Comments on: 17. Puzzling Thoughts… http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/ Patrick Merrell: The puzzling art of puzzles and art Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:59:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: petebiddlecombe http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-961 petebiddlecombe Tue, 05 May 2009 07:29:06 +0000 http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-961 I'm very fond of rule 8 as a guide in cyptic crosswords, but I don't think it always applies in cryptic or non-cryptic puzzles. A non-cryptic clue I remember because it fooled me was something like: "Opening of hockey game" (7 letters). This turned out to be not "FACE-OFF" or anything similar, but "O Canada". The substitution test fails but the clue seems perfectly OK. I'm sure there are other examples. Maybe the first rule is a list of types of clue, and then other rules apply to some of the types but not necessarily all. I’m very fond of rule 8 as a guide in cyptic crosswords, but I don’t think it always applies in cryptic or non-cryptic puzzles.

A non-cryptic clue I remember because it fooled me was something like: “Opening of hockey game” (7 letters). This turned out to be not “FACE-OFF” or anything similar, but “O Canada”. The substitution test fails but the clue seems perfectly OK. I’m sure there are other examples. Maybe the first rule is a list of types of clue, and then other rules apply to some of the types but not necessarily all.

]]> By: M. Delfin http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-828 M. Delfin Sun, 25 May 2008 06:59:48 +0000 http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-828 When I read rule #22, I thought at first that you had misspelled the "tee" in "tee ball", the game. (The paired "ground ball" probably got me thinking of baseball.) I quickly realized that you meant a "tea ball", or an infuser. Rule #23: If something seems wrong, it's probably your mistake, and not the puzzle's! When I read rule #22, I thought at first that you had misspelled the “tee” in “tee ball”, the game. (The paired “ground ball” probably got me thinking of baseball.) I quickly realized that you meant a “tea ball”, or an infuser. Rule #23: If something seems wrong, it’s probably your mistake, and not the puzzle’s!

]]> By: Patrick Merrell http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-568 Patrick Merrell Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:03:24 +0000 http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-568 Thanks, Erwin. There's a post here about that puzzle: http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/21 Thanks, Erwin.
There’s a post here about that puzzle:
http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/21

]]> By: Erwin http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-567 Erwin Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:57:29 +0000 http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-567 Patrick, Loved your puzzle a few years back where the theme was 10 things wrong with the puzzle! It must've given you the unique opportunity to fit in 2-letter words. Patrick,

Loved your puzzle a few years back where the theme was 10 things wrong with the puzzle! It must’ve given you the unique opportunity to fit in 2-letter words.

]]> By: Scully http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-519 Scully Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:22:30 +0000 http://trickme.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/17-puzzling-thoughts/#comment-519 Wow! We are such a society of "helpers". I, for one am glad that I never came across a list of this nature while learning the "magic" of crossword puzzles. Learning the cluing was as much, if not more fun than solving puzzles. Wow! We are such a society of “helpers”. I, for one am glad that I never came across a list of this nature while learning the “magic” of crossword puzzles. Learning the cluing was as much, if not more fun than solving puzzles.

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