Here is "The Method" for beating the somewhat bizarre scoring rules for the Diamond Crosswords game on Shockwave.
This takes practice, but it gives huge scores. I used to get scores in the 5000 - 6000 range, but after learning The Method, I now score in the 13000 range.
- Don't click on "Ready". Ever.
- Study the clues and figure out the complete solution. Write it down if you have to. But it's more fun to do it in your head.
- From now on, you have to be fast and accurate.
- Click on clue 4 Down.
- Start typing the answers (you can't see what you're typing) until you have typed 6 letters of 2 Down.
- Click where the diamond is.
- Double click on the 6th letter of 2 Down. It should be the last letter that you typed.
- Start typing the answers again until you have finished 9 Across.
- Click on the first letter of 10 Across and type it.
- Click on the first letter of 6 Across and type it.
- Click on the first letter of 8 Across and type the first two letters.
- Clap your hands at your score.
Briefer instructions, once you've mastered it.
- Click on the clue for 4D.
- Type answers until you've typed 6 letters of 2D.
- Double click the 6th letter of 2D.
- Finish typing to the end of 9A.
- Finish the last 4 spaces in this order: 10A, 6A, 1st 2 letters of 8A.
Thanks to all the players who gradually discovered the method. I can't take any credit at all for the discovery. I'm only writing it down so others can use it.