At Sixes and Sevens
- Meg
- Posts: 2166
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- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
At Sixes and Sevens
I found this in my Twitter feed today. Neville Fogarty is a fairly famous constructor and this small cryptic is certainly challenging! Fortunately, the solution is also available.
https://nevillefogarty.wordpress.com/20 ... nd-sevens/
https://nevillefogarty.wordpress.com/20 ... nd-sevens/
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- Dannyvee
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Can anyone point a Cryptic beginner to a good place to get started? I've done a couple of the ones in the NYT over the years so I get the basic gist but most of the ones I've seen posted in this forum are out of my league right now. Thanks!
I can be found in Sheridan, NY, veejaying. (8)
- Richard B.
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- Location: upper west side, NYC
I would start with the Saturday National Post cryptic which is posted here every week. It’s constructed by two of the best, Cox and Rathvon. The grid is standard without the extra challenges seen in this one or elsewhere (e.g., WSJ monthly variety which always has an extra layer of two of challenge). Cox and Rathvon are very precise and fair in their clueing so, with some practice, you can take what you learn from them and solve most other US cryptics.
Last edited by Richard B. on Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- C=64
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- Richard B.
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- Location: upper west side, NYC
Thanks, Meg. A fun one. Also a warm up to today’s HEX variety in the WSJ which I expect later today.
- Meg
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How do you know it will be a HEX? Is there a schedule for the Saturday variety?Richard B. wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:12 pm Thanks, Meg. A fun one. Also a warm up to today’s HEX variety in the WSJ which I expect later today.
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- Meg
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On the WSJ puzzle page, top right, there’s a link to the basics, which you probably already know....
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- Richard B.
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- Location: upper west side, NYC
Just a guess. I think HEX rotates in every 4 weeks. Now that I predicted, watch - no HEX!Meg wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:42 pmHow do you know it will be a HEX? Is there a schedule for the Saturday variety?Richard B. wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:12 pm Thanks, Meg. A fun one. Also a warm up to today’s HEX variety in the WSJ which I expect later today.
- Dannyvee
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- Location: Jamaica Plain, MA
This was an excellent recommendation. I chose the 11/7 puzzle to get started with and it just so happened that there was a bit of a beer theme. It took about an hour and a half but I finished w/ two errors. The write-up in the solutions link is a fantastic teacher. Thanks again!Richard B. wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:10 pmI would start with the Saturday National Post cryptic which is posted here every week. It’s constructed by two of the best, Cox and Rathvon. The grid is standard without the extra challenges seen in this one or elsewhere (e.g., WSJ monthly variety which always has an extra layer of two of challenge). Cox and Rathvon are very precise and fair in their clueing so, with some practice, you can take what you learn from them and solve most other US cryptics.
I can be found in Sheridan, NY, veejaying. (8)
- ChrisKochmanski
- Posts: 2202
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- Location: Saline, Michigan
Fun! But I had never heard of Neville F. Then again, I often don't take in who the constructor is. He looks young. But already accomplished in puzzle construction, it seems. Nice!Meg wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:05 pm Neville Fogarty is a fairly famous constructor and this small cryptic is certainly challenging!
https://nevillefogarty.wordpress.com/20 ... nd-sevens/
- ChrisKochmanski
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- Location: Saline, Michigan
Dannyvee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:47 pmRichard B. wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:10 pmHave fun getting acquainted with cryptics! At some point you'll probably want the added challenge of a variety cryptic. That may come sooner than you think.Dannyvee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:58 pm This was an excellent recommendation. I chose the 11/7 puzzle to get started with and it just so happened that there was a bit of a beer theme. It took about an hour and a half but I finished w/ two errors. The write-up in the solutions link is a fantastic teacher. Thanks again!
One warning, though: For now I'd say you might want to stay away from the British cryptics in such places as The Sunday Times, The Independent, and The Guardian. I've been doing cryptics for some 35 years, and I've found these Brit versions to be significantly harder. Sometimes inscrutable. Partly because they'll often use Britishisms unfamiliar to me. But also because they just seem to be more cryptic!
- Richard B.
- Posts: 547
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- Location: upper west side, NYC
The solution key is critical to learning. Don’t be satisfied simply by getting the grid entry. Try to understand how each clue leads to the grid answer. I also agree with Chris above about the UK puzzles. They’re in a world of their own. Stick to US for a while. Happy crypticing!Dannyvee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:47 pmThis was an excellent recommendation. I chose the 11/7 puzzle to get started with and it just so happened that there was a bit of a beer theme. It took about an hour and a half but I finished w/ two errors. The write-up in the solutions link is a fantastic teacher. Thanks again!Richard B. wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:10 pmI would start with the Saturday National Post cryptic which is posted here every week. It’s constructed by two of the best, Cox and Rathvon. The grid is standard without the extra challenges seen in this one or elsewhere (e.g., WSJ monthly variety which always has an extra layer of two of challenge). Cox and Rathvon are very precise and fair in their clueing so, with some practice, you can take what you learn from them and solve most other US cryptics.
- mokelfish
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This puzzle was live-solved on Fill Me In's twitch stream w/Neville himself, if people want to check it out. Joining the stream is also a good way to get more accustomed to cryptic solving in a live group/community setting. http://www.twitch.tv/videos/823658125
- Beth Tyrpin
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 5:11 pm
What’s the answer to (Were flying insects ultimately reversing direction?)? On the twitch they said faze, but didn’t explain and that doesn’t fit with the answers being alphabetical.
- Meg
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- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
I have FAZE for In conversation, state puzzle. PHASE FAZE
I have BEEN for 2nd 4-letter. Def = were (yuk imo). Flying insects = BEES last letter reversing direction (S to N)
I have BEEN for 2nd 4-letter. Def = were (yuk imo). Flying insects = BEES last letter reversing direction (S to N)
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- Beth Tyrpin
- Posts: 518
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Thanks Meg. I thought I was only missing one answer, but was also missing faze/phase. I confused myself.