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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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

ASHEVILLE, NC – autumn 2016

I came in with a rating of 1721, seeded 14th of 16 players in Division One. Top contenders would be two players rated over 2000 – reigning North American champion David Gibson and Joey Krafchick.
My win expectation was 6.1, and likely ended up a little lower since I played five games against the number one and three seeds.

Rd 1 vs. Clay Daniel (#3 seed, Rating 1846)
Me: ADDERST (1) to open, BESPENT* (was thinking of BEERPNST) (2)
Clay: SECONDI and LEGATOS, both of which I held, waiting for caffeine to kick in I guess.
365 – 450       0-1         (85)                                                           me: ?SSZ

Rd 2 vs. Kate Fukwa-Connelly (#8, 1793)
me: EINORSTV (3), ADDEEPRT (4).
Kate: FIANCEES and TEASING back to back.
She also made really sweet ANOR(A)K / O(BA) / R(EM) / K(A) for 44.
Behind with one in the bag, Kate finished for bingo, creating a second lane. I missed AILNPST (5), a top 5.000 prob bingo. She had picked up the Z, and so most -any- play I made that blocked her TRIAZO(L)E also would've won for me. Instead, I took the highest-scoring non-bingo for a soul-crushing defeat.
423 – 434       0-2         (11)       (96)                                             me: ?SSX

Rd 3. vs. Ken Kasney (#10, 1770)
me: ACELPPRS (5) with a blank, though I missed ACEELNPRS (6) through AN. ADELOTU (7) with the other blank, missing ABDDELOT (8).
Ken: EARNEST and BANTERER back-to-back, plus MOIETY for 53.
462 – 417       1-2         +45        (54)                                            me: ??SSJXZ

Rd 4 vs. Kevin Bowerman (#7, 1795)
me: EINOSTT (9), ADEHIRST (10). Missed ?ADEFMS – 2 (11)
Kevin: LEXES for 57
452 – 293       2-2         +159      +105                                          me: ??SSJQZ

Rd 5 vs. Jeff Cook
Me: RETAX for 60, GAZEBO for 84, ABEEILS (12).
Jeff: TUSSLING, LAITIES.
Blanks or no, any game I can come back from 100+ down is a rare treat.
422 – 408       3-2         +14        +119                                          me: ??SXZ

Rd 6 vs. Randy Hersom (#4, 1845)
me: AEGNRST (13). Missed ADGOPRST (14).
Randy: REFUTES
418 – 291       4-2         +127       +246                                         me: ?SSSJXZ

Rd 7 vs. Aaron Finkel (#16, 1536)
me: ABDERST (15), but missed the eight with a W. Found one of the two in ?AABBCST (16)
Aaron: ONERIEST, JUTTER*
388 – 379      5-2            +9        +255                                         me: ?SSSSQ

Rd. 8 vs. David Gibson (#1, 2143)
Me: AEIOMTZ (17) for 106 to open. Turn three missed ADGIILLO to an I (18). Turn four slipped
FIRELOGS* by with a blank, which David only let go because I'd had other options and he thought was a tiny chance it was new. AEIRSTT (19).
David: BROUGHT, TRASHING, COLLEGE
455 – 475      5-3           (20)      +235                                          me: ?SSJZ

Rd. 9 vs. Paul Erland (#6, 1826)
Me: AEGNORY (20) with a blank, but missed better AENOPRWY (21).
Paul: LAYWOMEN, INEPTEST, INERTIA
Any tie game is likely filled with lots of tough decisions, and this was no exception.
385 – 385     5-3-1           0       +235                                           me: ?SSSQX

Rd. 10 vs. Ellis Roy Reynolds (#12, 1740)
me: AEINSTZ (22), BCEIMNO (23), ADILNOOR (24)
Ellis: TOGGLER, tried UREDIAS*, WANIEST, tried OVERGONE*
Had Ellis found RESIDUA either turn, this would've been a very different game, as he'd have been ahead by over 100.
482 – 399     6-3-1        +83       +318                                          me: SSXZ

Rd. 11 vs. Clay Daniel
me: ADEIILR (25)
Clay: WARTIME
May have hinged on me missing BOUTON midgame, allowing him WENNY for 60.
388 – 404     6-4-1         (16)    +298                                           me: ?SJQZ

