Port Clinton, OH 2015

Port Clinton, OH 2015   (Quiz answers at bottom)

Will Scott and I drove into the teeth of lakefront snowy circle of hell in Port Clinton. As bad as it was when we returned to Lexington, it was actually illegal to drive during the Level Three up there. Good thing what few restaurants were open were within walking distance, if barely, considering the easily subzero temps.

Game 1 v. Dallas Johnson

An honor to play Dallas, such a class act. He will be missed in the ranks of NASPA leadership. He bingo'ed with INSTATES early and PETIOLAR late. Then I tried SULVAKI* - meaning SLUVAKI* - when the Greek food is SOUVLAKI. Didn't deserve this one.
405 – 342     1-0     +73                                   me: SSSJXZ              opp: ??SQ

Game 2 v. Kit Morehead

CDEIKRT (1), ACDEEENR (2), and phony PREMELTS* that got through. Good morning, good afternoon, and good night.
463 – 321     2-0     +142       +215                  me: ??SSQZ              opp: SSJX

Game 3 v. Kevin McCarthy

VASTIER had him up by fifty through midgame. I hadn't known AEENPTTY (4) or EENTTSY (5) and so missed a chance to catch up, even while getting away with CYTE*. Kevin felt confident enough in his lead and the board shape to guess at VIBES/(TELOMIC)S*,- challenged.

Down eighty late, I finally managed ADENOST (6) with a blank. It only made one new bingo lane - unlike the better play -ADENOPS (7). Kevin wisely lowered my chances at the one with BID. Down forty, I now needed a bingo ending in A, O, or have either in the sixth position of a seven-letter find. EGILNOT (8)! Yet in creating OBA, S(OBA) on a tws two ways was created, and there were two esses and the other blank unseen to me. He couldn't take advantage, at least to effect, but then I missed seeing the one way to block it! He ended up with all three big tiles, but had just the unlucky combos to not be able to bingo.

366 – 361      3-0     +5     +147                           me: ?SXZ           opp: ?SSSJQ

Game 4 v. Maureen Kennerk

The only bingo of the game was mine, and one I hadn't known until three days before when doing analysis on games from the Des Moines tournament the weekend before. EEGLOPRS (9).
330 – 296     4-0    +34     +181                           me: ??SSQX       opp: SSJZ

I don't recall if I was in first at this point or not. Surely any other 4-0 players had a larger cumulative spread than mine. Lunch at the 1812 Island House – the tourney site was very affordable, quite good, and kept most players right there on site for squeezing in more games in less time.

Game 5 v. Jason Idalski

My greatest Scrabble fear isn't losing, it's looking foolish. Failed. A thousand ways to spell the food, and I got PIROGH* out before getting to make it valid hooking an I. Jason scored GABIONS and got PURpLEs(T) late when I foolishly left the only lane open.

269 – 456     4-1     (187)      (6)                          me: SSX               opp: ??SSJQZ

Game 6 v. Joe South

Joe struck first with MAPLESS*. I assumed he saw SAMPLES and was trying for a challenge. My AEINQRTU (10) for 131 changed everything. His iNCHOA(T)E/ E(DIT) play was countered by my EIKLOORT (11) with the other blank. I went out with ADEINRT (12).

534 – 361    5-1     +173      +167                        me: ?QX               opp: ?SSSSJZ

Game 7 v. Lila Sinaan

My open- FLOWY* Booo. I “missed” AEGNRSSTU (13) through disconnected G and T, but drew to AILORST (14) with one blank, EIINPPR (15) with the other, and AEENRRS (16) in between.

457 – 291    6-1     +166     +333                          me: ??SSSJZ        opp: SQX

Game 8 v. Connie Breitbeil

I thought NONSPACE* was valid. Got it by though. DEIOPRS (17) was fine, but knowing that plus another S (18) would've been better. Connie landed INGRATE. Weird – I played one blank for eleven at the end, and hers went unplayed.
454 – 309    7-1     +145    +478                           me: ?SSSSXZ       opp: ?JQ

Alone at seven wins, first place! Excitement reigned, even with almost half the event to go.

Will and I hoofed it back the two blocks to the quaint old Our Guest Inn. Port Clinton is near Cedar Point, the nearby amusement park, and -very- reasonable in the off-season for rooms. Then it was back the way we came for dinner and drinks at the Irish Pub and Grille McCarthy's. I enjoyed a passable shepher'd pie/boxty combo dish. The recipes must've come from a different part of Ireland than Dublin Bay in Ames, Iowa, a fave old haunt of mine, where they black peppered the bleep out of everything. The company was even better, as we were invited to join (eventual champ) Jason Idalski and former Scrabble acquaintance Pete Ziegler (my opp for the coming KOH match).

Will had a touch more adult beverage than me, so I got the best of him in three straight matches back at our room. But would my good fortune from both the day and evening hold for Sunday?

SUNDAY
Game 9 v. Josh Kopczak
TWANGEr early for him, then DOZIER for 78, VALIDATE and ATHELING for more each. I made suboptimal decisions early and often, if missing no bingos. EILNORST (19) late was little help.

