Haven't written one of these narcissistic rambles in a long while. Time to pollute the interwebs! This is a post-tournament summary. Helps me process. Please, tolerate the narrative form. Enjoy the bingo quizzing along the way (with answers and a few definitions and one cool historical fact at bottom). Link to the uploaded games for more notes if you're nerdy enough. Disco disco disco.
Ankeny (greater Des Moines), Iowa – June 2019
Rd. 1. vs. David Brown
David I've played against since he was a teen. Lexington, KY club. Des Moines club. Best of luck as you start up your mathy PhD program!
?ABDLNU (1) and EEIORRTV (2) for me early. PIROGUE for David. I miss a likely game-winner through his blank P holding AEFILNS (3), the only playable bingo. I also missed a spot for QADIS for 42 late, playing QI for just 21.
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32406#0# (these link to cross-tables annnotated games with notes which I uploaded)
My Power Tiles (MPT): ?SSQX
Score game cume record overall cume
389-391 (2) 0-1 (2)
Rd. 2 vs. Darin True
Oof dah. Bad to worse! In sequence early I miss AEGINOPT (4) right out of the gate, Darin finds excellent (P)EELaBLE, and then I miss ACCEINOT (5). Later, my AEILNRS (6) and EGINORTV (7) sandwiched his RAISONNE.
Late, he hits AIRDROPS, slotting the A in a tws-tws lane. But I miss the hammer – DDEERST using it (8) as well as one through an E (9). To cap it all off, instead of playing FOU for the win on what would be my last play, I think, “Why not tack on my S for an extra couple points?”. The answer is that FOUS* is invalid. I turn a one-point win into a loss.
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32407#0#
MPT: S(SS)X
396-441 (45) 0-2 (47)
Rd. 3 vs. Chuck Riordan
After knowing I likely could've won Game 1 and knowing I blew Game 2, watching Chuck go back-to-back with MERRILY and EBONITES and putting me behind 100+ had me feeling down. But never out!
My comeback began with an unintentional phony – the non-bingo GAVOTED*. This French dancing verb needs double T. Then I hit ?EEIRSZ for 129. Only one solution gets the Z slotted correctly in slot six (10).
I lucked out that Chuck couldn't get a DLS-DWS hooking the bingo and that he needed to get rid of Q elsewhere. I hit it for 50+ and held on.
MPT: ?SSSJXZ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32410#0#
416-385 +31 1-2 (14)
Rd. 4 vs. Avery Mojica
Know what's a bad idea against North America's #3 player? Opening with DONZER*. I was certain it was good. But why not play ZONER for more anyway? Oy veh. CADUCEUS and AGELESS for the weekend's very worthy champion.
MPT: ?SQXZ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32429#0#
295 – 445 (150) 1-3 (164)
Rd. 5 vs. Peter Schwartzman
Peter opened with PONCHOS and VIRTUOSI. By turn eight he had also landed ENSUITE and SORBATE. Only damage I did was SWInERY*. I think he knew it was invalid, but might've figured his only losing sequence would start with a lost challenge, however unlikely.
MPT: ??SJQ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32428#0#
316 – 520 (204) 1-4 (368)
Rd 6 vs. George Asaka
MANNITE to start for George. When he back-to-backed with OUTLIVES and PISCATOR shortly after, I had to challenge the latter. It looked right, but PISCADOR is valid and I had to hope it was the only valid spelling. When he hit LEISURE, I told my old friend I was unimpressed. It took him ten turns to reach four bingo. Pete only took eight the round prior.
I landed AEINORS (11) for me late in a very lost cause.
MPT: SJQXZ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32431#0#
353 – 544 (201) 1-5 (569)
Rd 7 vs. Matt Dewaelsche
?AEEEGNS (12) early for me. EXSERTS double-double non-bingo put me up 90. Since he had to leave board open, gave me a spot for BEILRTT (13). Matt had INSTATE late to cut spread, but WHEEZE and FOILS for 100 between them gave me a palette-cleansing score after those last two rounds.
MPT: ?SSSSXZ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32432#0#
516 – 321 +195 2-5 (374)
Rd 8 vs. George Asaka
Midgame, played ?AEEGIN to an open A It would have to end with the A and the third letter needing to hook to back of HI (14). A fairly high-prob word, but still my play of the weekend perhaps. Bango'ed with EFINRST (15). George got OLESTRA late. We both missed his out-play of ROUTE(W)Ay, though it wouldn't have quite scored enough for a comeback win.
MPT: ?SSSQZ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32437#0#
419-315 +104 3-5 (270)
Rd. 9 vs. Matt Dewaelsche
After we each exchanged seven to start, NECROSE for Matt. Later, EEIORVZ through an S (16) for 71 pts. for me, but he got nearly all of them back with PREED, back hooking D to my bingo on a DWS. EGIOOST (17) with a blank for me and two more exchanges for him.
Still, I managed to let him get close by trying URBANIA*. Like with several plays this weekend, I would've sworn it was valid. Must've been thinking of just URBIA.
MPT: ??SSJZ [no link, didn't record well enough to re-create game]
415-397 +18 4-5 (252)
Rd 10 vs. Chuck Riordan
Holding ?ILNOPR, I had five playable eights through the open E. Me, I made ROP(E)LINe*. That exact one even has a valid anagram (18). Can you find any of the other four through the open eights (19-22)? I also landed AEINNSS (23). Chuck drew letters one doesn't want to draw all game.
MPT: ?SSSSJXZ
https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32470#0#
416-268 +148 5-5 (104)
Rd. 11 vs. Peter Schwartzman
AnDROID and ISLANDER right out of the gate for Peter. No redemption for me.
He let FISHGuT* slide midgame, since his reply would put him back up 80+. A character from the Wheel of Time high fantasy fiction series commonly exclaimed “Fishguts!” I was more afraid it was a sticky-S word than it being invalid both ways. I saw but chickened out on a bingo through an O (24), didn't see two plays through an open I (25-6) or one through an E (27).
One will find in Peter's own notes uploaded to cross-tables that he didn't understand why I'd close the only bingo lane (which I'd just opened playing (E)RG ).
Well, it was late (turn 12)
I was down almost 100
My draw from ERG was utter crap
From the shrinking pool of tiles unseen, I figured (correctly) there were many ways he could perhaps bingo there himself (Zyzzyva indicated seven playable in that lane, all high-prob or common knowledge).
Quackle assessed my odds of winning at 0.9%, so I think my instinct to play the un-hookable TORN and close it down to try and keep the spread from getting insane was defensible.
Me: ?SX https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32453#0#
Here are the notes from Pete's upload: https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32443#0#
337-463 (127) 5-6 (231)
Rd 12 vs. George Asaka
Took a minute trying to decide between JINKY* (thanks, Shaggy) and JANKY* (it's slangy, not valid -yet-). George let it go after a long hold to bingo to TWS with YEARENDS. I nearly challenged, thought the S might make it naughty, might only be adjective.
