Scrabble Tournament in Dallas, Texas 11/2002
Legend
^ = leave
(?) = held play; possibly phoney
* = phoney
? = blank
alt. = alternative play to consider
_______
Round 1
1. Me, 2. Clay Daniel
I start with an S, and after a 34-point X play, I pick up
another S, allowing YEAST/EXONS for 36. I accidentally
play HUM/MEX*, but I am still able to play HEXER for 32
after the lost turn. I then use the other S for
HEXERS/SCHEME n9 54.
Clay tries "PEAVE"* h1 30.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me IIIAONW 182
----------------------------- CD ---PEAE 117
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " F - | 6. Me SCHEME n9 54
3| - ' ' A - | CD peave* h1 0
4|' - V I T R I N E '| 7.
5| - C |
6| " " B I " |
7| ' ' ' A ' |
8|= ' D U K E D =|
9| ' ' H E X E R S |
10| " " D O C |
11| - T N H |
12|' - Y E A S T E '|
13| - ' O W - M |
14| - " G " E |
15|= ' I ' =|
-----------------------------
This gives me a chance to clean my rack without worrying
about the bottom O-column, assuming he would have played
there if he had something good. So I play INIA m3 8 ^IONW,
and pick up ?ON. After playing off WO, I face:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me ?IIOJNN 213
----------------------------- CD ------- 165
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " F - | 7. CD APE m13 22
3| - ' ' A I | 8. Me WO o14 23
4|' - V I T R I N E '| CD OOZE 7e 26
5| - C I | 9.
6| " " B I A " |
7| ' O O Z E ' A ' |
8|= ' D U K E D =|
9| ' ' H E X E R S |
10| " " D O C |
11| - T N H |
12|' - Y E A S T E '|
13| - ' O W A M |
14| - " G " P E W|
15|= ' I ' E O|
-----------------------------
I miss what's probably the better play, but find the other
playable bing for 84 and it's challenged [1.1]. This gives me
a sting opportunity, but with AOUGNNR, it's only 35 points;
however the score becomes a healthy 332-165.
Clay passes and then tries rereveal(?) through an R I placed
in the C-column. The word doesn't make sense to me, and
I win a third challenge. He later gets down dRIBLETS a4 59,
but it's not enough, and too late. I'm able to play off the Q
for QUID, setting up an outplay LOTS/SQUID. Me 454, CD 297 (1-0).
_______
Round 2
1. Paul Holser, 2. Me
After an early bingo, I face:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me EEOURST 18
----------------------------- PH ------- 84
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - | 1. PH QAT 8g
3| - ' ' - | Me SON j8
4|' - ' - '| 2. PH AIRLINES 10e
5| - - |
6| " " " " |
7| ' ' ' ' |
8|= ' Q A T S ' =|
9| ' ' ' O ' |
10| " A I R L I N E S " |
11| - - |
12|' - ' - '|
13| - ' ' - |
14| - " " - |
15|= ' = ' =|
-----------------------------
Maven likes ROUE 11k 14. My play was EAU e9 6, which was not in the
Maven kibbitz, but wins the short sim. I draw AE and play AEEORST [2.1]
for 83 next turn. After a few high fives, the position is:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me AEOLRTZ 152
----------------------------- PH ------- 177
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - | 4. PH FIGHT 11k 36
3| - ' ' - | Me THIEF o11 45
4|' P ' - '| 5. PH PINEY d4 39
5| I - - |
6| " N " " " |
7| R E ' ' ' |
8|= O Y Q A T S ' =|
9| S E ' ' O ' |
10| " E A I R L I N E S " |
11| A M U F I G H T|
12|' T I ' - H|
13| E M ' ' - I|
14| - " " - E|
15|= ' = ' F|
-----------------------------
There are only three potential bings and only one that plays [2.2].
It is held, but not challenged. My next draw (EICGKNN) leads to a nice
natural [2.3] giving me a cushiony lead which remains until the end.
Me 460, PH 384 (2-0).
_______
Round 3
1. Me 2. Darrell Day
My opening rack is the annoying EEEEIIB. I change all but one E,
and draw AULRTV. Darrell starts with THOLED 8c 28, and conveniently
blocks my VAULTER. I settle for VALET f6 18 and draw an early blank.
?IOULVR combines through the HOLED front hook [3.1] and I'm up by
about 40. About four turns later ...
