Des Moines Scrabble Tournament February 2017
I came in as the #1 seed, ranked about 100 in NASPA. But there sat Avery Mojica, somehow just below me in rating when we know he's light years more skilled. Still, can't fear anyone when you sit down.
This is my favorite tournament of the year. Wendy and I lived in the Des Moines area for a few years not long back. Any excuse to visit them all is taken, and Scrabble the most fun of all.
Answers to the numbered alphagrams are at very end.
Rd. 1 vs. Dan Heck
EINNOORT (1), AEELNSSV (2) and DEEIMSS (3) for me by turn five. The last one made a phony -S hook on the first bingo. Dan held, but like me he wasn't sure about it. Dan hit ARENITE during my barrage, and then I think tricked me into opening the board while thinking I was blocking the case S he didn't have after all and landed super-sweet INTUI(T)ED.
We've sparred online and at club for years, but this was the first time we'd play in a tournament. I was never so happy to lose, it was quite a comeback.
351 – 416 0-1 (64) me: ??SSSQ opp: SJXZ
Rd 2 vs. Nick Purifoy
Nick opened with INUTILE, double-doubled with DOWNRATE for 98 son after, and took an opening I desperately made for his own SCOUTING late. Just AEIIRST (4) for me.
327 – 485 0-2 (158) (222) me: SSSJQ opp: ??SXZ
Rd 3 vs. Kevin Gauthier
?CEILLOZ (5) and ADEGIINT (6) for me early, GEILNRT (7) and AAECHRT (8) with blank for the C late. Finding one of the two that started with J would've netted me more points, but I once I found something necessarily ending with A I quit looking. I believe Kevin mentioned having quickly picked up esses to have three at once. Not lucky.
516 – 273 1-2 +243 (+21) me: ??XZ opp: SSSSJQ
Rd 4 vs. George Asaka
SCORIAE and ACTIVATE early for George, plus he challenged off my SALUTORY* in between (it's SALUTARY). I managed AEELMNS (9) with a blank, but missed the bingo that starts with A from ?AEELMNS (10). His SPIRAEA was salt in the wound. At some point this weekend George hit five consecutive bingos against someone. He was en fuego.
339 – 457 1-3 (118) (97) me: ?SSQXZ opp: ?SSJ
Rd 5 vs. Chuck Riordan
Mid-game we got rolling – tws IGNITES for him, AEIIPRR (11) with a blank for me. I missed ADEIIMPR (12) though. He came right back with tws REDCOAT. Desperate for a second lane, I threw a B out into trip-trip space, hoping maybe to catch a -BLE play or something. He played the odds and mucked up the bingo-prone area elsewhere. I trip-trip the out-bingo with ?EGINOR with the only play with the B in the sixth spot. (13). More luck, he's caught with a full rack that includes JWZ.
game link
464 – 355 2-3 +109 +12 me: ??S opp: SSSJQXZ
Game 6 vs. Need Kareiva
AWAITERS for him, but ABEMORT (14) and OX for 55 for me. game link
427 – 345 3-3 +82 +100 me: ?SSJXZ opp: ?SSQ
Game 7 vs. Avery Mojica
ASCARED for him, ADELOSTV (15) and AEEIRST (16) for me. DREAMIER regained him the lead and I think we figured the endgame was unwinnable for me.
386 – 392 3-4 (6) +94 me: SSSJQXZ opp: ??S
Game 8 vs. Dan Heck
Had all the letters for ACIPSTT (17), but could only get down 44-point non-bingo double-double version of it. AEEGNRT (18), AEHIOPRU (19), and AEEIRSTW (20) had me in fine fetters. REGAINED and having to eat a blank late for Dan-o.
490 – 323 4-4 +167 +261 me: SSSXZ opp: ??SJQ
Game 9 vs. Nick Purifoy
AEILLRS (21) and AMORRTUY (22) for me, TERTIAN for Nick.
