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 6^th, 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