Puzzle fans new to the puzzling world of cryptics may at first find cryptics to be a daunting proposition, with one line questions that look more like statements and with no obvious answers in sight
But they're really not that difficult once you know what to look for and you may experience some head slapping moments for not having worked out some answers more quickly
The majority of the cryptics here use word building techniques, where you're given both the meaning of the answer and a method of constructing it by combining words, using anagrams, etc
Other cryptics use word play (such as double meanings or literal interpretations of common phrases) and you'll usually need a little lateral thinking to find a satisfying answer
Given the dual nature of most cryptics (either providing a method of building the answer or having two ways of looking at it), you'll usually know when you have the correct solution
Each cryptic has a single specific answer, so if you come up with a solution that has the wrong number of letters or doesn't match the letters provided at the bottom of each hint, then it's not right
With no hard and fast rules to follow, the best way of learning to solve cryptics is just by doing them and reading the hints
The instructional hints teach you how to spot different types of cryptics, how to spot indicator words, how to determine what the answer means and how to break down a cryptic
Helova Chat is available if you would like some extra help with any of the cryptics or if you just want to say Hi
The best times to visit Helova Chat are usually US evenings, UK mornings or Australian afternoons and regular visitors can get to solve bonus cryptics with multiple word answers
Have fun and keep checking back for new cryptics
But they're really not that difficult once you know what to look for and you may experience some head slapping moments for not having worked out some answers more quickly
The majority of the cryptics here use word building techniques, where you're given both the meaning of the answer and a method of constructing it by combining words, using anagrams, etc
Other cryptics use word play (such as double meanings or literal interpretations of common phrases) and you'll usually need a little lateral thinking to find a satisfying answer
Given the dual nature of most cryptics (either providing a method of building the answer or having two ways of looking at it), you'll usually know when you have the correct solution
Each cryptic has a single specific answer, so if you come up with a solution that has the wrong number of letters or doesn't match the letters provided at the bottom of each hint, then it's not right
With no hard and fast rules to follow, the best way of learning to solve cryptics is just by doing them and reading the hints
The instructional hints teach you how to spot different types of cryptics, how to spot indicator words, how to determine what the answer means and how to break down a cryptic
Helova Chat is available if you would like some extra help with any of the cryptics or if you just want to say Hi
The best times to visit Helova Chat are usually US evenings, UK mornings or Australian afternoons and regular visitors can get to solve bonus cryptics with multiple word answers
Have fun and keep checking back for new cryptics
