How do some people solve these cryptograms so fast? Is Bansais a robot?

[badbob]

since i have the reflexes of a manatee, i don't concern myself with speed

[TimmyTee]

I think I'm actually an anomaly. As I solve and the solution starts to emerge, I enjoy "making it last!" I especially like the ones where there is a word or two that makes sense in both the incorrect and the correct way, because it takes more cogitating.

[oddcouple]

No, you might recognize a puzzle that you'd seen half a dozen times before and it might help you solve it more quickly. But to actually make a copy of a quote and then pull it up from reference? That would make your time SLOWER, not faster.

BTW, I just broke one of Bansai's record a few weeks ago. By ONE SECOND! First time I'd beaten one of his. There's a reason he's so fast. Like Tony's Frosted Flakes, he's GREAT!!!

[sageorge]

Most important factor?

Not to dismiss the abilities of the lightning-fast solvers, but recently many new entries have been posted and it seems that none of the prominent fastest-timers hold records. To me this suggests that having solved a given puzzle before, keeping a copy of it, and waiting until it pops up again may be very important in setting records.

[wvwoman]

i was also going to post that. here's another string of them by bansai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4jDS...ature=youtu.be

[Lurker]

Lol, LLapp, I was going to post that!

[LLapp]

There only so many 4 letter words that begin and end with the same letter.

Hi andyd. And guess what -- there's a thread for that!

http://www.cryptograms.org/forum/showthread.php?t=822

[oddcouple]

Well, I've had a lot of top 20 months for times lately. I credit it to a faster server. And although I've only set one record this year, I've had more than 200 sub 20 second times. Even about a dozen sub 10s, but no records on any of them. So I know it can be done. The "robots" are actually incredibly fast solvers with speedy servers. Bansai, nanrich, and seven or eight others still impress me every time I solve a quote in what I think is very fast only to see their speed about a third of mine. The woman from Finland boggles my mind since English isn't even her native language.

[andyd]

I admit, my pace is tectonic. It took me 6hrs to solve my first cryptoquote. I slowwly worked my way up. It is all about letter patterns. There only so many 4 letter words that begin and end with the same letter. Bansai and most others type way faster than I do

[mikehallbackhoe]

I'll pitch in for that DNA test. Who's collecting?

I guess I will collect the money. Cash is preferred, but checks will be accepted, just make them out to mike hall, and this might be expensive, so keep it coming.

DNA test

I'll pitch in for that DNA test. Who's collecting?

[pj48]

The slow connection LLapp mentions, along with the fact that I'm a poor typist, is the reason I don't bother to play in competition mode. It's frustrating to wait for a letter to fill in, or to have to fix a typo, but it's still worth solving, and easier than doing the paper-and-pencil cryptograms I used to do for decades. By signing in, I get to add comments, but by remaining in non-competitive mode I also get to ask for a hint (or 3) if I really, really get stumped, since my lack of typing skill precludes competition in any case.

[mikehallbackhoe]

bansai is not a robot . possibly an android, but not a robot. dna testing will be necessary to know for sure.

[LLapp]

I just want to add, LLapp, that your times are quite respectable as well. Don't forget to give yourself some credit!

Thanks Damsel!

[LLapp]

Thank you, Lurker!

OMG. I was very tired . . .

I'll fix it. Thank you!!!