My better half is a crossword addict and does the lot. But I find them either a bit unchallenging or far too obtuse; there doesn't seem to be a middle course.
Good new topic, this; perhaps we could discuss the tricky cryptic ones?
OK a little on difficulty from my perspective. Of some of the cryptics I try:
I can still fail on or take a while over the odd clue but allowing for that, I rarely find the local EDP ones take more than 2 or 3 passes. They can turn an odd one up were I get totally stuck but I’d imagine the really serious cryptic solvers would find the far too boring.
Monday’s Guardian cryptic can be regarded by some as the gentle start to the week. Rufus, the usual setter is sometimes suggested as a good introduction to cryptic crosswords. He is very fair and tries to avoid the really obtuse/contrived. Again, some will find it too easy but he provides a nice challenge for my level and can come up it some nice clues that give a chuckle – wish I could think of an example.
I’m not sure were to go from there with the Guardian daily cryptics. They can turn up ones where I could look at the puzzle for an hour without being able to make a start. Alternatively, I might get some clues and see a few others just by the definition part of the clue. I don’t mind too much if that happens a couple of times in a puzzle but it’s no fun if I’m putting a number of answers in where I can’t understand the cryptic part to know why the solution is correct.