Comments on: Azed 2097 / Terse Verse – 12 August 2012

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 16:40:38 +0000

Just as an illustration of how much easier these are: before I had sipped my coffee I saw ‘work in a salon’ which with the obvious letter mix gave me an enormous starting boost.

By: Norman L in France

Norman L in France — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 08:03:33 +0000

Thanks, Duncan.
I agree with you and RCW on this. They must be difficult to set, but are at the (very) easy end of the scale for solving. None leapt out at me, but all the four-letter solutions went in first, and then it was plain sailing (as plain as it can be with some of the words used, of course). I did have SIDE in 23 for a while, though, with Selected athletes as the definition and the last 4 letters of Besides as the mix.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 01:32:31 +0000

Thanks all
“Definition and letter mixture clues always strike me as being more difficult for the compiler to write than for the solver to solve. ”

I agree with every word you have written,Duncan.In fact I had mentally composed my contribution before coming here and I then found your comments quite uncanny to read.
I think our view applies even more to the rhymes which add nothing whatsoever to the solving but presumable make an extra challenge for the setter.
Like any Azed this provided a pleasant interlude on a Sunday but I would prefer a plain puzzle anytime.