Whiteland, IN 2015

2015 Whiteland, IN

Game 1 v. Margaret Yoder

(KI)MCHEE for 48 - my fave find of the day. ARPONST (1) late with a blank and then drawing the second were the difference.

391 – 312 +79 me: ??SSJQX opp: SSZ

Game 2 v. Tom Tremont

I never dreamed NUGATORY was actually good. I was just hungry for nougat. I can't believe I thought AGNORTU (2) was invalid. AEGNORTU (3) was blocked. Having gotten a challenge on OURANG is now little consolation.
I let SIEGERS* go, then challenged his admitted guess at NoNHERO/(J)O. I had orphan EELORST and he blocked EELNORST (4). He then landed HOLIEST, so my EEILLST (5) only moved me to 3% to win. (B)ANZAI for 51 made it a game, but I wouldn't see a vowel the last two racks.
401 – 408 -7 +72 me: SSQZ opp: ??SSJX

Game 3 v. Joe Roberdeau

I have the best luck against Joe. He later cited in the five times we've played, my lowest score has been 490. I opened with ?EEILOT (6), EHIOOSTT (7). He blocked my PUSHIEST for 102, but I followed with EINPSTU (8) and ADGIINNT (9). Joe and TARRIEST early, too.
500 – 283 +217 +289 me: ?SSS opp: ?SJQXZ

Game 4 v. Connie Breitbeil

Early vowel-y racks and her CHEESI(E)R put me in a big hole. EGIOPRSS (10) and ?ADEMNR through OM (11) got me back in the game. EX for 53, her challenge of my NISI and my challenging off her STYs*/(HAO)S* and STYe/HAOS* sealed it.
435 – 308 +127 +416 me: ?SSQX opp: ?SSJZ

Game 5 v. Julia Bogle

I can rue vowel-y early racks all I might want, but can't give up turns challenging plays like BRILL. After her SATINET, I scored AEIORSTU (12) and ADEEMNOR (13) back to back, but only to pull within about 70.
327 – 402 -75 +341 me: ?SSJ opp: ?SSQXZ

Game 6 v. Brad Sharlott

I got a challenge off of GITE. He got one off of CARINAS. I forgot the O front hook to the latter to miss chances late to seal this one up. He also had rENTERS to my ABDEEIPR (14). Z(E)ROTH for 76 was fun! I forged a Q-stick late to eke out a sloppy win.
408 – 402 +6 +347 me: JXZ opp: ??SSSSQ

Game 7 v. Jacquelyn Fyr

She did a double-take over her double-double, surprised her UNB(O)NED come up valid on challenge. I let HISTID* slide shortly after. Still, EIILMSS (15) evened things up. I bought a turn challenging her double-blank INTERLET* off, but she evened it back up herself with INFERiOr. Setting up an out in two but only play TO(r)A for six to start ended up being the difference. Well,that and her not asking for a recount. Turned out she underscored UNBONED by twelve and missing three more points somewhere else.
365 – 359 +6 +353 me: SSQX opp: ??SSJZ

A win here and she'd have been Gibsonized as division winner. Instead – rematch!

Game 8 v. Jacquelyn Fyr

I landed AEGINSTY (16) early, but she stayed close throughout until surging ahead with WONdERS. I replied with a bingo - ?AAGILLN (17), but very dangerously placed. I missed the superior three in AACeILLN (18) and got rebuked with MAIM for 44.
Nether of us played the optimal end game. I opted for HAJ for 44 on my penultimate move to go ahead by 11, but this didn't block the first move of her own winning sequence. However, she didn't block my P(E)WIT outplay.
392 – 388 +4 +357 me: ?SJ opp: ?SSSQXZ

I came in as the #1 seed by a a fair bit. Despite the division title, I lost a few ratings points, so I didn't perform like a 1700+ player. But I remind myself that's just a number. I won three of four very close games, and I continue to alter my overall strategy by playing aggressively but not as recklessly as I so often have.

The prize format was fun, working well for a one-day with a small entry fee. Most of the monies were distributed to all players at a $5 per win clip. Thank you to the Whiteland directors for a fun event!

Stat me, baby –

Blanks – 6/16
Esses – 14/32
JQXZ – 14/32

TOTAL 34/80 42 %

Bingos 13-10

Games I got both0 blanks: 1-0

Games I got one blank: 3-1
Games I got no blanks: 2-1

Average score: 402 – 358

QUIZ ANSWERS

1. TARPONS – a large warm Atlantic game fish (also PARTONS, PATRONS)
2. OUTRANG
3. OUTRANGE
4. SOLERET – a piece of armor for the foot; ENTRESOL – a mezzanine
5. TELLIES
6. ZEOLITE – a volcanic mineral (also ETOILES, PETIOLE, TOELIKE)
7. HOOTIEST
8. PUNIEST (also PUNTIES)
9. NIDATING – to become implemented in the uterus
10. GOSSPIER
11. COMMANDER
12. SAUTOIRE – a heraldic design (also OUTRAISE)
13. DEMEANOR (also ENAMORED)
14. BEDIAPER
15. SIMILES (also MISLIES, MISSILE)
16. YEASTING
17. ALLAYING
18. ALLIANCE, ANCILLAE, CANALLIE