Plays made by the player that were challenged by an opponent. This list may not be completely accurate. Check the 'Challenge Heuristics' section of the about page for more information.
Plays made by the player that were challenged by an opponent. This list may not be completely accurate. Check the 'Challenge Heuristics' section of the about page for more information.
AX is the 2nd best play, but a distant 2nd behind N11 IXORA for 44. I need to dig for the 2nd blank better. 4 points might not seem like a lot, but turning over 3 more tiles is actually key here. #findinglarge
The idea here was for me to save my C to eventually score with the COHO hook, which is why I didn't want to part ways with it. The best equity plays are 1J CEE, which I passed up since I saw significant value for the C, and 3L DEE, which I passed up since I didn't want to give Brendan free points with Column O plays. Quackle doesn't seem to mind parting ways with the D since I already have an open D with BOXED. The play I needed to spot was 13B LE(ER)ED for 18. It cleans up the rack better, gets rid of the D, and also sets up another scoring area on the bottom of the board in case Brendan set up Row 2 plays for himself underneath MEOW. DEB is a small to medium sized mistake. #findingmedium
This is just not a good play. CLUNG does not take an S since it's past tense, and if I'm going to open a little bit without giving back significant points to Robert, and if I'm not going to spot 5E (B)LUM(I)NG, I should do 3B MUL(I)NG to try to go for the X myself since Robert doesn't have it after AR. #visionmedium
This is part of where I lost the game. I needed to play 5I WOOD here with more Os and another D to draw. Not sure why I didn't spot that. #visionmedium
He's close to a bingo after fishing off DE and EN on back to back turns. While doing this will allow me a nice opportunity to score respectably next turn with an A or I draw because he is likely to bingo and this can help keep the game close, probably doing E4 TROV(E) or TROV(E)R are both better given his strong range as they block both possible 2x2s. #visionmedium
JD: Wow INCH(WORM). Why are there so many WORM extensions?
SK: 2nd best play, but a distant 2nd. This is where I could have used the WORM extension INCH(WORM) for 66. I clearly did not think of the extensions that could have come into play with my placement. #visionsad
There's really not a whole lot worth keeping on this board. I need a blank desperately and K4 WATTTAG(E) gives me the best shot at drawing one or the last R for LITHER. #findingsmall
I think it's fine to pass up MISDEAL in favor of MISLEAD since MISDEALT is also good. But what's not fine is missing the 2x2 of 5E M(A)LADIES and missing out on 25 points. #findinglarge
In a do-over, I might go with YOGA instead of YAGER for only 4 less. Considering I average 9 more next turn at a 4 point sacrifice this turn and my bingo % goes up after YOGA, it seems that YOGA is a little better. #strategysmall
I was not a fan of fishing while I'm up by enough since I can withstand a bingo with the INKERS hook. A better idea is to play B12 ONCE, which I did not spot and looks better. #visionmedium
This partial block of the REDTAILS floaters was in response to his short exchange, but this is phony. I think this time GETAS is the play even with a strong range implied. #strategylarge
I think it's better to just ditch the Q now and do K1 Q(U)ORUM, which I didn't even spot. It's actually the only way I can even ditch the Q. #visionmedium
I only thought of the SCORN hook and not the ACORN hook, which is why this move sucks. I'm not in a very good spot with this board shape either way, but a better way to open a 2nd area of the board is to play 12I CO(R)NEL. And no, I was not trying to give Cedar Rapids a shoutout. That's the site of the 2026 SPC. #findingmedium
I debated between 3C HAPLEsS, my play, and passing up the bingoes with O3 (W)HELPS for 54. I ultimately reduce parallels with cHAPELS over HAPLEsS and it seemed like playing 5 tiles in a non-bingo could put me in a worse spot next turn. Even though I win as often with the bingoes as I do with the non-bingoes, I still should have seen 3C PLAsHES for 88, that's a little better. #findingmall
TA screams she's close to a bingo and has an E, so I wanted to address this. 1A TROKE is a better version of RETOOK because that scores 9 more. #findingmedium
First off, I could have played 2G T(R)OMpING for 82. Secondly, I got lucky as this also phony. We are both so bad this game. Even 12A OM(I)TtING would have been fine if I don't see TROMPING. #findingsad
THIS is how you give yourself a chance against a monster of a player. #VISIONSOLID. Notice the CAPSLOCK*? I was VERY pleased to find this move that got rid of 4 vowels and an F!