Rd 12 vs. David Gibson
me: ANESTRI (26)
David: RELYING, GUTTLES
321 – 498    6-5-1          (177)    +121                                         me: SQ

Rd. 13 vs. Aaron Finkel
me: AEFIRST (27), ACEIORT (28)
Aaron: DARNEST, RATLINS
Excellent comeback from over 100 down by Aaron.
389 – 374    7-5-1           +15     +136                                         me: ?SSSZ

Rd. 14 vs. Clay Daniel
me: BEOORST (29), FGIINRTU (30), ABEEENTS (31)
Clay: CAMERALY*, AVIATION, ARGUSES
The sweet-looking, plausible phony nine w both thought was likely valid aside, this came down to a 25% chance at an out-bingo draw for Clay after he'd brilliantly made himself a second lane late while also blocking a 50+ point J-play of mine.
466 – 473     7-6-1          (13)     +123                                        me: ?SSJZ

Despite seemingly blowing at least a couple very winnable games, I came away with a 28 point rating gain, putting me at 1749. I finished in 6th – one spot out of the prize money positions. I had two losses with over a 450 score, but someone else won high loss prize seeing defeat despite a 479. A deserving Aaron Finkel – seeded 16th – won the class prize by finishing one more spot of his seed than I managed. So like always, some ups and some downs, but always good times. After all – Scrabble money isn't exactly poker-sized money. There's nothing I'd rather be doing.

Kudos to Director William Snoddy and everyone from the Asheville club for putting on a fabulous event. They hold multiple tournaments a year and it is always worth the 250-mile drive and weekend stay.

Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 15/28
Esses: 30/56
JQXZ: 27/56
TOTAL: 72/140

Avg. score: 415 – 406

Bingo count: 26 – 26

Quiz Answers
1) ADDREST
2) BESPRENT – sprinkled over
3) INVESTOR
4) DEPARTED
5) SCRAPPLE – a seasoned mixture of ground beef and cornmeal
6) PRECLEANS
7) OUTLEAD
8) DEADBOLT
9) TONIEST
10) HARDIEST
11) DEFAMES, DEFOAMS
12) BAILEES – a person to whom property is bailed
13) GAARNETS (also ARGENTS, STRANGE)
14) POSTGRAD
15) DABSTER – one that dabbles, involves himself in a superficial interest
16) BACKSTAB (also SABBATIC)
17) ATOMIZE
18) GLADIOLI – segments of the sternum
19) STRIATE (also ARTISTE, ARTIEST, ATTIRES, IRATEST, RATITES, TASTIER)
20) ORANGEY
21) WEAPONRY
22) ZANIEST (also ZEATINS)
23) COMBINE
24) DOORNAIL
25) DELIRIA
26) ANESTRI (and eight others)
27) FAIREST
28) EROTICA
29) REBOOTS (also BOOSTER)
30) FRUITING
31) ABSENTEE


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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Day Three
Game 22 vs. Jan Cardia
She opened GOURDE and I amusingly replied with GOURDES to bingo. CREMATES gave her the lid through much of the game, but I retook the lead late with CGHINNOT (1). I blew this one though by missing LOUVER in the end game and instead playing VOLUTE, allowing her to hook an E to the front. Worse, it was USEABLE. Was a strange ending, as afterwards she said she had a winning non-bingo -and- wasn't sure of USEABLE.
Blown Game factor: 10
379 – 456 13-9 +629 me: ??SSJQ

Game 23 vs. Adam Fine
AEEHINRT (2) turn two for me, but he came right back with dws-dws ANTIHERO. AEGMNRST (3) for me as well, though this game may have largely hinged on him not catching me on BOWTIE*. I always think either that or TOPHAT* is valid, but neither is.
469 – 340 14-9 +758 me: ?SSJQZ

Game 24 vs. Martin Weisskopf
ACIMOST (4) and AADEELNN (5) for me. He said I'd blocked a lot of bingos just in time.
379 – 331 15-9 +806 me: ??SSJQ

Game 25 vs. Dave Leifer
AEEORSTV (6) for first play after opening exchange. Was very happy with DO(Z)I(E)R for about 30 and to get out of a bad rack – the sort of play I always miss it seems. He got SUEDING down, but DEIMNORT (7) and CDEEINNT (8) got me through.
416 – 382 16-9 +840 me: ?SSZ

Game 26 vs. Alan Stern
EILRSTT (9), AEIMORST (10), and CDEINSU (11) for me, UNDRIED for him. Bag beat him more than I, but Quackle indicates I played this about as well as any game all week. Well, until I forgot the front hook to VAUNT late...
468 – 389 17-9 +919 me: ??SSSJZ

Game 27 vs. Mark Fidler
It was partly about the matchups needing to avoid repeats, but I finally kinda-sorta earned my way to Table One. And then may have crapped the bed.