AABEHNOR (28) and ELNOOPST (29) with a blank back to back sandwiched George's AUNTLIER. He wouldn't seem to draw particularly well for the remainder, though he still scored consistently. I landed EEIILNS (30) late to salt things away.
Me: ?SSSJZ https://www.cross-tables.com/annotated.php?u=32461#0#
495-385 +110 6-6 (121)
So much review to do, so much rust to get rid of. A .500 record and middle-of-the-pack finish was on the high end of what I thought I might accomplish on the weekend. 4th place left me just out of the money, but I did get high word prize for RESEIZE.
Congratulations to Avery on his 1st place finish. I know it was probably a little sad to see a 48-match win streak (*boggle*) end, but he's still rated #3 in all North America. Peter and my longtime friend Darin True finished in the other money spots. Can't believe it'd been so long since I'd seen Darin that my child (age 7) may not have yet been born last we faced off. Kudos to all the winners and palce-finishers. Especially pleased to see my long time amigo Dan Heck finish 3rd, in a three-way tie for 1st on wins in the second division.
Thank you to Rich Banker and Pat Boddy for directing such a fine event once again this year. I am certain many Des Moines folks and others also played huge roles, too. Thanks to you all!
To anyone who might stumble across this ramble that wasn't there: There may be events with as consistently wonderful of people over the years attending. But I'm confident there isn't one out there with more. Suburban Des Moines may not carry loads of cache as a travel destination compared to some locales, but it's as fine a Scrabble-time as one can find.
Avg. score: 397-407
Bingos me/opp: 16-23
Blanks: 12/24
Esses: 29/48
JQXZ: 27/48
TOTAL: 68/120 56%
Two blanks: 1-1
One blank: 5-3
No blanks: 0-2
BINGO QUIZ ANSWERS
1) UNBALED
2) OVERTIRE
3) LIFESPAN
4) PINOTAGE – variety of red wine grape
5) ACETONIC
6) ALINERS (also NAILERS, RENAILS)
7) REVOTING
8) DREADEST
9) DESERTED
10) RESEIZE
11) ERASION
12) AGENESES – absence of imperfect development of a body part (pl.)
13) BRITTLE
14) AGENSIA – same definition as agenesis!
15) SNIFTER
16) OVERSIZE
17) GOOIEST
18) LEPORINE – resembling a rabbit or hare
19-22) PANBROIL
PELORIAN – abnormal regularity of a flower form (adj.)
REPLICON – a section of nucleic* acid that replicates as a unit
TERPINOL – a fragrant alcohol, used in perfumes, cosmetics, flavors
23) SIENNAS
24) GOATFISH
In ancient Rome, these were highly sought. They weren't super delish. But they change
colors sometimes, and especially when they would die. So it was served live so it would
die in front of the dining guests and be reeeeely preeeteee.
25-6) INFIGHTS, SHIFTING
27) REFIGHTS
28) HABANERO
29) PELOTON – the main body of riders in a cycling race (pl.)
30) ENISLES – to isolate (also ENSILES – to store in a silo)
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Knoxville June, 2017
What a treat to carpool with clubmates Steve Bush and Will Scott.
Together, we comprised half of Division One. The field is
highlighted by David, the reigning national champion. I am seeded a
distant third.
Rd. 1 vs. Winter
Winter got TOTTLEd* by me with TOILETTE
and STILETTO available. My ADILNORT (1) netted a challenge. I
missed the playable seven in ACEEHRT (2), plus the eight to a D (3). I also hickened out on one of the eights through an I and missed the
other entirely (4). Challenging off his R-hook to OBLIQUE wasn't
nearly enough.
323 – 428 0-1 (105) my power
tiles: SS
Rd. 2 vs. Steve Bush
EEILSST (5), though missed better
through an E (6). REINFUSE and OUTDONE were easily enough for him to
outpace my attempts to plow through bad racks, like HOOVER (U leave),
VODOUN and BOTCHER double-double non-bingo. We both missed front
extensions for FOILS.
320 – 467 0-2 (252) mine: SSSQ
Rd 3 vs. Cynthia Seales
One of the two in ?ELLNOP (7) to open
for me, followed by AEGORTUU (8). She landed MANAGERS, but I also
for BDEIILRT (9).
443 – 401 1-2 (210) mine: ?SJXZ
Rd 4 vs. David Gibson
TURNIPS midgame, INSNARE and OVERPAST
back to back late for David. I can't complain about my blank being
the last tile in the bag if I'm going to try phonies like CHIVED*.
318 – 438 1-3 (330) mine: ?SJQ
Rd 5 vs. Will Scott
EINNRSS (10) early, AEELPRS (11) and
ABCDEOR (12) for me late back-to-back. Extending TINE with EEMNR
(13) would've been fun.
430 – 300 2-3 (200) mine: ??SSSJQ
Rd 6 vs. Winter
Winter isn't afraid to phony or
challenge, a refreshing style of play. CHURNIER* seemed plausible to
me and stood, plus he had ENTOILED and the double-blank DOORCASE. This last move was interesting to sim individually (see the
annotated game for notes). I replied with DEOPRST (14) for 101. The difference might've been his unsuccessful challenge of MAUD.
427 – 407 3-3 (180) mine: SJQXZ
Rd 7 vs. Steve Bush
REEVOLVE* for Steve, but I used it to
get out of a bad rack, hooking ERUVS late. I got ADENOOST (15) in a
tight spot late.
370 – 361 4-3 (171) mine: ?SSSSQX
Rd. 8 vs. Cynthia Seales
Cynthia got PLATTEAU* past me, and
scored Q(u)INO(L) for 68 later. In between, I earned a challenge
with AEELNRST (16) and landed AEEILNRT (17).
This game got nutty late. Down what I
thought was 22 and with six consonants and a blank in hand, I played
T(ABO)R(I)C for 24. We both laughed, knowing it wasn't good. I was
desperately hoping she might let it stand instead of even the
slightest risk of a challenge, that I might get close enough for a
recount. And so it was.
Had she next blocked an S-hook spot
with one of three plays available to her, she wins. And this is
despite her having overscored her bingo by 11 and I having
underscored one by 3. And so the 14 recount-points I netted ended up
being enough to turn a seeming seven point loss around.
395 – 387 5-3 (163) mine: ?SSSZ
Rd. 9 vs. David Gibson
DEEMOST (18) merely caught me up, and
he replied with ROARING. I managed to fish for EINPRTTU (19) for an
out-play to save a little face.
404 – 441 5-4 (203) mine: ?S
Rd. 10 vs. Will Scott
IMAGINED for him, CEEINRT (20) for me. Maybe I win this one if early I'd gotten DEIILNXY (21).
