More Tips For Tackling Cryptic Crosswords

Are you an aspiring solver, have been reading Crossword Unclued and other guides carefully and are yet disappointed with your progress at solving?

An earlier post of mine (link) had tips for beginners to improve solving technique. But the technique comes much later. Hurdles that struggling solvers face are more psychological than skill-related, and the ideas below are to help you overcome those mental blocks.

Follow these and I can guarantee you'll see an improvement.

1. Stop Reading, Start Solving

Do you want to perfect your "fundas" before delving into actual solving? Do you take tentative stabs at a puzzle, find that you haven't cracked a single clue and decide you need to pick up more knowledge?

That's the wrong way to go about it! Crossword solving is like cycling. No matter what tomes you read, you cannot ride a bicycle unless you actually get on it and push the pedals, taking a couple of falls in your stride. A fall doesn't mean you need to read more, it means you need to ride more.

Too much theory without solving can be counter-productive. It can make cryptic crosswords appear much harder than they are.

Many expert solvers who do whole puzzles in a matter of minutes cannot tell a cryptic definition from an &lit. And what difference does it make, really? The big thing is to solve it, not to know the fancy jargon.

My sincere advice is to put the theory aside, pick up a good cryptic crossword, read the clues with full attention and observe what they say. Don't get misled by the surface, and you will reach the answer. Take this clue:

(NIE 11-Jun-09) It used to be cut back (3) WAS<-

To solve it, all you have to do is figure out the definition ("it used to be"), and understand that "cut" = SAW. Does it matter if this is called a reversal clue type or a rotator clue type? Do you need to memorize a list of reversal indicators to know that "back" means "back"?

Not at all, right?

2. Don't Look Up Answers Too Soon

Experienced solvers will tell you that reverse engineering the solutions or visiting solving sites is a good way to hone your skill. I agree fully, but I'll explicitly add the caveat – don't do that before you've given yourself a fair chance. If you look at a clue, can't solve it and immediately reach out for the solution, you'll slow down your progress.

I'd suggest spending a little more time with the clues. Think of all possible meanings the words in the clue could have. Take a break, revisit the puzzle. Many times all it takes to crack it is a cup of tea.

3. Say To Yourself "It is easy, I can do it"

I had been trying the Azed for some time, without much success. What was going wrong?

Azed is a hard puzzle full of obscure words. I began with that knowledge, and found myself trawling through dictionaries or giving up on anagrams even for words I actually knew. The same word in a Guardian puzzle wouldn't have bothered me, but because it's Azed, I treated it with greater awe, which made solving tougher than it could have been.

An advice as old as the hills - any self-help book will tell you this - but some clichés are worth repeating: believe that you can.

4. The Dip Is Big, Be Ready For It

If geniuses exist who begin solving one day and acquire the level of finishing puzzles in a fortnight, then they are the exception not the rule. Most others go through "the Dip", as Seth Godin calls is - the long slog between starting and mastery. That's when you face burnout and give up.

Cryptic crosswords take time to excel at but the good news is, you don't have to do the full thing to enjoy it. Unlike sudoku where you either get it or you don't, in crosswords each clue solved is a reward. For many years I couldn't finish a whole puzzle but whatever little I could do was satisfying. So it will be for you.

5. Pick The Right Puzzles

A wide variety of puzzles is available to you, many of them online and for free. It is important especially at the beginning to stick to good-quality puzzles only.

Look at my set of recommendations: Crosswords For Beginners. This list contains online locations of some good crosswords on the easy side, with links to communities/blogs that discuss solutions and related details about setters, difficulty and style.

6. Enjoy It!

Relax. This is not a test of your abilities, not something only for "IIT-IIM types" (to use a phrase I've heard more than once)! It is just a game. Have fun with it.

Related Posts:

• How To Solve Cryptic Crosswords: a 7-step guide for beginners
• Crossword Index: quick access sitemap to clue type descriptions
• Interviews With Ace Solvers: solving tips and more, straight from the experts
• Crosswords For Beginners: recommended crosswords online and free

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