The Times Computer Crosswords
Volume 1
by Times Books Ltd

By Edmund Akenhead, Editor of The Times Crossword 1965-1983
The 60 puzzles in this collection are typical of the modern Times Crossword, all having appeared in the first nine months of 1983. The only exception is the last puzzle, number 60, which was used as the Crossword Championship Eliminator Puzzle designed to reduce the qualifiers in the 1983 Championship. It is a sobering example of how fiendish crossword compilers can be if they really try, but is included as an interesting challenge to those puzzlers who refuse to be beaten.

I hope that this collection provides many hours of pleasure.

By Edmund Akenhead, Former Editor of The Times Crosswords
The devices used by a cryptic crossword compiler are so many and varied that an introduction such as this can only give the beginner a glimpse of them. Experience will prove the best teacher, but I hope that the following tips will help the beginner in his first steps towards mastering The Times (and similar) crosswords.

The best known device is the anagram. "Terribly angered" is a definition of the answer "enraged", which is also an anagram of "angered", the word "Terribly" being used in the clue as an anagram indicator. The solver should always be on the look-out for words suggesting arrangement, change, wrongness, confusion, strangeness and the like which may point to anagrams in the clue: "new" is sometimes used, also "sort" and "out" (in the sense of "wrong"), while "perhaps", "maybe" and "possibly" will probably indicate anagrams. Then there are words which have different meanings: "refuse" in a clue may appear to be a verb meaning "decline", but it may really mean the noun meaning "rubbish": "tent" may mean not a canvas shelter, but a Spanish wine: "saw" or "gnome" may mean a maxim. Solving crosswords certainly helps to enlarge one's vocabulary. All sorts of words have hidden meanings in crosswords with "do" clued as a party, "letter" as a landlord, "number" as an anaesthetic (that which numbs) and so ad infinitum, the oldest chestnut being "flower" as a river, while "sewer" may mean a sempstress and "cover for a sewer" will mean not a manhole but a thimble, and "tour de France" means not a cycle race but the Eiffel Tower.

Many a crossword answer is made up of other words indicated by the clue. "Loudly disapprove royal skating display? Some reservations here (7-5)" is solved by joining up Boo-king off-ice, while Mild-red is well known as a girl with slightly communist sympathies. A word may consist of one word containing another (En), and there are many other ways in which words (including abbreviations) may be combined either in their normal, or in anagrammatic or reversed forms to make the answer. In such "build-ups" the word "river" may well refer to one of the compiler's favourite British waterways - Dee, Exe, Fal or Ure (tributary of the Yorkshire Ouse).

Solvers should be familiar with many common abbreviations, such as e.g., i.e., the points of the compass N, S, E, W. (Sometimes clued as bridge players), musical notes A to G (or doh, re, mi, etc) and Roman numerals "MCClessCC" and anyone interested in cricket will know that the M in MCC stands for Marlebone. Chemical abbreviations for elements are sometimes used such as "au" (gold), "ag" (silver), "fe" (iron) etcetera. The letter L could be clued as money (pound sign), 50, lake, or as student, tyro, novice or learner (driver with L plates). Solvers are also expected to know simple words in the more familiar foreign languages, particularly the articles, e.g. el (clued as "the Spanish"), un ("a French") etc.

Finally, to mention four other types of clue: (a) Hidden answer clue (Cs) "Something more in the next race (5)", here the answer "extra" appears in consecutive letters in the clue ("next race"). (b) Straight quotation, requiring the solver to supply the missing word or words (nothing cryptic about this type of clue). (c) "Sound" clues (Sd) with sound-indicators such as "say", "we hear", "it's said", or "sound" telling the solver to look to the sound of the words used. "Some measure of spirit? I say! (5)" gives the answer "optic" (optic measures used in bars). "Say" in the clue tells the solver to look to the sound of "I", that is "eye". (d) The acronym (Ac), or word made from the initial letters of other words.

An ounce of practical demonstration being worth a pound of theory, I set out below explanations of every clue in the first puzzle in this collection. Some may wish to try the puzzle first without this "crib".

For Acorn BBC Master 128 5.25" disc (ADFS), Master Compact and Electron 3.5" disc and Archimedes 3.5" disc, insert the disc. To start the program, depress the SHIFT key and, whilst holding the SHIFT key down, press and release BREAK. Finally release the SHIFT key.

For BBC Master, Model B and Electron cassette, the main program is recorded on both sides of the tape. Type CHAIN"" (RETURN) to load. Each side of the cassette contains 28 crosswords. Side A puzzles 1932-1959 and Side B puzzles 1960-1987.

A title page will be loaded followed by the main program. It is suggested that the crosswords are attempted sequentially and after a particular crossword has been loaded that you note the position shown by your footage counter. The next time you attempt a crossword after loading the program, you can fast-forward to the recorded position, thereby decreasing the search-time required.

The program has been carefully designed on four levels so as to meet the needs of all crossword solvers. Level 1, the highest level, should provide hours of hitherto unequalled competitive stimulus, whether you are of championship status, or like me, an average solver who spends the best part of a train journey at it, with occasional success.

