Blog

Tapani's memorable SCRABBLE® plays.

2010-08-13/--16: WPC

A comedy of errors

Theoretically I should have been vying for the 24th place or even better, but I ended up taking the 27th (out of 28) just barely.  Many games might have been winnable if I had prepared better.

Round 1: I allowed a phoney three and failed to block opp's out bingo.

Round 3: I allowed a phoney bingo with high-probablilty tiles.

Round 5: I not only allowed a phoney high-point three but I actually learned it and tried it later in an annotated game at table #1!

Round 10: I tried a phoney triple-triple SPITLESS* against an opponent who (I didn't know that yet) had studied all -LESS bingos.

Round 13: I missed a couple of easy bingos and a higher-scoring play at the endgame, turning a win into a tie.

Round 31: I missed INHERENT to the T, allowing the opponent to take the spot with MARTINET in the next turn.

Round 32: I chickened out of several common bingos.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed getting to play many top expers, including reigning and former champions, which I would not have been able to do at the NSC.

2010-07-27

In an online SOWPODS game, I played a triple-triple A(N)GSTIER#. which was is an anagram of another triple-triple GANISTER I played last year in a tournament.  This is not so improbable, however, when you consider that these tiles make 11 different SOWPODS words, more than any other set of eight tiles: ANGRIEST, ANGSTIER#, ASTRINGE, GANISTER, GANTRIES, GRANITES, INGRATES, RANGIEST, REASTING#, STEARING# and TASERING#.

Don't be tempted by the phoney GRATINES*. GRATIN is the base noun and its plural is GRATINS; GRATINE is an adjective with no inflections; GRATINEE is a verb with inflections GRATINEES, GRATINEED and GRATINEEING.

Two sets of seven tiles (RETINAS and EASTING) also make 11 SOWPODS words.  In TWL, some of the same sets are also at the top but they make fewer words: RETINAS makes nine words and ANGRIEST seven.

2010-07-02/--05: Reno

Good start.  On round 3, I played EQUInOX for 136 points, a record candidate in the lesser non-triple-triple category.  On round 7, I played my eleventh triple-triple, S(P)LINtER for 140.  On round 8 I was about to play the twelfth, but made a big blunder and misdesignated a blank, playing sTA(G)GgRS unsuccessfully.  It was mostly downhill from there and I ended up 14-14 with the same rating I started with.

2010-05-29/--31: Campbell

Lucky.  Best word: BOSSILY 94.  No particularly spectacular plays.

2010-04-17/--18: OC

The annual Orange County tournament drew only 26 players this year, and I was placed in the first division.  On Saturday I was lucky and won a couple of games against higher-rated players.  In one (against the top seed of the tournament), I found a rare 9-letter word PELLAGr(AS); in the other, I played (J)AVeLINS for 104 points.  On Sunday I was less lucky and lost all my games.

2010-04-08

I played only two games at the club today, but got a triple-triple in each game!  First SOLANDER, then UNTHRONE.  This doubles my club nine-timer record from two to four.

2010-03-27/--28: Ashland

On Saturday I lost my three initial pre-paired games against better players, so I knew I would end up playing many lower-rated opponents and my WESPA rating would plummet.  In the afternoon I found a rare 9-letter bingo ABORIGINE, through the SOWPODS-only word GI# (a judo costume) and made 566 points in that game.  In the last game of the day, I was trailing hopelessly, until I was able to go out with the surprise bingo RELAXING, through the L.

On Sunday I made my tenth tournament triple-triple with NONiDEAL, through the second N, scoring 140 points (plus extra ten points for opponent's failed challenge) but I won the game by only 28 points.  I also had two other close wins (by spreads of two and ten points) and a few big losses.  At the end of the day, I was 672 spread points behind the eventual class prize winner.

2010-02-11

Eight players showd up at the Roseville club, including some less frequent attendees.  Louie played a 10-letter bingo, ADMONISHED, through SHE.

2010-01-28

At the Roseville club, I played my first ever 10-letter bingo, PERSONAGES, through AGE.

2010-01-24

In an online SOWPODS game on ISC, my opponent "hotbod1" played six consecutive bingos: BREIING# / B(OR)#, OLEATES / S(WAIN), ST(E)WABLE, MIAOUI(N)g, TEP(E)FIES and DENTALI(A).

2010-01-15/--18: Reno

In the early bird, I was placed in the bottom division which was oversized and included players who have trouble playing by the rules.  I dislike oversized divisions where the format is "defective round robin" because you could end up playing everybody else except your closest contenders. I would have preferred a larger number of smaller divisions.  Anyway, I got a good start when my very first play of the tournament was the natural bingo TRIPLES.  The rest of the day was pretty average.

In the main event I played up to the first division, though I knew I had little chances of winning more than a few games.  I lost all my games (and the throne of Grenland) the first day, though some games were close, including one where I missed a triple-triple: I could have played REN(I)TENt (I knew INTERNET# has an acceptable anagram in OWL) or RET(I)NENe, but I played the phony RET(I)NENt* which was challenged off.  Later I won five games but still finished last.

2009-12

I played a triple-triple at a one-day tournament, GANIS(T)ER for 150 points.  The T was already on the bottom row, and the S I played extended an existing bingo word.  (Earlier, the opponent had played a -T word parallel to the existing bingo, which made the simple S hook more difficult to play, but also allowed the 3x3 when the tiles were just right.)  When I drew AEGINRS, I quickly saw a couple of easy -ST words (ANGRIEST, RANGIEST), but just before hitting the clock I took the time to consider other anagrams (ANGRIEST, ASTRINGE, GANISTER, GANTRIES, GRANITES, INGRATES, RANGIEST; there are also four SOWPODS-only anagrams, including ANGSTIER# and TASERING#).

This was my ninth nine-timer in tournaments (STRANGES, UNFORGED, ARTINESS, CLASSICO, MISLABEL, SOAPIEST, SAUTOIRE, DECADENT, GANISTER) while my opponents have played two.  I've also played two at clubs (TILEFISH, PROSTIES) and a few online.  I've played just two or three 9-letter bingo words (including CRUSADING in November), they are so much more difficult to find.

2009-09

John O opened our informal game on 9/30 with four (4) consecutive bingos! He played sYENITE 76, BODH(r)ANS 69, (S)TRANDER 68, and REEFIER 65.

My TrAP(E)ZES 122 was of little consolation.

2009-07

I played BEZIQuE for 145 points at the club.