One clarification: the thing that I don't think wo...

2009-03-03T15:00:00.000+05:30

One clarification: the thing that I don't think would work these days at Q1 is switching to the Guardian for easier puzzles. Guessing answers from possible definitions still works, and still happens a lot in my solving, though the ideal is for the def. and wordplay to come to mind at the same time.

For Azed and Mephisto, you should have access to Chambers dictionary, though I do hear from bold people who tackle them without, using free internet resources instead. As well as difficult vocabulary they use some difficult tricks in clues, but also help you by having more checking letters than the dailies (roughly 75% rather than 50%). If you can master the skill of solving answers you don't know from the wordplay, and transfer it back to the daily puzzles, it can make the difference between finishing and falling a couple of clues short.

Thanks for the interview, Peter. I am one of those...

2009-03-03T11:31:00.000+05:30

Thanks for the interview, Peter. I am one of those who improved with the UK broadsheet puzzles by following the solving blogs.

Barred crosswords look slightly forbidding to me, which is one reason why I haven't tried them yet. About time I attempted Azed and Mephisto. Thanks for the recommendations.

Wish you good luck for all the Times Championships in future!

Comments on Crossword Unclued: Interviews With Ace Solvers: Part V

One clarification: the thing that I don't think wo...

Thanks for the interview, Peter. I am one of those...