I opened with BCEHINT (12) and earned a challenge. AELNORU (13) two turns later had me up nearly 100. I could've sealed the game had I remembered TIME takes an S-front hook. I played it instead of MITE precisely because I thought the former didn't. Mark never bingo'ed, but patiently scored with ZAPS for 46 mid-game, then hit four straight 40+-pointers late while I only scored over 14 once the last few turns.
371 – 405 17-10 +885 me: ?SS

Game 28 vs. Alan Stern
Alan opened with REDYING*. I thought it perhaps needed another E in middle, but holding ADEHOTU, an R is the only letter with which I can bingo, so I took it (14). He then pushes OVERLAZY* past me, which might be a trick because he also has VALORIZE. I also had JOTS for 33 for response. CEEISTX (15) only almost catches me up. He nails BLUEFINS with a blank, which would've been worse had he seen UNBELIEF to a tws. I come back with ADEEILNS (16) for a small lead, but his ENTASIA seals it.
439 – 474 17-11 +850 me: SSSJQX

Stat me, baybeee –

Blanks: 9/14
Esses: 16/28
JQXZ: 13/28
Total: 38/70

Bingos: 17-8 Avg. score: 417 – 398

QUIZ
1) NOTCHING
2) HERNIATE
3) MARGENTS – to provide with a border also: GARMENTS
4) ATOMICS
5) ANNEALED – to make strong and resilient
6) OVEREATS
7) DORMIENT – variant of DORMANT
8) INCENTED – same as INCENTIVIZED
9) LITTERS also: SLITTER, TILTERS
10) ATOMISER also: AMORTISE
11) INDUCES also: INCUDES, INCUSED
12) BENTHIC – pertaining to ocean depths also: BITCHEN
13) ALEURON – protein found in some plant seeds
14) AUTHORED
15) EXCITES

16) DELAINES – high-quality wool often used in worsteds
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Saturday, August 27, 2016

Day Three

Game 15 vs. Cynthia Seales
Missed ?AGIIPT (1) right out of the gate. AEGINRS (2), VIZOR for 62, and a fun, rack-cleaning HEPCAT got me the lead. ADONSTU (3) and EEFGILNT (4) bookending her REVEALER salted it away. With a monster lead, I actually let LIQUOERS* go late for 104. I had an out-bingo in hand, and I did the math that if somehow that mess was valid on a challenge I would lose by 4. I was not letting that be the story of me. Screw the 140 pts extra spread I burned. Went out with ADEIRST (5).
516 – 412 9-6 +576 me: ?SSSZ

Game 16 vs. Vera Bigall
She landed the first bingo – CLEANERS – and the last with REGIONAL. In between, I got EEGINRTT (6), AEIRTUZ (7) for 104, and ADEINPRT (8).
518 – 361 10-6 +733 me: ?SSXZ

Game 17 vs. Joel Horn
Early, I saw the possible word in ABDELLS (9) and dismissed it. ADEGOST (10) followed a couple turns later. He laid a blank bingo down before picking it up and scoring 30 in order to save said blank. I missed EEEHNST (11) and then both in AEMNRSST (12) before finally getting AEENRSTU (13) down. He double-blanked with REASONS to essentially tie it before things went sideways.

I missed non-bingo WINGLET and took WELTING, which was inferior for opening a tls-tls QI spot. I blocked it the next turn, and just in time it turned out. Then I got FUSER* by, not realizing myself it was phony. That set up his REZ for 40 however. I'd tracked the right number of tiles unplayed, but somehow had the Z already marked off. This was balanced out on my tracking by what turned out to be a missing J. We found it under his foot after the game.
386 – 353 11-6 +766 me: SSSS

Game 18 vs. Nedd Kareiva
Five-tile overlap with NEAREST for for him early. I had SSS at one point and milked them enough to stay close. He got burned challenging SUS, and I took advantage by playing DERME* as an intentional phony a couple turns later, figuring he didn't want to risk another lost turn. It wasn't a game-breaking score, yet enough put me down less than a bingo again. The perfect tweener.