394 – 361 5-4 +33 +294 me: ?SJXZ opp: ?SSSJQ
Game 10 v. Kevin Gauthier
DDEEILST (23) and DEIRSSTU (24) back-to-back midgame for me. I defended as best I could, but Kevin just could land THINNEST with a blank where T had to be first letter. Worse for me, I knew he was emptying the bag to a full rack and picking up the case blank. Quackle seems to indicate I had no winning sequence against perfect play. All I could do was set up a high-scoring out-in-two and hope for a mistake. He happened to miss the four playable out-bingo sevens from
?AENNOR and tried ANEURON*. I think he was combining NEURON and ANEURIN.
399 – 338 6-4 +61 +94 me: SSQ opp: ??SSJXZ
Round 11 vs. Nedd Kareiva
Struggled for workable draws, but can't complain since I missed ACEEPRS (25). I didn't think there was a lane on the board anyway since I always get confused over between YAUDS and YAULDS*. I extended to QUAD with -RECEP to a tws, which only ended up having three problems: it's phony because the middle vowel is I, it needs an S on the end to be valid anyway, and I underscored it by 18 points. MORALES for him, an eaten blank for me.
290 – 404 6-5 (114) (20) me: ?S opp: ?SSSJQXZ
I had a shot at money given where I was in the standings, but it was deemed that pairings which avoided repeats as best possible would be used. No problemo! I love playing Avery. Sometimes it's a gritted-teeth love though, as you are about to read... :)
Round 12 vs. Avery Mojica
Avery: Turn 1) BEAGLES; 2) AVULSEs; 6) NITRATE; 7) RAX – 42; 8) BRE(A)DNUT through the A I'd just given him from AEFINORS (26) because he'd blocked better AEFNORST (27); 9) EUrIPUS; 10) CLOAK – 60 which I could only have blocked with a one-tile three-pointer. One can't complain, just play one's best and admire the not-so-subtle art of a good friend creating a masterpiece of pain.
game link
352 - 602 6-6 (251) (271) me: SQZ opp: ??SSSJX
And so I finished in 4th place, one slot out of the prize money. I also lost about 50 ratings points. Can't spend those anywhere though! We had an amazing time catching up with everyone from around the Midwest. Thank you to Rich Banker and Pat Boddy for their directorial work and to all who made the tournament such a great success. Congratulations to Division One champion Avery “DJ ChocoLuv” Mojica, to my wife Wendy on her 3rd place DIII finish, and to all who laid waste to those who dared go before them. Or something like that.
Stat me, baybeeee –
Blanks: 10/24
Esses: 22/48
JQXZ: 23/48
TOTAL: 55/120 45%
Avg score: 395 - 396
Bingo count: 22 - 20
Games in which I had--
both blanks: 2-1
one blank: 2-2
no blanks: 2-3
Bingo Quiz
1) TENORINO – a high tenor
2) ENSLAVES
3) DEMISES – to bequeath
4) AIRIEST
5) LOCALIZE
6) IDEATING
7) TINGLER (also RINGLET)
8) TRACHEA
9) MELENAS – a nasty medical condition I won't describe
10) AMYLENES – chemical used in some gasoline-blending components
11) PRAIRIE
12) IMPAIRED
13) NEIGHBOR
14) BROMATE – to combine with bromine (also a chemical used in gasoline compounds)
15) SOLVATED – to convert into a type of ion
16) AERIEST (also SERIATE)
17) TIPCATS – old European baseball-ish game
18) NEGATER (also GRANTEE, GREATEN, REAGENT)
19) EUPHORIA
20) WEARIEST (also SWEATIER, WASTERIE)
21) RALLIES (also SALLIER)
22) MORTUARY
23) DELISTED
24) STUDIERS (also DIESTRUS and STURDIES)
25) RESPACE (also CAPRESE and ESCAPER)
26) FARINOSE – resembling farina (a cereal grain)
27) SEAFRONT
Saturday, February 18, 2017
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
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
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
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
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)
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)