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tourney countdown
Apr. 12th, 2005 09:38 amI am officially entered in the Odenton Scrabble tourney, May 14ish. I feel unprepared, but that will pass, hopefully. Especially if I actually study.
Last night's club was helpful. I won two games, and lost the third because I was playing around and trying to win the contest. Every week, everyone contributes a quarter, and our director sets up a contest to play the highest word containing letters that she chooses, based loosely on a theme. This week was CB for Cherry Blossoms, which are blooing all over the area right now. There were a lot of people, so winning the pot (which I did!) was worth a whopping four bucks, even if I won with a cheesy little word.
In any case, I won my first game easily, as my tiles had constantly good synergy, and I was seeing the board better than usual. I opened with both blanks on my rack and nice tiles: EISRW?? -- I will let you all play with those and come up with interesting words. My play was worth 74, and put the W on a double letter score. Two turns later, I found an eight with TOT(A)LING, which also hooked to HI to make GHI, for 73. I played FR(O)ZE at B2, hooking to something and earning me 43, and then BOONIES for 70. My opponent also bingoed twice, which took us through the tiles quickly. Final score, 504-318 in 14 turns, for an average of 30+ points per turn. Woo!
Second game, same opponent, lame tiles for both of us, much trading, plus my stubbornly holding the CB for way too long. I plunked them down in CAB for a measly 17, but still enough to win four bucks. My only bingo was SERENER, and I burned a blank to play GAZER to a tripe word score for 49. She has CURLIEST and IDEAL(I)SE. I lose, 358-371.
Third game vs. Bob. I think Bob is much better than me, even though his rating is lower. Exciting game, close most of the way. He played ZOEAE for 48, I countered with QUARK for 56, and then played down to the triple word with QAID on the next turn for another 42 -- 98 points in two turns with the Q - yay! He found SEDATION, I messed around with almost-a-bingo tiles til practically the last turn, and then found ENTICES, which played vertically, leaving two or three floating letters through which he could've easily bingoed, since both blanks were still unseen, or horizontally, creating ETA, EH, and SUN, leaving no open lanes, which I almost missed. Luckily, though, I saw it, and he had EAIOS?? with nowhere to go. Final score, 390-331.
My overall club average now is 390, which is artificially high since I've only played 22 games this year. Even so, it's pretty to look at.
Time to hit the flashcards, or something.
Last night's club was helpful. I won two games, and lost the third because I was playing around and trying to win the contest. Every week, everyone contributes a quarter, and our director sets up a contest to play the highest word containing letters that she chooses, based loosely on a theme. This week was CB for Cherry Blossoms, which are blooing all over the area right now. There were a lot of people, so winning the pot (which I did!) was worth a whopping four bucks, even if I won with a cheesy little word.
In any case, I won my first game easily, as my tiles had constantly good synergy, and I was seeing the board better than usual. I opened with both blanks on my rack and nice tiles: EISRW?? -- I will let you all play with those and come up with interesting words. My play was worth 74, and put the W on a double letter score. Two turns later, I found an eight with TOT(A)LING, which also hooked to HI to make GHI, for 73. I played FR(O)ZE at B2, hooking to something and earning me 43, and then BOONIES for 70. My opponent also bingoed twice, which took us through the tiles quickly. Final score, 504-318 in 14 turns, for an average of 30+ points per turn. Woo!
Second game, same opponent, lame tiles for both of us, much trading, plus my stubbornly holding the CB for way too long. I plunked them down in CAB for a measly 17, but still enough to win four bucks. My only bingo was SERENER, and I burned a blank to play GAZER to a tripe word score for 49. She has CURLIEST and IDEAL(I)SE. I lose, 358-371.
Third game vs. Bob. I think Bob is much better than me, even though his rating is lower. Exciting game, close most of the way. He played ZOEAE for 48, I countered with QUARK for 56, and then played down to the triple word with QAID on the next turn for another 42 -- 98 points in two turns with the Q - yay! He found SEDATION, I messed around with almost-a-bingo tiles til practically the last turn, and then found ENTICES, which played vertically, leaving two or three floating letters through which he could've easily bingoed, since both blanks were still unseen, or horizontally, creating ETA, EH, and SUN, leaving no open lanes, which I almost missed. Luckily, though, I saw it, and he had EAIOS?? with nowhere to go. Final score, 390-331.
My overall club average now is 390, which is artificially high since I've only played 22 games this year. Even so, it's pretty to look at.
Time to hit the flashcards, or something.