He exchanged one tile late, which I correctly figured to be the Q. So I opened a 30+-point QI spot that also dumped my V, drawing three tiles out of seven for the Q. The gambit paid off as I picked it up and he didn't block. Carrying the case blank a few turns inspired just enough confidence to try it. Did I bag him? Sure did. But I'd never beaten him before, so I took it with no apologies.
350 – 297 12-6 +819 me: ?SSSSJQXZ

Game 19 vs. Kevin Leeds
Why on earth did ZOEAS look bad to me? Passed it up to open thinking it only took -E back hook. EIMORSU (14) for me before he back-to-backed SWINDLE and TANGRAMS. His lead fluctuated throughout between about 25 and 50 was all, yet his board control was masterful; I never threatened.
360 – 381 12-7 +798 me: ?SSSXZ

Game 20 vs. David Turissini
His unknown-to-me PAKORA would've earned a challenge, but that it opened a spot for my EILNRST (15). RIDGILS for him, ACEILRT (16) for me to put it away late. He outplayed me and was a worthy division champion, I just had some serendipity on my side this round.
428 – 419 13-7 +807 me: ?SS

Game 21 vs. Mike Stafford
His TONELESS and my miss of DEENLRTY (17) set the pace. I caught him on MAIRY* midgame, but he followed up with a superior ARRAYS for nearly 40 anyway. Double-blank NEGRONI for him late sealed it on a lane I had to open.
303 – 404 13-8 +706 me: XZ

Stat me, baybee –

Blanks: 5/14
Esses: 18/28
JQXZ: 10/28

Bingos: 12-11 Avg. score: 408 - 375

Quiz
1) PIGTAIL
2) SERINGA (also ERASING, EARINGS, GAINERS, REAGINS, REGAINS, REGINAS,
SEARING)
3) ASTOUND
4) FLEETING
5) ARIDEST (also ASTRIDE, DIASTER, DISRATE, STAIDER, TARDIES, TIRADES)
6) RINGETTE – a team sport played on ice, mostly by teams comprised of woman, like hockey, but
involving a rubber ring
* All my now-four-year-old's former binge-watching of “Caillou” finally paid off. That and many other children' educational shows are produced in Canada and often specifically Quebec. This primarily Canadian sport is featured in one of the episodes and the only reason I knew the word.

7) AZURITE – a blue mineral from which copper is obtained and is used in paint- and fabric-making
8) DIPTERAN – member of a family of insects that includes flies and mosquitoes
9) BALLSED – to have fouled something up badly
10) DOTAGES – a state of senility
11) ETHENES – a chemical used in improving color of citrus fruits, amongst wide variety if uses
12) SMARTENS, SARMENTS – a type of slender plant stem, also called a runner
13) SAUTERNE – a California-produced white wine, usu. sold as a jug wine
14) MOUSIER
15) LINTERS – a machine for removing fibers from cotton seeds
16) RECITAL (also ARTICLE)
17) TENDERLY

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Saturday, August 20, 2016

Day Two

Rd. 8 vs. Judy Cole
Got away with MIBB* to open. It and MIG/G are playing marbles. Missed AEELNRTX (1) before hitting AEELNRS (2). Missed ADMRSTU (3) with a blank (not MUSTARD, it didn't fit) but found ADEORSTU (4). We traded my AEEGORV (5) to her NAPERIES late.
445 – 293 4-4 +307 me: ??SSSX

Rd. 9 vs. Elizabeth Davis
I transposed tiles trying to make AGEIMNS (6), but it stood. I chickened out on EERSTVV (7), but held on in a long, defensive game.
351 – 313 5-4 +345 me: ?SSJQZ

Rd. 10 vs. David Englehardt
I missed ADENOPST (8), but recovered with ABDEINOS (9), one of my fave finds of the week in AFIIMOS (10), and AEELRRN (11).
391 – 300 6-4 +436 me: ??SSS

Rd. 11 vs. Carol Tillson
I missed EEHMRST (12) and a sweet nine was also possible in EEHIMRSTT (13). But AEELRST (14) earned me a challenge, and I earned another free turn taking off her UNSTAIN* try before she hit double-blank SHINIER.
403 – 326 7-4 +513 me: SSSX