335 – 361 5-5 (229) mine: ?Z
Rd 11 vs. Winter
ACEELNRP (22) midgame for me, but he
went back-to-back with AIRIEST and GLORIOUS late while I couldn't get
a vowel.
333 – 396 5-6 (292) mine: ?SSJX
Rd 12 vs. Steve Bush
ACEEIRSU (23) for me early, plus phony
GOOPED*. AIRINGS and GRANDEST for Steve. I also played IWAT*,
accidentally grabbing an I instead of another of my three T's.
331 – 460 5-7 (421) mine: ?SZ
Rd. 13 Cynthia Seales
Cynthia opened with INEDITA. I got
away with TOPPABLE* as a non-bingo, yet missed the double-double
AABELLPY (24) through AY lane over. I also missed CEELRSSU (25)
before landing AELRSST (26).
One of the few things I got right was
non-bingo AKIRTUZ (27) for 60+ points. I only knew it because one of
the Reinke's nearly playing it on me a tournament ago. Cynthia
outplayed me easily this game.
395 – 355 6-7 (381) mine:
?SSSJQXZ
Rd. 14 vs. David Gibson
Missed ACDEHIRV (28) while David landed
INTAKES to open, plus PEARLING and LENITIES.
327 – 424 6-8 (478) mine: SX
Rd 15 vs. Will Scott
First two turns, missed BDEOORY (29)
and ADEMORTW (30). DEMNORT (31) and IIGLNTT (32) back-to-back later
though. I landed (33) AALNNOST with a blank and earned a challenge,
though Quackle liked many non-bingos better. I hadn't known CERSSUUX (34).
418 – 340 7-8 (400) mine: ??SSSX
Despite the losing record, I actually
ended up in 3rd place and lost only five rating points. I
was a whopping -five- games out of first and second place. Congrats
to David on his division title and to Winter,who ended up being
the only person in the division to actually gain in rating. And
thank you to directors Trish and Vicki on a fabulous event as always!
Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 13/30
Esses: 29/60
JQXZ: 25/60
TOTAL: 67/150 44%
Avg. Score: 371 – 397
Games in which I had:
2 blanks: 2-0
1 blank: 4-5
0 blanks: 1-3
Quiz Answers
1) TRINODAL
2) RECHEAT –
hunting call, made on valveless metal horn
(also
HECTARE, TEACHER, CHEATER, RETEACH)
3) RACHTED (also DETACHER)
4) HETAERIC –
concubine, esp. highly-cultured one in ancient Greece
(also
AETHERIC)
5) TIELESS (also TELESIS, LISTEES)
6) STEELIES –
steel marble
7) POLLENS (also PLEONAL)
8) OUTARGUE
9) [skipped a number,
whoops]
10) SINNERS
11) PLEASER (also RELAPSE, REPEALS, PRESALE)
11) PLEASER (also RELAPSE, REPEALS, PRESALE)
12) BROCADE
13) NEMERTINE – from the phylum comprising ribbon worms
14) SPORTED (also DEPORTS, REDTOPS)
15) ODONATES – order of predatory aquatic insects like damsel- and
dragonflies
16) ETERNALS (also TELERANS)
17) ELATERIN – a chemical used as a purgative (also ENTAILER,
TREENAIL)
18) DEMOTES
19) INPUTTER
20) ENTERIC – pertaining to the G.I. Tract (also ENTICER)
21) XYLIDINE – chemical used mainly in dye manufacture
22) PRECLEAN
23) CAUSERIE – an informal chat, conversation
24) PLAYABLE
25) RECLUSES (also CURELESS)
25) RECLUSES (also CURELESS)
26) SALTERS (also ARTLESS, LASTERS, SLATERS)
27) ZIKARUT – variant of ZIGGURAT, a pyramidal temple tower, prob.
like Tower of Babel
28) ARCHIVED
29) OREBODY – mass of ore-bearing rock
30) DAMEWORT – herbaceous plant of the mustard family
31) MORDENT – musical ornament indicating a note is to be played
in rapid alternation with the one next to it
32) TILTING (also TITLING)
33) SONANTAL – pertaining to a syllabic sound
34) EXCURSUS – detailed discussion of some point in a book, esp.
in an appendix
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Arden Cup 2017
Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, a special event for me. My now wife
and I started seeing each other there, and we got engaged there. She
and our daughter, Abby, came for the Marty Gabriel finely-directed
annual event. Wendy would not be playing this year, but took Abby to
the Pier and spent lots of time in the hotel pool together.
I came in seeded 6th of ten. My good friend and clubmate
Ken ended up playing up into Division One with me, even though he had
been originally seed towards the bottom of Two. Another good friend,
Avery arrived seeded in 4th. And one of North America's
top ten ranked players, Mack Mellar, was also in.
Rd. 1 vs. Jonathan Lindh
TENDONS and LIGATES for him, EFLNORTT
(1) for me.
313 – 441 (128) 0-1 me: SSS
Rd. 2 vs. Charles Reinke
CREASES for Charles. I nearly tried
MUFFiNS/(GADJO)S* (plural is GADJE), but instead played MUFFS played
for 50+. I got one of the two in ?AABNNO (2) to an S, but that
gave Charles DICTATE as an underlap.
Check out the
annotated game for interesting late game decision on HUE.
354 – 396 (170) 0-2 me:
??SSJX
Rd. 3 vs. Ken Dutch
Early I missed ?AALLNOV (3). My tws
AEINNOTV (5) gave him a corner tws non-bingo reply of 60. Late
FINORST (6) for me. My AMA gave him an out-bingo lane, as
I'd fallen asleep on G hook, but had he seen it his score would've
been just short.
466 – 379 (83) 1-2 me: ?SX
Rd 4 vs. Avery Mojica
RETILED for Avery early, me right back
with AEGLNORY (7). He aggressively slotted an E in a tws lane, on which I blocked trip-trip. Avery still hit CRISPENED! PASTILLE for
Avery. My ADEIORS (8) gave him TIX on a tls-tls.
He let me get away with MINGE* at the
end since he could only lose risking an unsuccessful challenge. I'll
never chase that phony out of my head thanks to a certain South Park
episode.
417 – 432 (98) 1-3 me: SJQZ
Rd. 5 vs. Mack Meller
ADEEILRT (9) midgame for me, AEGIORSV
(10) later. My last play was AEIMRSTU (11), but he found TENOURS- one of only two winning out-bingos possible, which hooked five
different places.
408 – 415 (105) 1-4 me: SS
Rd. 6 vs. Steve Hartsman
Steve was my first mentor in the game
and I love seeing him. Playing him hurts my brain though!
MALTEDS for him, me right back
with ADEINRTU (12) and DEILFORU (13) for a double-double. He took
lead with TROPICAL and INCITING. Not sure where I picked up AENNRSWY
(14).
