Scrabble Adventures

Sometimes you’re too smart for your own good and last night’s second game was a great example.  I’ve been on a winning streak at the Toronto club lately.  Not sure if I’ll be able to keep going out as my schedule is starting to get full.  Oh well, I’ll take it while it lasts.

Game #1 vs. Simon T
This game started off looking like it would turn into a step-ladder.  For a change, I didn’t get frustrated and just let the game develop, even though I was stuck with vowels and vowels.  When I did get my chance, I broke the game open when Simon challenged my first bingo.
FINAL SCORE:  416 – 281 (WIN)
BINGOS:  ME – SERENES, wHOoPED; Simon – none

Game #2 vs. Jon F
On my second turn, I played the only bingo that was available to me, NEOnATE.  The only problem was that I wasn’t sure about one of the new formed words – BARGEE (I added the second E).  With only about a 30-40% confidence in the word, I played it anyway, remembering what Craig Rowland likes to say – "Don’t play scared, and force your opponent to decide if the word is good".  I reasoned that I was likely to bingo on my next turn even if this play gets challenged.  My opponent accepts the play and then a few turns later, tries to hook BARGEE with an S.  Since *I* wasn’t sure it was good, I decided to challenge the play.  Oops!  The play was acceptable.  I noticed that both Joseph Bowman and Fraser Simpson (who were playing on the board next to me) were surprised too.  Afterward, Joseph mentioned how he thought BARGEE was a phoney and was surprised that my original play wasn’t challenged.  Here I was thinking that I would trap my opponent with a phoney play.  Serves me right for trying to be smart.
FINAL SCORE:  391 – 346 (WIN)
BINGOS:  ME – NEOnATE, EnTRANT; Jon – none

Game #3 vs. Sharmaine F
I think I should have lost this game had things played out a bit differently.  The game was close with only a turn or two to go.  I had a 328 – 276 lead at the time when Sharmaine tried to play STATINE* to take the lead and empty the bag.  I challenged that play off quickly, but was a bit concerned as to what to do.  I couldn’t block her bingo lane, and knew that she had a very, very high probability of playing a bingo (TISANE stem).  Based on my tracking, AJMORU was left in the bag.  If I played off too many tiles, I would empty the bag, and potentially leave me with high value tiles.  Sharmaine was likely to bingo, so I had to score points.  I decided to make a bit of a gamble and played off a few tiles, hoping to get the J.  I did.  Sharmaine then surprised me by playing off a T, missing the obvious bingo SATINET.  After working through the various scenarios of the end game, I made my final play of JOKE for 50 points.  Sharmaine ended the game with her play of STAINER.
FINAL SCORE:  378 – 363 (WIN)
BINGOS:  ME – CLONERS; Sharmaine – PILFERs, STAINER

I was hoping to play some higher rated players while at the Toronto club, but I’m not going to complain.  Winning is always nice.  Unfortunately, not playing the higher rated players means I haven’t had muck practice for upcoming tournaments when I plan to play up a division.  Maybe I’ll ask Craig if I can play up at the Mississauga club.

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