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1/? Being asked this question a fair bit... so... personally, I think the best way is to just try and do them - and look up the answers for the ones you can& #39;t do and try and work out why they are what they are. That doesn& #39;t mean there aren& #39;t some really useful resources https://twitter.com/jonwash1/status/1283302770800504832">https://twitter.com/jonwash1/...
2/? Start from the position that (almost) every clue has two elements: a definition and some wordplay that should help to guide you, completely fairly, to the answer. They can be in either order.
3/? You can solve clues in lots of ways. Sometimes you unpick the wordplay & build up the answer, sometimes you guess as to which bit might be the definition, guess at an answer based on the letters already in & then see if you can make the wordplay work to confirm it. All valid
4/? @alanconnor writes a great weekly blog about crosswords in the Guardian. Some of which act as how-to guides to particular sorts of clues. Those particular blogs are collected together here: http://www.alanconnor.com/log/2020/how-to-solve-cryptic-crosswords-during-coronavirus/">https://www.alanconnor.com/log/2020/...
5/? If you& #39;re looking at crosswords from the Independent, Guardian or FT, there& #39;s a blog - http://www.fifteensquared.net/ ">https://www.fifteensquared.net/">... that goes through each one, each day and parses the clues.
6/? As a rule, the Guardian gets harder through the week. Monday is great for beginners and there& #39;s also what they call the Quiptic. Friday& #39;s normally very challenging and might put off a complete novice. (My sweet spot is normally Wednesday, as it happens)
7/? @bupk_es & @archelina do a solve-along #CrypticSunday on Twitch. But don& #39;t let hearing people solve faster than your brain is doing it make it feel like magic. https://www.twitch.tv/CrypticSunday ">https://www.twitch.tv/CrypticSu...
8/8 Remember that the setter is not trying to outfox you. They want you to solve it. The wordplay is there to entertain and help you. And now, I& #39;m sure there will be replies from far more qualified people than me with more and better tips...