512 – 461 (54) 2-4 me: ?SSJQZ
Rd 7. vs. Thomas Reinke
AAEINORX (15) early for me with blank,
but missed far better AAEIMOTX (16) and AAEIMNOX (17). He landed
INDULGE and then later blocked my EHILORPS (18). I had the blinders on, missing AEILOPRS (18) to
blow this one. He went out with OUTLIER on the tws lane.
336 – 446 (164) 2-5 me:
??SSSJ
Rd. 8 vs. Nedd Kareiva
AEGILNR (19), DEELNORT (20), and
ADEINOTV (21) for me. We were both surprised to learn later his
REDEVOTES* wasn't valid.
455 – 325 (34) 3-5 me: ?QJX
Rd. 9 vs. Doug Lundquist
NAPULII for his start, but I came back
right DEEMORV (22) with a blank, though missing DEIMOPRV (23).
409 – 364 +11 4-5 me: ??XJ
Rd. 10 vs. Jonathan Lindh
CDEEITX (24) with a blank for me early,
but missed DEEISTX (25) for dws-dws He came right back with PENSILE
for said dws-dws. I countered on the other open dws-dws with
AEILMORT (26). I caught him on VIBER* and REVUEING*, hitting
DDGILNOO (27) in between.
498 – 357 +152 5-5 me:
?SSSQXZ
Rd. 11 vs. Charles Reinke
I missed ?AIOSUY (28) to open, but
managed AAEIRST (29) later. He hit WISENTS late, but had exchanged
three times.
398 – 296 +254 6-5 me:
??SSJXZ
Rd 12 vs. Ken Dutch
I missed AEKMNRSU (30). DDEEHNRTU (31)
for me, but he landed VARSITY. I got away with NONNY* and then hit
BEIRSTU (32). At the end, I blocked the only of three open lanes he
could -not- have bingo'ed on with the eight tiles unseen to me, and
so was lucky to win.
420 – 357 +317 7-5 me: ??SSQX
Rd. 13 vs. Avery Mojica
AEENRSTU (33) for me with a blank, but
missed ACENRTUY (34) from a tws. We traded my BDEHIRT (35) to his
CANFIELD. ADEINSST (36) salted this one away, but he did get 60 for
hooking XED/(WEAL)D. I'd forgotten the five entirely.
450 – 364 +403 8-5 me: ?SSQ
Rd 14 vs. Mack Mellar
SACHETED for him for nearly 100 early,
but I came right back with ADEIRTY (37). He challenged my OORARIS*
off. Something like 14 variants of CURARE, but this is only similar
to valid ones. Then I missed AEIKNNRS (38). I did manage AEGNNRSU
(39). I didn't see AGEFLSTU (40), but luckily landed a
better-simming non-bingo.
Mack saw my winning outplay out-bingo
from ?DEESTW through an AR (41) (SMARTWEED was possible, but didn't
fit). I even had a winning non-bingo of ADEEMSWY (42) through AY.
Instead, I tried FEETWARDS*.
362 – 420 +345 8-6 me: ?SSSJX
Rd. 15 vs. Steve Hartsman
AACLPTTU (43) with a blank for my first
move, but hadn't known AADPSTTU (44) for more. PANDOURS and REZ for
51for him, AGEORRT (45) with the other blank for me. In a messy end
game, I'd lost track of an S and Steve hadn't marked off one of the
blanks. The game would've hinged on an interesting pickle he'd put
me in with the world WEIGH midgame.
398 – 371 +372 9-6 me: ??SSJX
Rd. 16 vs. Thomas Reinke
Nothing like missing a bingo right out
of the gate – EFISTTY (46). He answered my ADIMNST (47) with
STALLED, CREATES and PLATONIC. My BDENORW (48) only served to save
spread.
397 – 456 +313 9-7 me: ?SJZ
Game 17 vs. Nedd Kareiva
AEILMORT (49) for me early with a
blank, though missed better BEEIMORT (50). He came right back with
DISHFUL. I hit CDEEGIOS (51), but a magnificent ten was available
through LO_A (52). BEELINES for him, ACELORSS (53)for me, though ACELORS
(54) would've served better had I known #51 took an S-hook. The
other blank gave me AAELRNTT (55), but I missed AAEINRTT for a tws (56).
479 – 420 +372 10-7 me: ??SSZ
Game 18 vs. Doug Lundquist
AEILNRTV (57) for me. Quirky: the next
three tiles I turned over were U's, and the last was the Q.
He replied with double-double LINEAGES. After I chickened put on blocking play of FARCI, he got trip-trip
PALINODE. Even had I blocked, he'd seen PALINODES through AL
elsewhere.
He slotted an X in another trip-trip
lane with XENIA for 42 that was fateful. I thought I'd mucked up a
little with an E over the X, but he landed the non-bingo trip-trip
REEXPOSE!
It was his first ever game with two
3x3's. Sometimes all one can do is sit back, admire and smile.
354 – 597 +129 10-8 me: QZ
Game 19 vs. Thomas Reinke
I started with ADEINNOV (58), but he
got INTERTIE and MOISTEN back to back. I hope it was just fatigue when missing ACEEOST (59). Feel less badly about not getting AESSTUY
(60). Thomas had PANFIsH for an out-play for 116, but wasn't quite
100% sure, and FisH alone was easily enough for the win.
PANFISH is a verb. I want it to mean
something akin to fly-fishing, standing in the river in waders with a
frying pan whacking at jumping salmon or some such. But it does not.
323 – 413 +39 10-9 me: SSSXZ
Round 20 – bye
A player had earlier left the
tournament unexpectedly, and so my gaming was done.
And so I finished where I was seeded -
6th – with a small gain in rating. Getting to spend
time with my former clubmates from Des Moines, Dan Heck and Rich
Banker, was pure joy. May we forever be weirded out by the sports bar
and restaurant at which we all dined that was so clearly a former
gentleman's club...
Stat me, baybeee –
Blanks: 15/38
Esses: 34/76
Heavies: 34/76
TOTAL: 83/190 43%
Avg. score: 408 - 406
Games in which I had –
2 blanks: 5-2
1 blank: 5-2
0 blanks: 0-5
QUIZ ANSWERS
1) FRONTLET –
a decorative band worn across the forehead
2) ABANDONS,
BONANZAS
3) FLAVANOL –
organic compound in red wine, said to protect against heart disease
4) Whoops.
Skipped a number.