Level 2 allows you the choice of either marking the clue or attempting the solution; whereupon correct letters appear in upper case on the grid together with incorrect letters in lower case.

For those new to cryptic crosswords, Level 3 offers a clue to the workings of the compiler's mind in the form of a convention indicator, the key to which is revealed in the glossary of terms (page 12). *An - for instance - denotes an anagram in the clue, thereby saving time and helping the solver.

Level 4 is for beginners. The first letter of the solution is printed on the grid automatically. This makes the task of solving the puzzle very much easier.

These are by no means the only stimuli available. The special marking system allows clues to be addressed any number of times. Clues may be cancelled at any stage except at Solution Entry. Previously solved clues may be re-addressed for cross reference purposes. Further, should the clue prove too baffling, the computer can solve it for you. Effectively, then, the game becomes a contest between you and the computer as to who can resolve the greatest number of clues at the highest possible level in the shortest possible time, points being awarded according to level.

I wish you hours of enjoyment!

David Akenhead

Upon completion of the loading instructions as directed you are offered the option to include sound. Press the S key for Sound or the N key for No Sound. The screen clears and the words "Assembling crossword" appear. The name of the crossword you have chosen is 'typed' out by the computer and the crossword follows. Finally the score line, set to 0, is printed upper right.

The assembly instruction disappears, the invisible clock starts, and hereon it's up to you.

The instruction "Insert clue number" appears. Enter the clue number of your choice and pres RETURN. If there are two possible clues the plaer is prompted to specify whether "Across A or Down D", the choice being made at the press of the desired key. If the clue exists it is displayed, otherwise the text screen clears and reverts back to the earlier instruction. A number of choices are now open to you. If you don't like the look of the clue, you can return to the address position by pressing 'C', or you may proceed. The words "Help? Y/N" appear on the text screen lower right. The program will only respond to 'Y' or 'N' being pressed. If 'N' is pressed the player is asked to enter the necessary letters. If the number of letters in incorrect the instruction is repeated. Provided the solution is correct in its entirety, pressing RETURN will enter it in the grid and 50 points are accumulatedd to the player's score; conversely, the grid stays blank at no penalty, (apart from the time lost) to the player. At this level, no computer assistance is available.

If 'Y' is pressed, the program proceeds to Level 2, a marker option in the form "Marker? Y/N". The idea here is to offer the maximum degree of flexibility to the solver. Should you not like the clue, and prefer to try another instead, you may mark your clue by pressing 'Y'. An instruction follows to enter the requisite number of letters or employ chevrons - SHIFT > - to mark those parts of the solution which are unknown. Pressing the RETURN key subsequently enters the information on the grid. Should the clue be solved at this level, 40 points are awarded.

If the player pressees 'N' the computer assumes that further assistance with the existing clue is required. The program continues to Level 3, printing a convention indicator after the clue. The words "Clue 2? Y/N" appear. If 'N' is pressed the player is offered the chance of computer assistance in the form "Solution desired? Y/N". If 'N' is pressed the player may either attempt the solution or mark it as previously. No penalty is incurred, and the clue may be re-addressed as and when required. Should the player prefer to attempt the solution, correct letters will be printed in upper case and incorrect ones in lower case. Again, there is no penalty. When correct, 30 points accrue to the player's score at this level. Conversely, if 'Y' is pressed the computer solves the clue and 30 points are deducted from the player's score. The same penalty applies to the next level of play.

If further help is required Level 4 allows the first letter of the solution to be printed in the grid. A solution at this level is worth 10 points. The procedure is as for Level 3.

A clue may be cancelled at any stage except the Solution Entry stage and, for cross-reference purposes, previously solved clues may be re-addressed at any time. Should a non-existent clue number be entered the computer will alert you to your error and reset to the address position.

If you wish to stop the program you can leave it by pressing the RETURN key on its own in the address position. The words "Quit Y/M" appear on the text screen lower right. This is a failsafe device used to offset accidental pressing of the RETURN key which would otherwise terminate the puzzle. Should the puzzle be completed, a sound signal is emitted. The text screen clears to reveal an analysis of the player's performance in terms of the time taken, the number of clues solved by both player and computer, the score and an assessment of the same in the categories - 'Beginner', 'Average', 'Good', 'Very Good' and 'Expert'. The player is offered the option of viewing the entire solution, before proceeding to the final page which offers a choice between selecting a new puzzle or leaving the program. Should you decide on the latter option, and your system employs ADFS, do remember that in order to retrieve your disc facility you must switch off your computer and then switch it back on.

A puzzle can only be completed by calling up every clue and answering it satisfactorily. The program has been written in such a way that, once a clue has been attempted at a certain level, it is not possible to re-address that clue at a higher level.

The following is a list of the most common abbreviations and pointers employed in puzzles, in alphabetical order. In addition, the common abbreviations of the months and days of the week, as well as the London Postal Districts, political parties, American states, and music notes which I have not included.

The following list of convention indicators and category pointers employed in the puzzles in alphabetical order: Note - There may be more than one indicator in a clue, in which case I have selected the one I consider most helpful. It should also be remembered that in cryptic clues one convention may well embrace others. To this end, I have included in square brackets the conventions with particular association.