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Me AEIODDL 181
----------------------------- -> DDay ?AEENST 157
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - | 5. Me QUA 7b 17
3| - ' ' - | DD TAU a6 22
4|' - ' - '| 6. Me EH b9 28 [*1]
5| - - | DD BI f14 21
6|T " O V " " | 7. Me AN 14a 11 [*2]
7|A Q U A A B ' ' |
8|U T H O L E D ' =| [*1] (alt. OH ^AEEDL)
9| E R E N ' ' | [*2] (alt. IODIN 15f)
10| H I T " " |
11| V W - |
12|' a M I ' - '|
13| L O P ' ' - |
14|A N N E B " - |
15|G U C K I = ' =|
-----------------------------
... Darrell has ?AEENST and plays [3.2]. I hook it with DILDO,
which DD hooks with LIST 15L to lead by 30. I play off 3 of a
6-vowel rack for 10, and get AEIFGRW. I write down WAFERING?
on my scoresheet and wait.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Me AEIFGRW 226
----------------------------- -> DDay ------- 246
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - |
3| - ' ' - |
4|' - ' - '|
5| - - |
6|T " O V " " |
7|A Q U A A B ' ' |
8|U T H O L E D ' =|
9| E R E N ' ' |
10| H I T E T A N i S E D |
11| V W - I |
12|' a M I ' - L '|
13| L O P ' ' A I D E|
14|A N N E B " O |
15|G U C K I = L I S T|
-----------------------------
I don't even get to try it as DD plays SOX 11g for 28. I miss
TOWAGE h10 and play the risky WEAR 12h with two Y's unseen.
Darrell doesn't have one, and plays URNS L7 for 5 and a 279-257
lead. I pick up one of the Y's with AENY, but I don't jump on
L12 right away.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me AEIFGNY 257
----------------------------- DDay ------- 279
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - |
3| - ' ' - |
4|' - ' - '|
5| - - |
6|T " O V " " |
7|A Q U A A B ' U ' |
8|U T H O L E D R =|
9| E R E N ' N ' |
10| H I T E T A N i S E D |
11| V W S O X - I |
12|' a M I W E A R - L '|
13| L O P ' ' A I D E|
14|A N N E B " O |
15|G U C K I = L I S T|
-----------------------------
With one of the Y's in hand, I think it's better to take
away the h10 spot first with TOWING, for almost the same amount
of points (30). I didn't see it at the time, but FARING 8j is
also 30 and gives me one extra shot at the second Y (or the Z).
The tiles are certainly in my favor as I pick up the second Y
and Darrell can only counter with JEU 7j 10.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me AEFGSYY 287
----------------------------- DDay ------- 289
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - |
3| - ' ' - |
4|' - ' - '|
5| - - |
6|T " O V " " |
7|A Q U A A B ' J E U ' |
8|U T H O L E D R =|
9| E R E N ' N ' |
10| H I T E T A N i S E D |
11| V W S O X - I |
12|' a M I W E A R - L '|
13| L O P ' I ' A I D E|
14|A N N E B N " O |
15|G U C K I G L I S T|
-----------------------------
With both Y's in hand, and L12 hard to block, I could play
FRAYS 8k 38 first, but I don't like putting the S at O8.
I take the spot now with WEARY/YA 32. DD plays RICE for 18.
I draw an M and play FAXES for 23. DD plays PRIZE for 32,
and the score is within 3. I draw DO.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me AEODGMY 342
----------------------------- DDay ------- 339
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - | Unseen to Me:
3| - ' ' P - | AEOO RRFT
4|' - ' R - '|
5| - I |
6|T " O V " Z " |
7|A Q U A A B ' J E U ' |
8|U T H O L E D R I C E|
9| E R E N F N ' |
10| H I T E T A N i S E D |
11| V W S O X - I |
12|' a M I W E A R Y L '|
13| L O P ' I S A I D E|
14|A N N E B N " O |
15|G U C K I G L I S T|
-----------------------------
DREAMY 4j 32 ^GO gives me a 35-point lead with a good chance
of going out next turn at a10, which would be enough to win
even if Darrell counters with FRAY o1 30. Darrell astutely plays
"FRAYER"(?) at o1 for 36, which I'm not 100% on, but cannot afford
to challenge. I take the sure win with GOO at a10 12 (+4:OT).
Me 390, DD 375 (3-0).
_______
Round 4
1. Me 2. Mike Early
I'm pleased with my opening rack, ?AOBFRS. I can't find any
sevens, so I play FORBS ^?A 28. I draw a replacement S as well as
WVRG. Mike tries "VOWELLED"(?) through the O. I don't like it and
challenge it off. I play VAW 9c 23 and pick up the third S with OD.