312 – 529     7-2    (217)     +261                      me: ?SSSX             opp: ?SJQZ

Game 10 v. Will Scott

I lost the score sheet. I done got whupped, too. I should've bought him a bourbon beforehand.

362 – 488     7-3    (126)     +135                                        unknown

Game 11 v. Flossie Swint

Had to out-bingo her 3-0. ADEORSTU (20), AIGIORTV (21), and then AEIILSRT (22) for the out. The last was blockable for a win for her, but she confirmed just not seeing the chance.

420 – 357     8-3     +63      +198                       me: ?SSSJ              opp: ?SQXZ

Game 12 v. Stephen Henney

He hit REAGENT and VANISHES. His miss on ASTATIC and ASTRICT with the second blank was little consolation.

291 – 404     8-4     (113)     +85                       me: SJZ                   opp: ??SSSQX

The lunching, complete with delicious eggplant entree and time to mull over my drop to eighth place.

Game 13 v. Joe South

Had to have this one to keep playing folks at the top of standings, have any shot at a money slot. Life is better with blanks. I hit ABDEEMNO (24) as a double double with one, ACERKST (25) with the other. Last letter was a C, so he made up about seventy points in end game on the stick.

440 – 352    9-4      +88     +171                             me: ??SSSJ               opp: SQXZ

Game 14 v. Kit Morehead

I missed ADLMORU (26). CEHLORRT (27) with a blank was ok, but remembering GALA takes an H back hook would've given me ECHLRRU (28). Her only bingo was LEMURINE with the other blank, but she scored so consistently that my late BDEEINOS (29) didn't get me close.

349 – 406     9-5     (57)      +114                            me: ?SSSQ                opp: ?SJXZ

Game 15 v. Pete Ziegler KING OF THE HILL match

Final round match would be my most exciting. Pete opened with LINEATE, but I pulled close with ADEGILMN (30) and took lead with ?ABGORR (31). I'd get a free turn off his VIVES*, but gave it back and burned several minutes of clock on PLENATE*.

AEELNST (32) regained me the lead late. Time pressure led me to create two unnecessary bingo lanes for him late, as I decided to go for score and to not lose to any combination of non-bingos. I lucked out and he did not have an out-winner.

402 -388     10-5    +16       +130                           me: ?SSJX                 opp: ?SSQZ

(Pete minus 10 for time)

I tied with several people at the ten win mark, but with the smallest spread, and one victory out of first.  Sixth place, one slot out of winning any cash, and met my win expectation almost exactly. And so I still linger just under 1700 after the two point rating gain. Will finished with nine wins, and congrats to him for it, also finishing at expectation and gaining single digits on his rating.

I'm not missing tons of playable bingos. But I'm still needing to improve my consistence on nonbingo plays, as I miss so many overlaps using letters already on the board. My new focus on rack leave versus overemphasizing the highest-scoring options is very much a work in progress. My fours and fives need reviewing... and it's also a day of the week that ends in Y. But I understand to at least some degree how I can improve at the board and in prep, and learned/relearned the lessons without crapping the bed at the tournament. Good times!

Stat me, baby –

Blanks:      15/28     (played 15 games, but don't have the Will-stats)

Esses:        32/56

JQXZ:       24/56

            TOTAL:   71/142 power tiles

25 bingos to opps' 15

391-377 average scores

Games with both blanks: 4-0
Games with no blanks: 1-2
Games with one blank: 5-2
Games against Will: 0-1

QUIZ ANSWERS

1) TRICKED
2) CAREENED
3) There is no #3. Let us meditate.
4) ANTETYPE – an earlier form of something
5) TEENTSY
6) DONATES
7) DAPSONE – an antibacterial medicine, used on leprosy and dermatitis
8) LENTIGO – freckle
9) GOSPELER – one that teaches the Gospel
10) ANTIQUER          (also QUAINTER)

           – one that antiques, gives an aged feel to something

11) ROOTLIKE
12) TRAINED             (also DETRAIN, ANTIRED)
13) ASSURGENT – rising
14) RIALTOS             (also ORALIST, TAILORS)
           – a Venetian marketplace, consisting of an island and surrounding district
15) NIPPIER
16) REEARNS            (also EARNERS)

17) PERIODS

18) DISPOSER and DROPSIES – excessive accumulation of serous fluid
19) RETINOLS – vitamin A
20) OUTDARES        (also OUTREADS, READOUTS)
21) RAVIGOTE – a spiced vinegar sauce
22) LISTERIA – rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria
23) There is no #23.  It went AWOL with #3. Discuss.
24) BEMOANED
25) RACKETS           (also RESTACK, RETACKS, STACKER, TACKERS)
26) MODULAR
27) CHORTLER
28) LURCHER
29) EBONISED – to stain black, in imitation of ebony
30) MALIGNED       (also MEDALING)
31) BEGORRA – as in “faith and _____ !”
32) LATEENS           (also LEANEST)