5) INNOVATE (also VENATION)
6) FORINTS –
Hungarian standard unit of currency; conversion to the euro not
likely 'til 2020's
7) YEARLONG
8) ROADIES (also RADIOES)
9) RETAILED (also DETAILER, ELATERIN)
10) VIRAGOES –
noisy, domineering woman; archaic: manlike maiden, amazon, brave and
strong
11) MURIATES –
any chloride used as a fertilizer
12) INDURATE –
to harden, as stone
13) FLUORIDE
14) SWANNERY –
place where swans are raised
15) ANOREXIA
16) TOXAEMIA –
condition of having toxins in the blood
17) ANOXEMIA –
lack of oxygen in the arterial blood
18) REPOLISH
aaaand used the
same number twice
18) POLARISE (also PELORIAS)
19) REGINAL (also ALIGNER, REALIGN, NARGILE, ENGRAIL)
20) RONDELET –
rondeau (poem) of five or seven lines (also REDOLENT)
21) DONATIVE –
a donation
22) REMOVED
23) IMPROVED
24) EXCITED
25) EXISTED
26) AMITROLE – non-cropland herbicide (also ROLAMITE)
26) AMITROLE – non-cropland herbicide (also ROLAMITE)
27) DOODLING
28) OUGIYAS –
currency of Mauritania, one of just two in world not decimally based
29) ARISTAE –
bristle-like appendage or structure (also ATRESIA, ASTERIA)
30) UNMASKER
31) THUNDERED
32) RUBIEST (also BUSTIER)
32) RUBIEST (also BUSTIER)
33) SAUTERNE –
a French sweet wine, using grapes raisined by noble rot fungus
(botyrized)
34) CENTAURY –
a medicinal herb
35) BIRTHED
36) DESTAINS (also SANDIEST)
37) DIETARY
38) SNARKIER
39) GUNNERAS –
a plant with enormous leaves, up to just over 6.5 feet long
40) STAGEFUL –
as much or many as a stage can hold
41) STEWARDED
42) MAYWEEDS –
stinky plant
43) CATAPULT
44) DUPATTAS –
a shawl-like scarf of south Asia
45) GARROTE –
among related def.s, a method of capital punishment of Spanish origin
with which an iron collar is tightened around someone's neck until he
is strangulated or killed by injury to the spinal column at the base
of the brain. You're welcome.
46) TESTIFY
47) MANTIDS –
mantis
48) BROWNED
49) ROLAMITE – ball bearing mechanism with incredibly low friction (also AMITROLE)
49) ROLAMITE – ball bearing mechanism with incredibly low friction (also AMITROLE)
50) BIOMETER –
device for measuring CO2 given off by living matter
51) GEODESIC –
pertaining to curved plane-geometry
52) LOGAOEDICS
– poetry composed of a variety of feet so as to suggest a prosaic
rhythm
53) ESCOLARS –
a food fish, from Spanish for “scholar” due to spectacle-like
rings around the eyes
(also
LACROSSE, SOLACERS)
54) CLAROES,
COALERS, ORACLES, RECOALS (also ESCOLAR, SOLACER)
55) TARLETAN –
an open-weaved cotton fabric used for stiffening garments
(also
ALTERANT)
56) REATTAIN (also ATTAINER)
57) INTERVAL
58) DEVONIAN –
the part of the paleozoic era in which amphibians appeared
59) ACETOSE –
tasting like vinegar
60) EUSTASY –
a worldwide change in sea level
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Des Moines Scrabble Tournament February 2017
I came in as the #1 seed, ranked about 100 in NASPA. But there sat Avery Mojica, somehow just below me in rating when we know he's light years more skilled. Still, can't fear anyone when you sit down.
This is my favorite tournament of the year. Wendy and I lived in the Des Moines area for a few years not long back. Any excuse to visit them all is taken, and Scrabble the most fun of all.
Answers to the numbered alphagrams are at very end.
Rd. 1 vs. Dan Heck
EINNOORT (1), AEELNSSV (2) and DEEIMSS (3) for me by turn five. The last one made a phony -S hook on the first bingo. Dan held, but like me he wasn't sure about it. Dan hit ARENITE during my barrage, and then I think tricked me into opening the board while thinking I was blocking the case S he didn't have after all and landed super-sweet INTUI(T)ED.
We've sparred online and at club for years, but this was the first time we'd play in a tournament. I was never so happy to lose, it was quite a comeback.
351 – 416 0-1 (64) me: ??SSSQ opp: SJXZ
Rd 2 vs. Nick Purifoy
Nick opened with INUTILE, double-doubled with DOWNRATE for 98 son after, and took an opening I desperately made for his own SCOUTING late. Just AEIIRST (4) for me.
327 – 485 0-2 (158) (222) me: SSSJQ opp: ??SXZ
Rd 3 vs. Kevin Gauthier
?CEILLOZ (5) and ADEGIINT (6) for me early, GEILNRT (7) and AAECHRT (8) with blank for the C late. Finding one of the two that started with J would've netted me more points, but I once I found something necessarily ending with A I quit looking. I believe Kevin mentioned having quickly picked up esses to have three at once. Not lucky.
516 – 273 1-2 +243 (+21) me: ??XZ opp: SSSSJQ
Rd 4 vs. George Asaka
SCORIAE and ACTIVATE early for George, plus he challenged off my SALUTORY* in between (it's SALUTARY). I managed AEELMNS (9) with a blank, but missed the bingo that starts with A from ?AEELMNS (10). His SPIRAEA was salt in the wound. At some point this weekend George hit five consecutive bingos against someone. He was en fuego.
339 – 457 1-3 (118) (97) me: ?SSQXZ opp: ?SSJ
Rd 5 vs. Chuck Riordan
Mid-game we got rolling – tws IGNITES for him, AEIIPRR (11) with a blank for me. I missed ADEIIMPR (12) though. He came right back with tws REDCOAT. Desperate for a second lane, I threw a B out into trip-trip space, hoping maybe to catch a -BLE play or something. He played the odds and mucked up the bingo-prone area elsewhere. I trip-trip the out-bingo with ?EGINOR with the only play with the B in the sixth spot. (13). More luck, he's caught with a full rack that includes JWZ.
game link
464 – 355 2-3 +109 +12 me: ??S opp: SSSJQXZ
Game 6 vs. Need Kareiva
AWAITERS for him, but ABEMORT (14) and OX for 55 for me. game link
427 – 345 3-3 +82 +100 me: ?SSJXZ opp: ?SSQ
Game 7 vs. Avery Mojica
ASCARED for him, ADELOSTV (15) and AEEIRST (16) for me. DREAMIER regained him the lead and I think we figured the endgame was unwinnable for me.
386 – 392 3-4 (6) +94 me: SSSJQXZ opp: ??S
Game 8 vs. Dan Heck
Had all the letters for ACIPSTT (17), but could only get down 44-point non-bingo double-double version of it. AEEGNRT (18), AEHIOPRU (19), and AEEIRSTW (20) had me in fine fetters. REGAINED and having to eat a blank late for Dan-o.
