Saturday, July 30, 2016

Richmond, KY – EKU campus – July 2016

Solutions to the in-text alphagrams are at bottom.

Rd 1 vs. Julia Bogle
ADEHIPR (1) to open for me, but she came right back with LORNEST.   Her RETINULA slotted me an A for triple-triple AADELIPS (2) for 158, good for a high-play prize on the day.  I missed AEHILSS (3) late.
510 – 388       1-0     +122                                  me: ?SSSQ

Rd 2 vs. David A. Brown
We traded his DELATOR to my DEILSTT (4) early.  CIOOPRT (5) late sealed it in my favor.
389 – 299       2-0     +212                                  me: SSSQX

Rd 3 vs. Marc Broering
I got away with inadvertent non-bingo FIDEGTY* early, while Marc slipped an OT* past me late. I found the only seven in ?BEMOSY (6), but he came right back with TOPWATER and FEMINISE.  I tried NOVELAS* (TELENOVELA is valid) to no avail and missed AELNNRS (7) while he also got BROCADE.
288 – 463       2-1     +37                                    me: ?SSSJQ

Rd 4 vs. Joe Roberdeau
    It seems I always get all the luck and my biggest scores when Joe visits our Lexington club from Ohio.   This day, he got the big lead and never let up.  For my part, it was a cavalcade of weird misplays and then late-game fireworks.
    I got away with IMIGO* to open.  That meant little when Joe hit NAPPIEST, DRILLED and SIDEREAL in a four-turn stretch.  Meanwhile, I failed to think of the C-front hook for OMA for solid points, missed AEENNTU (8), and played off the Q cheaply instead of QAID for 42.  I saw the new solution to AEHINRS (9), but whiffed by not front hooking the S to NAPPIEST.
    AEIORSTU (10), DEEIRSST (11) going out with AEFINRST (12) and catching him for 36 on his rack made the score look respectable.  But he hit a fourth bingo late with OUTLAWS to seal the win.
419 – 473       2-2      (17)                                   me: ?SSJQX

Rd. 5 vs. Will Scott
Didn't see EEINPRXT (13) early, but still might've saved the blank with PREX for 50.  AEGILRTT (14), AEEILORT (15), ADEEGORT (16), tws QURSH for 59, and a couple 40-point plays for me.  The Bag beat will, not me.
506 – 265       3-2     +224                                  me: ??SSQXZ

Rd 6 vs. Steve Bush
Steve was already up over 100 when he hit GLOATERS.  I struck with ABENRSU (17), but this – my only playable bingo – gave him the triple-triple NEUROSIS. He also out-played with CURATOR.
282 – 576       3-3      (70)                                  me: S

Game 7 vs. Michael Bassett
ELPOSST (18), ADEGHIR (19), and EENRSTY (20).  He made LINEATED and cool non-bingo PALAVER.
522 – 290       4-3      +162                                me: ?SSSQZ

Game 8 vs. Will Scott
To get 3rd place money, just needed to not lose by about 160 or more.    Will fooled me early with NICOISES*. Nicoise olives may or may not be delicious, but it's only valid for us as an adjective.  He then double-blanked me with ONBOARD and was already up 120.  I managed AEEGLNRR (21), but then and moving forward made only mildly aggressive plays.  If he hit another bingo, it wouldn't score so much that I couldn't likely score back on a tws and then shut the board down and take the prize at least.  If I got one, I could then reassess if going for the win would substantially risk getting the 3rd place prize. But no more fireworks ensued.
352 – 407 (-10 for time) 5-3 +107 me: SSQZ

    3rd place!   Dropped a few more ratings points, remaining just above 1700. 
    Thanks to Steve Bush, Will Scott and new local director Fred Morlan for putting on a fine event!  And congrats to Steve as well as Victoria Bledsoe on their division titles. Next up – Nationals.

Stat me, baybeeee –

Blanks: 6/16
Esses: 18/32
JQXZ: 15/32
TOTAL: 39/80

Avg. score: 408 – 395

Bingo count: 16 – 15

QUIZ ANSWERS
1) RAPHIDE – calcium oxalate crystals occuring in many plants as a metabolic product
2) PALISADE – to fortify with a heavy fence
3) SHEILAS – Auusie slang for a girl or young woman
4) SLITTED                                                                                            (also STILTED)
5) PORTICO - porch consisting of a roof supported by columns
6) EMBRYOS
7) ENSNARL
8) UNEATEN
9) NEARISH
10) SAUTOIRE – heraldic form of St. Andrew's cross                                (also OUTRAISE)
11) EDITRESS – a female editor                                                    (also DIESTERS, RESISTED, SISTERED)
12) FAINTERS
13) INEXPERT
14) AGLITTER
15) AEROLITE – a meteorite made of mostly stony matter
16) DEROGATE
17) UNBEARS
18) TOPLESS
19) HAGRIDE – to afflict with worry, dread, need, etc.; torment
20) STYRENE – a liquid hydrocarbon used in making synthetic rubbers and plastics           (also YESTERN)
21) ENLARGER