Rd. 12 vs. Joanne Cohen
She struck first with ROARERS, while I missed BEHINNOS (15). Got DEENNOY (16) the next turn, and then EEIILSTW (17). Jargony OUTCUE* from my radio days got me out of a 2-U mess. Joanne found EREPSINS late and I inexcusably missed EELNOSTT (18).
Blown game factor: 10.
405 – 407 7-5 +511 me: ??SJQXZ

Rd. 13 vs. Betty Conelison
Missed the only bingo in BDEFSS?? (19), but landed ACDEENS (20) the next turn. INSURES for her late closed the gap, but enabled me to get TOOTHY for 40 on a tws out of that rack plus a third T.
379 – 331 8-5 +551 me: ?SSZ

Rd. 14 vs. Ruchi Gupta
She's been due against me. ETERNAL early, than WAX to set up tws-dls Y-hook for 63-pointer. PITIERS for 91 put me away. Her lead was so big she was able to let go my bEZELING* for 118. I challenged a D-hook to OUGHT, got the turn back challenging her STARRIED*, but to no avail.
371 – 450 8-6 +472 me: ?SSJQZ

Stat me, baybeee –

Blanks: 9/16
Esses: 16/28
JQXZ: 13/28

Bingos: 11 – 7 Avg. score: 392 – 345

Quiz
1) EXTERNAL
2) LEANERS
3) DURMAST – a European oak, also called a sessile oak
4) READOUTS (also OUTDARES, OUTREADS)
5) OVERAGE
6) ENIGMAS (also GAMINES, SEAMING)
7) VERVETS – a kind of African monkey
8) NOTEPADS
9) BEDSONIA – variant word for chlamydia
10) MAFIOSI
11) RELEARN (also LEARNER)
12) THERMES – a unit of heat
13) HERMETIST – practitioner of a sort of pagan universalist monotheism
14) STEALER (also ELATERS, REALEST, RELATES, RESLATE)
15) SHINBONE
16) DOYENNE – woman who is the senior member in age or rank of a group, class, or profession
17) LEWISITE – a compound used as a blister gas in WWI
18) NOTELET – small sheet of paper for an informal letter
19) SOFABEDS

20) ENCASED (also DECANES)
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016

2016 Nationals - Fort Wayne, IN

Day One

Rd. 1 vs. Marshall Resnick
WARDENS for 90 for him, AAEEPRST (1) for me. RADICEL for him,, late chicken-out on AEINNPR (2) which would've put me 44% chance to win late.
Blown game factor: 3
347 – 397 0-1 (50) me: SJXZ

Rd 2 vs. Trevor Sealy
PANDERS for him, ABDEIMOO (3) for me. But he oxymornon'ed me with FATTIER and LANKIER.
Blown game factor: 0
333 – 463 0-2 (180) me: SSJZ

Rd 3 vs. Bernard Gottlieb
I got the only first half bingo with DEILOPT (4), but he made a calculated, aggressive play with VOICE tws-dls opening for 51-pt. ADZ play I couldn't happen to block. Two many duplicate letters for me to make hay and he eventually landed ENRAGES. I tried (COOK)PANS* to no avail, and missed EEHSTUY (5) for an out to mitigate spread.
Blown game factor: 1
326 – 407 0-3 (261) me: ??SSSX

Rd 4 vs. Guy Ingram
EEINRTU (6), DEILNRTU (7), and AEINSTT (8) made my draws those a player in any division would love. He had fun play LAKING – a noun – and SANDInG. But the latter gave me QI for 63. He told me later he'd chickened out on the safer LADINGS.
463 – 433 1-3 (231) me: ?SJQ

Rd 5 vs. Elizabeth Ralston
EIOPRSTV (9) before I missed new-to-me ACHILMS (10). Her TURGITE allowed me ZIGS for 72. AABCILNO (11) just looked off to her this day and so earned me a challenge. ABEORRT (12) got one as well, and then (HOWE)S/SKEEN.
Late, I decided to not fish for a bingo and burn good tiles scoring well for tws RE(D)ONE saving UY. I ended up drawing to EFLNSUY (13), and she gave me a place for it with PEAsE/S(LYING)*. I was actually getting against PEASES being good, since all contexts I can find for PEASE show it as an archaic own-plural for PEA.
Elizabeth finished higher in final standings than I did. Some games just go wonky.
653 - 277 2-3 +145 me: ?SSSSJXZ