490 – 323 4-4 +167 +261 me: SSSXZ opp: ??SJQ
Game 9 vs. Nick Purifoy
AEILLRS (21) and AMORRTUY (22) for me, TERTIAN for Nick.
394 – 361 5-4 +33 +294 me: ?SJXZ opp: ?SSSJQ
Game 10 v. Kevin Gauthier
DDEEILST (23) and DEIRSSTU (24) back-to-back midgame for me. I defended as best I could, but Kevin just could land THINNEST with a blank where T had to be first letter. Worse for me, I knew he was emptying the bag to a full rack and picking up the case blank. Quackle seems to indicate I had no winning sequence against perfect play. All I could do was set up a high-scoring out-in-two and hope for a mistake. He happened to miss the four playable out-bingo sevens from
?AENNOR and tried ANEURON*. I think he was combining NEURON and ANEURIN.
399 – 338 6-4 +61 +94 me: SSQ opp: ??SSJXZ
Round 11 vs. Nedd Kareiva
Struggled for workable draws, but can't complain since I missed ACEEPRS (25). I didn't think there was a lane on the board anyway since I always get confused over between YAUDS and YAULDS*. I extended to QUAD with -RECEP to a tws, which only ended up having three problems: it's phony because the middle vowel is I, it needs an S on the end to be valid anyway, and I underscored it by 18 points. MORALES for him, an eaten blank for me.
290 – 404 6-5 (114) (20) me: ?S opp: ?SSSJQXZ
I had a shot at money given where I was in the standings, but it was deemed that pairings which avoided repeats as best possible would be used. No problemo! I love playing Avery. Sometimes it's a gritted-teeth love though, as you are about to read... :)
Round 12 vs. Avery Mojica
Avery: Turn 1) BEAGLES; 2) AVULSEs; 6) NITRATE; 7) RAX – 42; 8) BRE(A)DNUT through the A I'd just given him from AEFINORS (26) because he'd blocked better AEFNORST (27); 9) EUrIPUS; 10) CLOAK – 60 which I could only have blocked with a one-tile three-pointer. One can't complain, just play one's best and admire the not-so-subtle art of a good friend creating a masterpiece of pain.
game link
352 - 602 6-6 (251) (271) me: SQZ opp: ??SSSJX
And so I finished in 4th place, one slot out of the prize money. I also lost about 50 ratings points. Can't spend those anywhere though! We had an amazing time catching up with everyone from around the Midwest. Thank you to Rich Banker and Pat Boddy for their directorial work and to all who made the tournament such a great success. Congratulations to Division One champion Avery “DJ ChocoLuv” Mojica, to my wife Wendy on her 3rd place DIII finish, and to all who laid waste to those who dared go before them. Or something like that.
Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 10/24
Esses: 22/48
JQXZ: 23/48
TOTAL: 55/120 45%
Avg score: 395 - 396
Bingo count: 22 - 20
Games in which I had--
both blanks: 2-1
one blank: 2-2
no blanks: 2-3
Bingo Quiz
1) TENORINO – a high tenor
2) ENSLAVES
3) DEMISES – to bequeath
4) AIRIEST
5) LOCALIZE
6) IDEATING
7) TINGLER (also RINGLET)
8) TRACHEA
9) MELENAS – a nasty medical condition I won't describe
10) AMYLENES – chemical used in some gasoline-blending components
11) PRAIRIE
12) IMPAIRED
13) NEIGHBOR
14) BROMATE – to combine with bromine (also a chemical used in gasoline compounds)
15) SOLVATED – to convert into a type of ion
16) AERIEST (also SERIATE)
17) TIPCATS – old European baseball-ish game
18) NEGATER (also GRANTEE, GREATEN, REAGENT)
19) EUPHORIA
20) WEARIEST (also SWEATIER, WASTERIE)
21) RALLIES (also SALLIER)
22) MORTUARY
23) DELISTED
24) STUDIERS (also DIESTRUS and STURDIES)
25) RESPACE (also CAPRESE and ESCAPER)
26) FARINOSE – resembling farina (a cereal grain)
27) SEAFRONT
I came in as the #1 seed, ranked about 100 in NASPA. But there sat Avery Mojica, somehow just below me in rating when we know he's light years more skilled. Still, can't fear anyone when you sit down.
This is my favorite tournament of the year. Wendy and I lived in the Des Moines area for a few years not long back. Any excuse to visit them all is taken, and Scrabble the most fun of all.
Answers to the numbered alphagrams are at very end.
Rd. 1 vs. Dan Heck
EINNOORT (1), AEELNSSV (2) and DEEIMSS (3) for me by turn five. The last one made a phony -S hook on the first bingo. Dan held, but like me he wasn't sure about it. Dan hit ARENITE during my barrage, and then I think tricked me into opening the board while thinking I was blocking the case S he didn't have after all and landed super-sweet INTUI(T)ED.
We've sparred online and at club for years, but this was the first time we'd play in a tournament. I was never so happy to lose, it was quite a comeback.
351 – 416 0-1 (64) me: ??SSSQ opp: SJXZ
Rd 2 vs. Nick Purifoy
Nick opened with INUTILE, double-doubled with DOWNRATE for 98 son after, and took an opening I desperately made for his own SCOUTING late. Just AEIIRST (4) for me.
327 – 485 0-2 (158) (222) me: SSSJQ opp: ??SXZ
Rd 3 vs. Kevin Gauthier
?CEILLOZ (5) and ADEGIINT (6) for me early, GEILNRT (7) and AAECHRT (8) with blank for the C late. Finding one of the two that started with J would've netted me more points, but I once I found something necessarily ending with A I quit looking. I believe Kevin mentioned having quickly picked up esses to have three at once. Not lucky.
516 – 273 1-2 +243 (+21) me: ??XZ opp: SSSSJQ
Rd 4 vs. George Asaka
SCORIAE and ACTIVATE early for George, plus he challenged off my SALUTORY* in between (it's SALUTARY). I managed AEELMNS (9) with a blank, but missed the bingo that starts with A from ?AEELMNS (10). His SPIRAEA was salt in the wound. At some point this weekend George hit five consecutive bingos against someone. He was en fuego.
339 – 457 1-3 (118) (97) me: ?SSQXZ opp: ?SSJ
Rd 5 vs. Chuck Riordan
Mid-game we got rolling – tws IGNITES for him, AEIIPRR (11) with a blank for me. I missed ADEIIMPR (12) though. He came right back with tws REDCOAT. Desperate for a second lane, I threw a B out into trip-trip space, hoping maybe to catch a -BLE play or something. He played the odds and mucked up the bingo-prone area elsewhere. I trip-trip the out-bingo with ?EGINOR with the only play with the B in the sixth spot. (13). More luck, he's caught with a full rack that includes JWZ.
game link
464 – 355 2-3 +109 +12 me: ??S opp: SSSJQXZ
Game 6 vs. Need Kareiva
AWAITERS for him, but ABEMORT (14) and OX for 55 for me. game link
427 – 345 3-3 +82 +100 me: ?SSJXZ opp: ?SSQ
Game 7 vs. Avery Mojica
ASCARED for him, ADELOSTV (15) and AEEIRST (16) for me. DREAMIER regained him the lead and I think we figured the endgame was unwinnable for me.
