Posted on 01/24/2019 5:58:19 AM PST by nikos1121
Today’s Cryptogram
TDBK MHT MOCDXA NZP
CDICDCMP, MOP WDCSPZAP NDL
OWFND AMWECLCMK, NDL
C'F DTM AWZP NUTWM MOP ITZFPZ.
NBUPZM PCDAMPCD
You can find this little fun word game, to combat early dementia and senility in us baby boomers, in several daily publications, unfortunately they are copyrighted so we can't use them here. So, we're just going to make up our own.
The way it works is a letter stands for another letter.
For example: AXYDLBAAXR is LONGFELLOW (does not apply to today's cryptogram)
Beware, the game is very addictive. If this is your first time, don't be intimidated.
Send me a private reply if you need a hint for today’s Cryptogram.
PLEASE DO NOT post the answer in general comments, but DO post your time and any tips you might give the group on how you solve these puzzles.
You can certainly send your solution to my private reply or if you need a hint for today’s Cryptogram.
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 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:
It’s easier to work on the puzzle without having to use your pencil.
Solution to our last puzzle:
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Mahatma Gandhi
8 min bouncing in the car. Hit several letters wrong on my phone. Figured out the author at 4 and recognized the quote then had to enter it in.
50 seconds with Hal's Cryptogram Helper ...
50 seconds?!!! I think that’s a best score...
Not an easy one, but sometimes everything falls into place...and it’s seamless like taking dictation...
Good job!!!!
While driving still? Hmmmm. I guess if you’re stopped, you can tell the cop the truth.
The legendary Mrs. Whiskers was driving. We carpool.
3:08
Nice excuse for not having to make small talk? :-)
Good score. Not an easy one, IMO.
Good one, about 10 minutes without Hals helper.
3 minutes and some change. Good quote. ;)
I hit one of the larger words correctly, and the rest fell into place quickly. Probably 90 seconds, which is probably the fastest I can physically change the letters in the helper.
Got it but it took me a while. I fiddled with it for a while, went to get a piece of cake, and when I came back it just popped out at me.
Haha!!! That’s just how it is. You need to step away, then come back and find the “e” or the “t”....or use Hal...
So long as it wasn’t Toonces the Driving Cat.
About 3 minutes. The contraction really helped! And the last name.
CRYPTOGRAPHY 101: BASIC SOLVING TECHNIQUES FOR SUBSTITUTION CIPHERS
It doesn’t matter whether a cryptogram presents you with letters, numbers, arcane symbols, lines and dots, or weird alien squiggles — if you’re asked to replace each letter in the alphabet with another symbol, you’re dealing with a simple substitution cipher.
All substitution ciphers can be cracked by using the following tips:
Scan through the cipher, looking for single-letter words. They’re almost definitely A or I.
Count how many times each symbol appears in the puzzle. The most frequent symbol is probably E. It could also be T, A, or O, especially if the cryptogram is fairly short.
Pencil in your guesses over the ciphertext.
Do typical word fragments start to reveal themselves? Be prepared to erase and change your guesses!
Look for apostrophes. They’re generally followed by S, T, D, M, LL, or RE.
Look for repeating letter patterns. They may be common letter groups, such as TH, SH, RE, CH, TR, ING, ION, and ENT.
Try to decipher two-, three-, and four-letter words.
Two-letter words almost always have one vowel and one consonant. The five most common two-letter words, in order of frequency, are OF, TO, IN, IS, and IT.
The most common three-letter words, in order of frequency, are THE, AND, FOR, WAS, and HIS.
The most common four-letter word is THAT. An encrypted word with the pattern 1 – – 1 is likely to be THAT. However, the pattern 1 – – 1 also represents 30 other words, so keep this in mind!
Scan for double letters. They’re most likely to be LL, followed in frequency by EE, SS, OO, and TT (and on to less commonly seen doubles).
-PJ
That’s great. NOW don’tyou feel good?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.