviations and indicators open at all times, but it's slowly sinking in.

As re. chess, I used to enjoy it as a kid but would deffo need a refresher on the rules as that was quite a while ago now.  I might give it a bash.

The crossword thing is just relaxation and switching off after work - stops my head spinning with code well into the evening.

randella

PolarityMan said:

rock n roll

Apparently Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi replaced the coke and groupies with crosswords when they were on tour with the Quo so there might be something to it.

Gassage

I've been stuck on one clue in the NY Herald today.

Overloaded Postman is the clue.....

UnclePsychosis

Gassage said:

I've been stuck on one clue in the NY Herald today.

Overloaded Postman is the clue.....

I'm feeling generous James, don't say I'm not nice to you:

How many letters?

(go on lad, back of the net with it)

dogload

SteveRobinson said:

I've done the Guardian crossword for decades. After studying a few you'll get to know each compliler's style.

This... in theory. I have an amazing ability to un-remember them!

The Quiptic ones in the Guardian are a decent half-way though. Sort of watered-down cryptic.

CabbageCat

UnclePsychosis said:

Gassage said:

I've been stuck on one clue in the NY Herald today.

Overloaded Postman is the clue.....

I'm feeling generous James, don't say I'm not nice to you:

How many letters?

(go on lad, back of the net with it)

You're too kind. You should have sunk his funnyship with something like, "What does it begin with?"

Gassage

UnclePsychosis said:

Gassage said:

I've been stuck on one clue in the NY Herald today.

Overloaded Postman is the clue.....

I'm feeling generous James, don't say I'm not nice to you:

How many letters?

(go on lad, back of the net with it)

FUCKING THOUSANDS OF THEM!

HO HO

benmurray85

Gassage said:

UnclePsychosis said:

Gassage said:

I've been stuck on one clue in the NY Herald today.

Overloaded Postman is the clue.....

I'm feeling generous James, don't say I'm not nice to you:

How many letters?

(go on lad, back of the net with it)

FUCKING THOUSANDS OF THEM!

HO HO

Not even kidding this is already the best moment of 2017 for me. 

oaf

You might find a few tips here:
BBC Radio 4: David Baddiel seeks to understand something which is meant to be puzzling: cryptic crosswords.

Sporky

I like the Puzzler app. They vary a bit - clearly more than one compiler - but a nice range of difficulty.

My dear old mum does the Times one in pen. The show-off.

bluechargeboy

I find the i crossword (recycled Independent crosswords) to be generally easier than Guardian ones, and cheaper!

Daily Mail ones are a lot easier, but that entails an ethical dilemma akin to using Nazi experimental results.

paulnb57

I used to do the Telegraph on a daily basis before I fell out with news media in general....
My take would be to stick with one crossword compiler and get to know how they tick, before moving on, there are some internet sites that will explain the answers you cannot get, allowing you to learn to think the way the compiler does....

proggy

I had a job once compiling crosswords for my local paper.

The money wasn't great but it enabled me to buy a little two up three down.