Solving the puzzle under 8 minutes is good, under 6 very good, under 4 excellent and under two "you're a pro!"
Those of you looking for an added challenge can try to solve one sentence or even one word at a time, i.e. solve the entire first line, then go to the second line etc.
If you need a little help you can copy the cryptogram and paste it to Hal’s Helper below:
You can then work on the puzzle without using pen and paper.
Solution to our last puzzle:
You just can’t beat the person who never gives up. Babe Ruth
Yesterday’s puzzle was a good one for many of you, (some of whom are getting quite cocky lol). Many picked up on the 5-letter word “NEVER” with the same 2nd and 4th letters. Other’s caught the contraction CAN’T right out of the gate, and it was all downhill from then. Some of you recognized the common letters ETRNAS etc. Please share how you solved yesterday’s puzzle with the group.
I did these daily for a few years in the ‘70s. This is the first I’ve done since then.
Took about one minute to get my head back in the right place then another two to solve.
The first thing I do is look for an ABCA sequence. If you find one of those you’re half way done. Of course, there are many other “leads” you learn with experience. Eventually, solving is 30% thinking and 70% busy work.
(I see a hint for today’s puzzle in the solution to the last puzzle.)
Never heard of a cryptigram, until today.
Home run!
Okay, that was harder. It took 8 minutes. I tinkered around with the one and two letter words until suddenly the name became clear.
Was done in under a minute, except I got hung up on the first and third letters of the second word and the first and third letters of the last word (not the author).
Had to list the letters that I hadn't used and started plugging-and-replacing until I made the combination that gave me the second word.
I used to do these every day from the newspaper but I haven’t gotten the local paper in many years. There was always a clue like “T= R”. Do you not include clues?