how do I get only difficult puzzles?

[kimmilligan]

I'm new to the site, and I like to print off the cryptograms. Problem is, I have to wade through so many "easy" and "average" level puzzles to get to the ones I want. Is there any way to get "difficult" puzzles only?

Thanks!

[smoochie222]

Welcome

It is just random...you get what you get

[imported_Lurker]

Really, you only want the hard ones?

One thing you could do is simply keep refreshing the page until a toughie pops up. Maybe do it when you're not logged in, unless you don't care to compete.

[Angie]

I'm impressed!

Now you've got me curious, tho. Do a couple online so we can 'witness you remarkable prowess'!

Other than the length of the puzzle, how do you gauge the difficulty?

[kimmilligan]

difficult puzzles

I like the ones labelled "difficult," though I would never play them online competitively. It can take me a long, long time to complete them. I love the challenge: false leads, can't count on letter frequency, etc. I spend hours on these. With the ones lablelled "average," there's usually an "in," a hint to get you going; while I love all cryptograms, I especially like the ones that I have to mull over and over. Plus, I have a book of 300 cryptograms in the easy-medium range, so I'm all set there (book by Kappan puzzles). And I buy variety puzzle books that have cryptograms. I never claim to be good or fast. I'm sure anyone here could kick my rear. I'm just having fun.

[imported_Lurker]

Another tip

You CAN print these cryptos without logging in to the site. I know you don't care about your stats, but everyone else can see them. It looks like you never bother to solve them, but I'm sure you're doing fine by hand.

And some of the longer, so-called Average and Easy ones are actually quite difficult. I wouldn't dismiss them. A better way to judge is to look at the average solving time, in the right-hand column. Anything over 2 minutes is fairly hard, over 3 minutes (180 sec) is &%#* difficult.

[Angie]

Thanks Lurker!

Thank you Lurker I never noticed that before.

[Angie]

(Around the home they call me "Sherlock")!

[kimmilligan]

No, I don't care about my stats. I log in because I thought that if you logged in, you would never get the same puzzle twice. I will try the easy to average ones: I did not know they could be very challenging. I am used to paper-and-pencil puzzle books in which the easy-to-mediums are very, very easy. Again, I am new to this site. I don't play online because I don't have a computer at home and I have to go to the library to print the puzzles off. I don't have the time to sit and ponder the difficult ones. Thanks for letting me know about the average ones: I did not know. Shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.

[Altoid701]

FYI: The difficulty ratings are automatically assigned to the quotes based on length. The 'difficult' ones are the shortest and the 'easy' ones are the longest. That is why some of the ones labeled 'easy' or 'average' can be quite challenging, and some of the 'difficult' ones can be quite simple. In general, though, the difficulty ratings do correlate with the actual difficulty, especially the 'easy' puzzles. So you could definitely print off some of the 'average' puzzles as well, as you'll probably have to do a lot of refreshing to only get 'difficult' puzzles.

[bansaisequoia]

hokay

Kim, if most of the cryptos on this site are too easy for you, here a few really difficult ones for you to mull over.

izifxiuk vexle mlxdvxifop gklebza sfbvobv.

omwnuzgilzng ylkwqd zplkw swrjil.

uktgbz, zekko! ytbp, odkowtgigsitsg hpisykzsadazpz otmp! shzedsn!

xkqjknm, ynslh. uwbhq twwtm wq voujkqh ghmw.

djgwzg jvykvzk wewozvd agz ioaat nop oz.

icggicgx icthdgh icggv icthpsnrn'h ictvvl.

[Angie]

uh oh

NOW you've done it, Kim! you've elicited bansai's killer cryptos!!! let me know how you do....i'm going to do the easy, average and difficult puzzles on the site.

[kimmilligan]

on second thought, i do care about stats

I did a couple of cryptos online, and it's definately better than doing them by hand. I created a new account with the name of "Kimmie." Of course, I will try my hand at Bansai's challenge.

It will take me a while to get used to doing them on the computer!

[kimmilligan]

Puzzle Baron puzzles

It's not that I think the site's puzzles are too easy; I want really hard puzzles because I have hundreds of easy-to-medium ones in a book by Kappan puzzles. And they are, for the most part, very easy.

[Angie]

mwaa ha ha, we snagged another!

It looks like the site has created another "crypto-monster"! once you get started Kim you will be hooked! Have fun!