Rd 6 vs. Diana Grossman
She opened FABLING, but I got ACELNOTV (14). FLAMINGS* cost her a turn, but she landed ALUMINES and CHANTIES before I cut the spread late with ELIRRSTU (15).
Blown game factor: 3 (missed some good stuff like POOKA, GAWKY and GAVOTTE)
418 – 451 2-4 +112 me: ?SSQZ

Rd 7 vs. Janet Gray
ABEHIRS (16) and AENOSTU (17) early for me, but REGISTER and RIDGIEST back-to-back for her. She hit OUTLIER late, but I snaked it out somehow.
425 – 415 3-4 +155 me: ?SSJQZ

Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 6/14
Esses: 15/28
JQXZ: 12/28

Quiz
1) SEPERATE (also ASPERATE)
2) PANNIER
3) AMOEBOID
4) PILOTED
5) SHUTEYE
6) REUNITE (also RETINUE, UTERINE)
7) UNDERLIT
8) SATINET (also INSTATE)
9) OVERTIPS (also SORPTIVE, SPORTIVE)
10) CHIMLAS – archaized word for chimley, chimney
11) ANABOLIC
12) TABORER (also ABORTER)
13) SYNFUEL
14) COVALENT
15) SULTRIER
16) BEARISH
17) SOUTANE


Bingos: 14 – 12 Avg score: 423 - 406
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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  
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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Arden Cup 2016
This is a Scrabble tournament that takes place every weekend in Chicagoland. My now-wife and I attended several years in a row, and in our last together was where I proposed to her. She and our daughter had a family girls' weekend, so I came solo. Though now held at a hotel conference room in Elmhurst rather than the former public facility in Skokie, and no longer quite as well-attended as it once was, this event still holds a very special place in my heart.  This was my first year playing in Division One there.
Solutions to parenthetically notated alphagrams are at the end of this blog piece.

Rd 1 v. Thomas Reinke
He opened PITIERS. Soon after we traded my ABEKOSTU (1) to his ATTESTOR. His NAILABLE stayed, my OUTCLEAN* came off. The real solution (2) didn't fit. He salted t away with CONELRAD.
391 – 463      0-1      (72)                                  me: SSSJXZ

Rd 2 v. Nedd Kareiva
RATTENS gave him the earlier lead. AEHINRST (3) and EIILRST (4) nearly caught me up, but I was forced to try challenging his late BIRDINGS.
364 – 490      0-2      (198)                                me: ?SJQ

Rd 3 v. Peter Schneidicke
He opened with BINDERY, I replied with AEEGRRT (5). Being to anxious to be rid of a U, I slotted an E for his dws-dws NOTARISE. He hit EDITION midgame to negate the TAXIES for 63 I'd fished for. I missed ?ADEFLOS late (6).
349 – 454      0-3      (303)                                me: ?SSSJQX

Rd 4 v. Marty Gabriel
UNWEAVES early for Marty, ADEHISST (7) to get close. Marty gave me a couple turns trying Collins plays, but his PEARLIER gave him control and RAVINGLY the big spread.
339 – 458      0-4      (422)                                me: ?SJQ

Game 5 v. Charles Reinke
INVITED for him, EENORST (8) for me. I got EELNOSV (9), but let his GILDABLE* for 95 stand. He drew into COZENAGE for 116. 20 plays between us was all.
437 – 499      0-5      (484)                                me: ?SSSSX

I doubt I've ever seen a stretch where my opponents averaged 472 against me, yikes! And it's not like they were getting more than their fair share of the premium tiles.

Game 6 v. Steve Hartsman
DEIKNRRS (10), AAEGIMNT (11) plus a challenge, and went out with EIILLSST (12).
511 – 297      1-5      (270)                                me: ??SSJQX

Game 7 v. Doug Lundquist
Doug opened with GREYISH I hadn't be sure of E vs. A spelling there, but let it be. DWS-DWS AEGIMNS (13) for 101 and ABEILST (14) for me.
409 – 368      2-5      (229)                                me: ??SSJXZ

Game 8 v. Thomas Reinke
I opened with AELORVY (15). Thomas tried VENAIDAS* - thinking of ZENAIDAS – before landing NAIADES. I should've blocked it, but opted to exchange out of a dreadful rack. I risked slotting a Z in a triple-lane for 46 and got to score it myself the next turn for 39. We traded my EIILNRS (16) to his AIRDATE later.
498 – 377       3-5      (150)                               me: ?SSJXQZ

I was very proud of my finish after the 0-5 start. I only know so much and can only play so well, but I can control not throwing in the towel at least.

