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
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