Mike plays DELVE 10d 24.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me ?ODGRSS 51
----------------------------- MEarly ------- 24
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - |
3| - ' ' - |
4|' - ' - '|
5| - - |
6| " " " " |
7| ' ' ' ' |
8|= F O R B S ' =|
9| V A W ' ' ' |
10| " D E L V E " " |
11| - - |
12|' - ' - '|
13| - ' ' - |
14| - " " - |
15|= ' = ' =|
-----------------------------
I wasn't certain on the back hooks of DELVE, but I go for it with
what turns out to be the only 7|8 in the rack [4.1]. Several turns
later I exchange 5 and pick up the second blank:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me ?AOGNTX 199
----------------------------- Mike ------- 166
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " - | 6. Me IMP k11 19
3| - ' ' - | Mike FATE l9 24
4|' - ' - '| 7. Me (-AOIUU)^AN 0
5| - - | Mike LEPT m12 17
6| " " " " |
7| ' ' ' ' |
8|= F O R B S ' =|
9| V A W ' G F ' |
10| " D E L V E R " A " |
11| - O I T |
12|' Y I R T H S M E L '|
13|T A J ' S O P E |
14| G O O N " e H P - |
15|= W A L L E D ' T =|
-----------------------------
I take TAX for 30, and Mike follows with a great play from the rack
AEUDNRT [4.2]. I foolishly challenge the play. Mike continues with
MINUET a8 27. I'm now down by 65, but have great tiles (?AOGNST) as
I have just picked up the fourth S. Since DELVER seems okay, I pluralize
it with my bing [4.3]. I pick up the Z and Q with EEEII.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me EEEIIQZ 306
----------------------------- Mike ------- 311
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " " I - | 10. Me GITANOS j4 77
3| - ' ' C - | Mike ICON k2 17
4|' - ' G O - '|
5| - I N | Bag: 11 tiles
6| " " T " |
7| ' ' ' A ' |
8|M F O R B S N ' U|
9|I V A W ' G O F ' N|
10|N " D E L V E R S A " D|
11|U - O I T E|
12|E Y I R T H S M E L R|
13|T A J ' S O P E T|
14| G O O N " e H P - A|
15|= W A L L E D ' T A X|
-----------------------------
I take my chances with the Q (there are two U's unseen) and play
ZEE b6 36. Mike plays OUREBIS h2 10, but with EEIIICQ I can't even
use the open U and can no longer exchange with only two in the bag.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o -> Me EEIIICQ 342
----------------------------- Mike ------- 321
1|= ' = ' =|
2| - " O " I - | 11. Me ZEE b6 36
3| - ' U ' C - | Mike OUREBIS h2 10
4|' - R G O - '|
5| - E I N | Unseen to Me:
6| Z " B T " | AAIU DKNRY
7| E ' ' I ' A ' |
8|M E F O R B S N ' U|
9|I V A W ' G O F ' N|
10|N " D E L V E R S A " D|
11|U - O I T E|
12|E Y I R T H S M E L R|
13|T A J ' S O P E T|
14| G O O N " e H P - A|
15|= W A L L E D ' T A X|
-----------------------------
I spend some time on this position. Ideally I would pick up AU and play
QUA m7 or if blocked, QUEER f4. If I don't draw the U, it seems h3 is
my only hope to play off the Q. I also consider a potential DINKY 2j 34.
ICE 2k is too dangerous (DINKY n2), but the only other way
to block is CEE 3k which ruins the QUEER possibility. Time is a factor
and I don't consider that for DINKY to go down, I would have to draw
at least one of (A,U). I don't consider that my best play might be
to take my chances with DINKY and play off two I's, such as LIRI f10.
I choose to block with CEE 3k 10 and hope I get tiles for my Q.
I draw AI and determine that Mike's last rack is AUDKNRY.
I'll be Q-stuck if h3 is blocked. I expect a quick block of h3, but Mike
takes a while and eventually plays DINAR 2j 26 (actually 24) to make it
Me 352 (AIIIICQ) Mike 347 (UKY). I hold, but can't afford to challenge
now, and take QUA 3g 23 ^IIIIC to go up by 28. What follows is:
13. Me QUA 3g 23 375
Mike KAE m2 7 354
14. Me ACID 10L 9 384
Mike PYA 14m 26 380
15. Me BIT 6h 5 389
Mike NU 10a 4 384 (+4:II=388) (TIME-10=378)
Me 389, Mike 378* (4-0). (* actually 376)
ANSWERS:
[1.1] JOINtING 14a (JOININGS 14b scores more and perhaps lessens the
potential comeback)
[2.1] ROSEATE (OATERS+E ... "champ banged rat")
[2.2] TRIAZOLE 5b 84 (AEIO LRTZ)
[2.3] NECKING 4i 84
[3.1] OUTRIVaL 6c 74 (OUTLIVER plays in the same spot)
[3.2] TETANISE 10f 65 (also TETANIES and the slightly better TENTAGES,
and the longies, (AB)ASEmENT and DE(AMI)NATES)
[4.1] GROSSeD 9i 71.
[4.2] UNDERTAX o8 101 (over 20 points more than DAUNTERS|UNTREADS h1,
and over 30 more than any of the sevens)
[4.3] GiTANOS j4 77 (also AGONISTS h1, ONSTAGE b2/k3/7h, OUTSANG|
AGONIST|AMONGST 7h)
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