Gam3 9 v. Nedd Kareiva
Nedd opened with exchange, 16, exchange. Since I landed AELNOST (17), thought I was in good shape. But then he found the gas pedal, hitting PASTIES, REALIGNS, ZED for 70+, DAINTIER and QUAKY for 50 all in a row. Had I not happened to block the spot with a 52-pt. X-play, his QUAKY would've gone for 123!
Over that time, I missed DEMNORY (18), that plus an S (19), CDEEIMNR (20), ENNNOOWV (21) and BDIOOOV (22).
Late, I found CDHIORS (22) with a blank, but missed better ones – DCHIOOR (23), CDHIOPRW (24), and CCDHIIOR (25). And the best play was non-bingo CDEHIOR (26) for 32 and saving the blank. I played the end game correctly, but to no avail.
476 – 477      3-6      (151)                              me: ?SJX

Game 10 v. Peter Schneidicke
I opened with RAZOR, completely forgetting ARROZ. He landed SETTLER, followed by me forgetting to check for bingo possibilities to an A, missing AEILNRTU (26). I got EGILNRT (27) and EIIKSTT (28) before missing ADNNOSU (29). But the next turn I played ADEMORS (30).
434 – 394      4-6      (111)                              me: ?SSSJQXZ

Game 11 v. Marty Gabriel
I struck first with blank for I ADEIILS (31), though missing tws bingos from a C (32). AACHERTT (33) with the other blank for me as well, and then late CEHILONR (34) allowed me to outpace is outplay of NONARIES.
483 - 381      5-6        (9)                                me: ??SSXZ

Game 12 v. Charles Reinke
I bingo'ed, but missed a double-double chance early when landing EEINRSTV (35). His FALCONS blocked my next bingo rack all three possible ways. Ten I lost the battle of phonies, only getting RAWED* down for 9 to balance a rack while he sneaked SMEWING* (SMEW is a noun) and MYCIN by me about 115 pts total. My late EEGILNRT (36) left me well short.
373 – 476      5-7      (112)                             me: ?SZ

Game 13 v. Steve Hartsman
Steve seemed frustrated about the time it took, but DOEsKIN for the only possible double-double was so worth the clock. I responded with AEFLLNNS (37), but missed EIIMRSTT (38) soon after. ATONIES for Steve as well.
311 – 440      5-8      (241)                             me: ?SSQZ

Game 14 v. Doug Lundquist
Tried PRETAXING* early, but Doug knew PRETAX is only valid as an adjective. We'd trade EIPRSTV (37) to his DECREPIT soon after. His HOARIEST would win it, as I was forced to try extending to DECREPITRY*.
397 – 407      5-9      (251)                            me: ?SSJZ

Game 15 v. Steve Hartsman
SPARKLE for 100 for Steve, UNSATED for me. He blocked an early nine for me of AACILMNST (38).
359 – 380      5-10      (272)                         me: ?SQ

Game 16 v. Nedd Kareiva
REFRAMED for Nedd midgame, but missing a double-double afforded me the spot for it with DEINSSST (39). I lost the game missing the A-front hook to BRIDGE for a perfectly-fitting AADELRT (40). Instead I had to open the board without the case blank in hand. Nedd landed ALEVINS there.
378 – 453      5-11      (347)                          me: SSSJQX

Game 17 v. Peter Schneidicke
CONFETTI for him, but AEGIKNRT (41) and soon after ADEILOST (42) for me. UNREELS pulled him close, but EEINORST (42) let me pull away. I sort of missed ABEINRST (43) late, but didn't even look for a bingo there since I just needed to block a triple-triple lane elsewhere to seal the win.
482 – 359      6-11      (224)                         me: ?SSSQXZ