386 – 392 3-4 (6) +94 me: SSSJQXZ opp: ??S
Game 8 vs. Dan Heck
Had all the letters for ACIPSTT (17), but could only get down 44-point non-bingo double-double version of it. AEEGNRT (18), AEHIOPRU (19), and AEEIRSTW (20) had me in fine fetters. REGAINED and having to eat a blank late for Dan-o.
490 – 323 4-4 +167 +261 me: SSSXZ opp: ??SJQ
Game 9 vs. Nick Purifoy
AEILLRS (21) and AMORRTUY (22) for me, TERTIAN for Nick.
394 – 361 5-4 +33 +294 me: ?SJXZ opp: ?SSSJQ
Game 10 v. Kevin Gauthier
DDEEILST (23) and DEIRSSTU (24) back-to-back midgame for me. I defended as best I could, but Kevin just could land THINNEST with a blank where T had to be first letter. Worse for me, I knew he was emptying the bag to a full rack and picking up the case blank. Quackle seems to indicate I had no winning sequence against perfect play. All I could do was set up a high-scoring out-in-two and hope for a mistake. He happened to miss the four playable out-bingo sevens from
?AENNOR and tried ANEURON*. I think he was combining NEURON and ANEURIN.
399 – 338 6-4 +61 +94 me: SSQ opp: ??SSJXZ
Round 11 vs. Nedd Kareiva
Struggled for workable draws, but can't complain since I missed ACEEPRS (25). I didn't think there was a lane on the board anyway since I always get confused over between YAUDS and YAULDS*. I extended to QUAD with -RECEP to a tws, which only ended up having three problems: it's phony because the middle vowel is I, it needs an S on the end to be valid anyway, and I underscored it by 18 points. MORALES for him, an eaten blank for me.
290 – 404 6-5 (114) (20) me: ?S opp: ?SSSJQXZ
I had a shot at money given where I was in the standings, but it was deemed that pairings which avoided repeats as best possible would be used. No problemo! I love playing Avery. Sometimes it's a gritted-teeth love though, as you are about to read... :)
Round 12 vs. Avery Mojica
Avery: Turn 1) BEAGLES; 2) AVULSEs; 6) NITRATE; 7) RAX – 42; 8) BRE(A)DNUT through the A I'd just given him from AEFINORS (26) because he'd blocked better AEFNORST (27); 9) EUrIPUS; 10) CLOAK – 60 which I could only have blocked with a one-tile three-pointer. One can't complain, just play one's best and admire the not-so-subtle art of a good friend creating a masterpiece of pain.
game link
352 - 602 6-6 (251) (271) me: SQZ opp: ??SSSJX
And so I finished in 4th place, one slot out of the prize money. I also lost about 50 ratings points. Can't spend those anywhere though! We had an amazing time catching up with everyone from around the Midwest. Thank you to Rich Banker and Pat Boddy for their directorial work and to all who made the tournament such a great success. Congratulations to Division One champion Avery “DJ ChocoLuv” Mojica, to my wife Wendy on her 3rd place DIII finish, and to all who laid waste to those who dared go before them. Or something like that.
Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 10/24
Esses: 22/48
JQXZ: 23/48
TOTAL: 55/120 45%
Avg score: 395 - 396
Bingo count: 22 - 20
Games in which I had--
both blanks: 2-1
one blank: 2-2
no blanks: 2-3
Bingo Quiz
1) TENORINO – a high tenor
2) ENSLAVES
3) DEMISES – to bequeath
4) AIRIEST
5) LOCALIZE
6) IDEATING
7) TINGLER (also RINGLET)
8) TRACHEA
9) MELENAS – a nasty medical condition I won't describe
10) AMYLENES – chemical used in some gasoline-blending components
11) PRAIRIE
12) IMPAIRED
13) NEIGHBOR
14) BROMATE – to combine with bromine (also a chemical used in gasoline compounds)
15) SOLVATED – to convert into a type of ion
16) AERIEST (also SERIATE)
17) TIPCATS – old European baseball-ish game
18) NEGATER (also GRANTEE, GREATEN, REAGENT)
19) EUPHORIA
20) WEARIEST (also SWEATIER, WASTERIE)
21) RALLIES (also SALLIER)
22) MORTUARY
23) DELISTED
24) STUDIERS (also DIESTRUS and STURDIES)
25) RESPACE (also CAPRESE and ESCAPER)
26) FARINOSE – resembling farina (a cereal grain)
27) SEAFRONT
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Lexington, KY 2016
Our local club's annual main tournament
event. I went in rated 1755 and seeded 6th of 14 entrants
in the top of three divisions. Two “grandmasters” came –
reigning North American champion David Gibson of South Carolina and
fellow 2000+-rated player Lloyd Mills of Ontario.
Rd 1 vs. Jeff Fiszbein (#9 seed,
rated 1644)
me: ADEEGNT (1) to open. Missed
?ADJORR to an open S (2).
Jeff: DELISTS
Between us we were stuck with four
unplayable letters at game's end.
381 – 365 1-0 +16 me: ?J
Rd. 2 vs. John Jarowski (#7, 1748)
me: AEHIRRST (3), and AEGLNRS (4)
back-to-back, and then a dream play of mine-
?EEEINTX (5).
John: DIETHYLS*, RETINALS
John won 13 of 31 games in the top
division at the National Championships this past August, He had not
played an official NSA/NASPA event in 17 years. Impressive!
458 – 349 2-0 +109 +125 me: ?SSJXZ
Rd. 3 vs. Eric Cahanin (#5, 1772)
me: EEIMRRR (6)
Paul: QUAIGH to open, which I
challenged unsuccessfully. He'd had the blank to make QUAICHS, but
wasn't quite certain it pluralized with S as well as -ES. (It does.) Also had CHARQUI there. TUNNELS.
362 – 395 2-1 (33) +92 me: ?SSJ
Rd 4 vs. Paul Epstein (#3, 1896)
me: AILMORST (7), but missed the two
sevens without the I (8), DEEIPST (9), AAEIRST (10).
Paul: Opened with IMMORAL, but having
to exchange twice in second half was a lot to overcome.
452 – 373 3-1 +79 +171 me: ?SSSJQ
Rd 5 vs. Will Scott (#14, 1500)
me: ACDISTUV (11) for 100+.
