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Hi!! I'm trying to start doing cryptic crosswords, I've even bought a book on how to solve them! I was just wondering what the best ones to start out on are?

The Everyman(sundays) xword is quite reasonable, it's free to download on the Guardian website
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/everyman/3391
lots of help & explanations on here & the answerbank if you get stuck

Try the Quiptic every Monday on the Guardian website:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/series/quiptic

This is blogged on fifttensquared - http://fifteensquared.net/category/guardianquiptic/

I write the blog every fourth week!

My advice is to pick a daily crossword and stick with it, going as far as you can and then reasoning the answers you didn't get the following day. This way you get to understand how the setters mind works and you dont have to wait a week or so (for prize crosswods) to get the solutions by which time you've forgotten the questions.

Don't get a book with answers at the back as you'll never learn.

Otherwise try one with cryptic and concise clues (same answer) and try not to peek. After a while you will get what the cryptic clues are pointing to

Also in The Guardian, when Rufus does the monday cryptic they tend to be quite solvable.

Thanks guys, I've printed off the Monday Guardian one with the answers and I'm trying to work back. Some of them make no sense at all!! I feel I may be back here a lot!

Good luck and enjoy!

albalass.

feel free to ask for explanations (give the clue and answer,or clue and any letters you have).

have you tried typing,eg,"how to solve cryptic crossword" into google?

best of luck
trevor.