Game 18 v. Marty Gabriel
ENTITLE and ACCEDES early for Marty, but I got right back into it with AABELSWY (44) for 98. Turned out I could've had 136 for an underlapping double-double with that that rack minus the A (45) I'd played through. I chickened out on ENROBERS with a blank, taking the lower-scoring ABEORRS (46).
I was very happy with a late decision to score 28 for VETOED, saving QR with two U's unseen to me. As I'd hoped, Marty had to open a scoring lane and I picked up a U, then hitting QUERN for 54. He got RESINATE at the end.
425 – 415      7-11      (214)                         me: ??SSJQZ

Game 19 v. Charles Reinke
I was happy to remember at least one of the two in AACILTTS (47), though AAFILSTT (48) would've been better. The Reinkies had been phonying me all weekend, and I finally got a couple by, if accidentally. I thought REBAKES* was valid, but missed the two valid plays (49). I chickened out on DEFILNOR (50) before getting away with YANkERS* when AENRSWY (51) and AEIMNSRY (52) were available. EEIGNNQU (53) for 104 late.
526 – 339      8-11       (27)                         me: ??SSSJQZ

Game 20 v. Marty Gabriel
Played this match pretty darn well. Except for the missed bingos. TREASON and SNORTER for Marty while I missed AAIILRTX (54) in between. AAEEGLRY (55) and AACELRTY (56). I managed AEEGLRRS (57), but OBEDIENT with the second blank ended me.
371 – 447      8-12      (103)                       me: ?SSJQXZ

And so I finished in 6th, just as I was seeded. Congrats to Charles Reinke on his Division One win. Special kudos to my roommate for the weekend and good friend Dan Heck for winning the third division. Like me, he'd had a rough start, but was equally gracious in victory as in defeat. No one could've deserved a trophy more. Thank you to Director Marty Gabriel and all who contributed for a fine event!

Stat me, baybeeee –

Blanks: 23/40
Esses: 43/80
JQXZ: 51/80
TOTAL: 117/200 58 %

Avg. score: 415 – 418
Bingos: 38 – 41

QUIZ ANSWERS
1) OUTBAKES
2) CLEANOUT
3) THERIANS – mammals which give birth to live young without shelled eggs
– also INEARTHS, HAIRNETS
4) SILTIER
5) REGRATE also GREATER
6) LEADOFFS
7) SHADIEST also DASHIEST
8) ESTRONE – an estrogen
9) ELEVONS – type of aircraft control surface
10) DRINKERS
11) ENIGMATA also AGMINATE
12) SILLIEST
13) GAMINES – tomboys also ENIGMAS, SEAMING
14) ASTILBE – Asian perennial, of the saxifrage family
also ABLEIST, ALBITES, BASTILE, BESTIAL, BLASTIE, STABILE
15) OVERLAY also LAYOVER
16) INLIERS also RESILIN
17) TOLANES – organic compound used in organic synthesis
also ETALONS
18) DORYMEN – one that fishes from a dory (a flat-bottomed boat)
19) SYNDROME
20) ENDERMIC – acting by absorption through the skin
21) NONWOVEN (a noun to my mild surprise)
22) OBOVOID – ovoid with the narrow end at the base
23) CHOROID – a membrane in the eye also OCHROID
24) WHIPCORD
25) DICHROIC – have two colors
26) RETINULA – neural receptor of an arthropod's eye
also AUNTLIER, TENURIAL
27) RINGLET also TINGLER
28) KITTIES
29) ADNOUNS – adjective when used as noun
30) RADOMES – domelike device used to shelter a radar antenna
31) SEDILIA – one of the seats in a church used for officiating clergy
also DAILIES, LIAISED
32) CEDILLAS, CITADELS, CAMELIDS
33) REATTACH also ATTACHER
34) CHLORINE
35) REINVEST also NERVIEST, SIRVENTE
36) GREENLIT
37) FLANNELS
38) CLAIMANTS
39) DISSENTS
40) LATERAD – toward the side
41) RETAKING
42) DIASTOLE also ISOLATED
43) BANISTER also BARNIEST
44) SWAYABLE
45) BYELAWS – same as a bylaw
46) ARBORES – a tree when contrasted with a shrub, plural of ARBOR
47) CATTAILS – a marsh plant also STATICAL
48) FATALIST
49) BEAKERS, BERAKES
50) INFOLDER
51) YAWNERS
52) SEMINARY
53) QUEENING
54) TRIAXIAL
55) LAYERAGE – a method of propagating plants by which shoots are made to take root while still
attached to the parents
56) ACRYLATE – same as acrylic

57) REGALERS
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