Will: Non-bingo EROTIZE for 72,
SIB/S(POOFIER)* for 50+, KELTS/(AJEE)S* for 40 or so.
I blame my errors on not knowing how to
keep my focus post-lunch :)
308-404 3-2 (96) +75 me: ??SJQ
Game 6 vs. John Merlau (#12, 1518)
me: AEEIRSTT (12), ACIIMNRS (13) plus
unsuccessful challenge, DEIIRST (14).
John: THERETO, INSULAE
456 – 333 4-2 +123 +198 me: ??SJQZ
Game 7 vs. Steve Krieger (#10, 1640)
me: METTLING*
Steve: STINGERS, ADVENTS, but caught
him trying PHRENOID*. His need to exchange three times signals that
he got outdrawn, not outplayed here.
Right before his phony bingo attempt,
he had fished and made nice open spot. I made a play that mucked up
effectively three different bingo areas in space at once that wasn't completely instinctual to me. My fave play of the weekend
perhaps.
On a side note, Steve is one of my
favorite players. He's agreed to send me a copy of a play he's
written and is working to get produced in Cincinnati. I'm sending
him in access to see my rough draft hot mess of a partial movie
script on my Google Drive. It's such a work in progress, sharing it
makes me more nervous than playing Gibson.
414 – 356 5-2 +58 +256 me: SJXZ
Rd. 8 vs. Jan Cardia (#8, 1675)
me: missed AEEEILNS (14).
Jan: GAUNTLY, UNHORSED
338 – 417 5-3 (79) +177 me: SZ
Rd 9 vs. David Gibson (#1, 2180)
me: I had fun watching him
David: opened with GIFTEES and SPAROID
292 – 412 5-4 (120) +57 me: SS
Rd 10 vs. Steve Bush (#4, 1874)
me: DARTLER*, BEHILORR (15), BGINRSTU
(16)
Steve: TEOPANS, VENOMY*
The phony was intentional, desperate,
as it only tied the game. His phony was the reply, but I lucked out
with the valid counter. I missed BEKIRSTU (17).
384 – 341 6-4 +43 +100 me: ?SQ
Rd 11 vs. Lloyd Mills (#2, 2010)
me: AEGINSTU (18), AELMRSU (19),
missed ABKNPRTU (20) and EIIRRPSU (21).
Lloyd: INGRESS. Deftly Q-stuck me,
too.
419 – 409 7-4 +10 +110 me: ?SSJQ
Rd 12 vs. Julia Bogle (#313, 1514)
me: AEENPST (22), AEGILRS (23)
Julia: RAIMENT, INFESTED. The former
was with a blank, she “missed” OYSTERMAN.
Julia's opening rack, as she told me
after, was AEENRTU – no bingos. She passed the first three turns,
hoping I would play a letter through which she could make an eight. I exchanged twice, not willing to risk such a thing unless got to
bingo myself.
Eventually I had to play BEG or risk
making the sixth consecutive zero-score play – ending the game –
and that she might have all one-point tiles and win with a higher
negative score. My BEG opener was no help to her. She exchanged
three other turns as well.
515 – 272 8-4 +243 +353 me:
??SSSJQXZ
Game 13 vs. David Brown (#11, 1633)
me: AENOSTU (24), EINORSW (25)
David: GENTRIES to open, OGDOAD for
13, ENTHRALL
Late in this white-knuckled affair I -
for the, oh, 2000th time in my career - tried PLICE* and
it nearly cost me game. Two plays later in the end game David had
exactly one winning play and didn't happen to see it.
396 – 391 9-4 +5 +248 me: ?SSSQ
I didn't event know I was in 2nd
place going into that round. I'd assumed Lloyd must've somehow lost
a couple more games and come down the ladder to meet me. So if I'd
miraculously managed to beat him a second time for the weekend, I'd
have then played him a third time for the division title.
Game 14 vs. Lloyd Mills
me: CEEINORT (26) for 149
Lloyd: COVARIED, SUNFAST, DAMNERS,
AKINESIA, SOYUZ for 60
Half of Lloyd's plays went for 51 or
more. These 2000+ rated players are -tough-.
409 - 547 9-5 (138) +110 me: X
So instead of ultimately a higher
finish and cash prize, what I'd earned those first 13 rounds was the
chance to play the two grandmasters a second time each. I'll take
it!
Game 15 vs. David Gibson
me: BILORSST (27), AEFLRSTT (28),
HYAENA – 47. I missed BDELORTU (29).
David: VENDEES to open, DIZENING for
110, WRISTIER
388 – 501 9-6 (113) (3) me: SSSJQX
And so with that drubbing I was knocked
down into a three-way tie for 4th-6th. Steve beat me out
for 4th and the last cash prize by a mountain of spread
points. But I came out with a 1791 rating and 101st-ranked
in North America.
Congratulations to Lloyd on his
championship, to Chris Sitler and our own club's Betty King on their
Division Two and Three titles respectively! Thank you to our club's
and this tournament's lead director, Steve Bush, director Will Scott
and to all the locals who helped make the event a big success. And
we all enjoyed having so many of our gaming friends from all over the
continent visit us.
Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 13/30
Esses: 25/60
JQXZ: 28/60
TOTAL: 66/150 (44%)
Avg. score: 398-391*
*This doesn't jive with most
post-tournament spread counts, but is what is on the NASPA site.
Bingo count: 25 – 26
Games in which I got...
one blank 2-1
no blanks: 1-4
split blanks: 6-1
Bingo quiz
1) AGENTED –
to act as a representative for
2) ADJURORS –
to command solemnly
3) TRASHIER
4) ANGLERS –
here, fishy fishy
5) EKTEXINE –
the outer part of the exine (the outermost layer of certain spores) (also
EUXENITE)
6) MERRIER
7) MORALIST –
a teacher of morality
8) MORTALS,
STROMAL – pertaining to the substance that makes up the structure
of an organ, cell
9) DESPITE –
v. to treat with contempt
10) ATRESIA –
absence or closure of a natural body passage (also ARISTAE, ASTERIA)
11) VIADUCTS
12)
ITERATES (also ARIETTES, TEARIEST, TREATIES, TREATISE)
13) MINICARS
14) ALIENEES –
one to whom property is transferred
15) HORRIBLE
16) BURSTING
17) BURKITES –
one that murders bu suffocation
18)
SAUTEING (also UNITAGES)
19) SERUMAL –
pertaining to serum (also MAULERS)
20) BANKRUPT
21) SIRUPIER
22) PENATES –
the Roman gods of the household (also NEPETAS)
23) GLARIES –
to coat with egg white
24) OUTANE –
a cassock, a long garment worn by clergymen
25) SNOWIER
26)
ERECTION (also NEOTERIC)
27)
BRISTOLS (also STROBILS)
28)
FLATTERS
29)
TROUBLED
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