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