This isn't bad equitywise. But it does allow Joel to play 9s ending with -IER that can get him back in the game, namely GROUCHIER. I think a better move that still allows me to retain my only vowel is 9F T(E)N(NE)R for 14. Row 15 bingoes are not as scary as they normally might be since it's hard to end an 8 with -IE and there are no more unseen As, so Joel cannot extend from an E to the bottom right corner. Also, I eliminate 2x2s from the N in LAMINATED. #findingsmall
I think if I'm looking to block off some bingoes with the WILTS hook, a better way of going about it is to do J3 gORGE(T)ED because DEROGATE takes an S and a D. I didn't spot GORGETED, and it's also more defensive overall. #findingsmall
I correctly determined that this would be 2 more spread points than 11F DID, but I did miss I5 (A)D(ON)IS which is tricky to spot and is several spread points better than ZAS. #visionmedium
1st significant mistake this game. First off, I don't need to make a defensive move as I'm only going up by so much. Secondly, I can get rid of more high pointers with G4 KERY(G)M(A), which wins easily more often than YERBA. #visionlarge
I missed a key opportunity to open up a bingo line- I like 9I GOAL better now that I see it since it sets up my T at 12I. This does not even set up anything. Granted Dustin can play from the T in MASTERED and block that. But it would have given me another threat and kept him on his toes. #visionmedium
There's times when I've made a more patient play than this. ONION is too reckless. I didn't think of the ONIONY hook when I did play this. Maybe L9 IO(N)ONE or M8 NOO(G)IE if I wanted to fork? I like those better. #strategylarge
I didn't even realize FLAGGERS plays at G3. Even then, I missed a superior option of 5G FA(N)GiRLS for 72. That would have neutralized the dangerous H4 spot. #findingmedium
I'm correct to play off fewer tiles. But this isn't the right way to do it. Quackle really loves the aggressive play of 7H D(I)N for 7, which sets up my E and T nicely and opens up a 2nd potent bingo line when I am close to something and Joel isn't closing the board down anytime soon. I might have given myself a better chance with DIN instead of MAN. #visionsmall
And now this game is all but over since I drew very well. That said, I did not know 13F GOT(C)HIeS for 89 and missed 15A (T)OnIGHTS for 86. #findingsmall
It's a strong D setup and S setup in 1 move, but not exactly worth the 15 point sacrifice. I didn't see D4 DEFU(Z)E, which looks quite a bit stronger. #findingmedium
During the actual game, I did not see Verna's out bingo of O8 (A)RCHNESS, which I should block with O5 BEM(A), saving a hard to spot out play of 4D DRO(OP)Y. #endgamelarge
Quackle seems to be in love with G2 (N)U for just 3 points. I don't know how that fish will help me when I'm down 53 points. I have to anticipate that Noah will just play on top of DUSTED and then the board will get worse. I had the right idea to get the U off my rack as it has no real value on this board. Maybe 9F HADE if I were to score? During the game, I realized I should have played RUED in this spot setting up my H with EDH. But once again, I can see Noah closing the board down with a Row 7 move which forces me to have to open for cheap. It's just one of those positions where I didn't really know what to do. Probably just playing 9F HADE and hoping for the best is the call if I'm afraid of the board being shut too quickly. #strategymedium?
I think it's fine to turn over more tiles here to try gunning for a hook to CIVILIZE. I think PULLING is a better version of MULLING so that I can keep the M for the 8L scoring spot. I don't like LUMPING because there's still an S unseen for the SLUMPING hook, which could basically end the game on the spot if Noah hits a bingo there. #findingsmall
It's good that I saw a play in this area of the board, and I would certainly favor playing more tiles here. A better version of this play is E7 T(E)NET for 7 more. Also not the easiest to spot. #visionmedium
I would have scored no matter what since I still had 1M HAW if Maddy took the left TWS that I opened. I did not know 1D MAHWA in this position. It's another spelling of MAHUA. I would have kept a better leave after MAHWA, but this board is actually decent for Ws since I have the 3M scoring spot to work with as well as the C9 spot, for which I can make parallels next to HOLIER. That said, MAHWA is better equity and most likely would have been my play if I knew it and saw it since if I draw vowels, Ws generally do a poor job of absorbing those types of draws. #knowledgesmall
This isn't bad. But at nationals, a good move isn't exactly good enough. L8 (C)APFUL was missed for 4 more and sets up my S so well. For only 4 less points, CAPFUL is absolutely worth it and would have created a more favorable board for me. #visionmedium
I had the right idea by keeping my D here for OPED. The only issue was not seeing this at 12L (although Mark could make a play at O8 and block my OPED hook if he didn't draw one himself after his exchange). Either way, L8 (C)OU(R)A(N)TE is the standout play. Not easy to play through 3 disconnected tiles like that. #visionlarge
Now I kind of have to go here, and AEDINE is an improvement. Even if I don't draw a bingo, picking the X will be super helpful and I need turnover for that as well as the blank even with this consonant-heavy pool. #findingmedium
I won't need the GAUNT hook after I spotted this overlap making 3 separate 3-letter words. Very happy to have seen that this still fits. And it's rare to see 2 bingoes with a W in the same game knowing how many bingoes it actually kills. #visionsolid
I do want to undouble my D here. There is deceptively not as much to score as it first looks. I think I3 DIDY looks stronger to score a couple more and FIL is actually not that bad a leave on this board since I can always reopen the bottom right with 12K plays with my F. #findingmedium
I think 12J ABIDE is a stronger play since I can still make a nice setup play while scoring more. My bingoes won't score as much next to BIDE should I even draw one. #strategymedium
This might be an overreaction even after an exchange 6. I'm certainly correct to play ELATING over ATINGLE, but B8 AGENTIAL is fine despite how much easier it might be to hit 3x3s through an L in the 2nd spot than a G in the 7th spot. I should have gone with AGENTIAL. #strategysmall
I liked hanging onto my Y to open the bottom left if I needed to do that. Quackle thinks I should play VINYL immediately, even though I'm over 95% to win with both moves. #strategysmall
It appears that exchanging does sim ahead of my play and G9 (F)AUNAE, which I was not a fan of. I'd probably exchange down to EN if I had to do this over again. #strategysmall
I think this looks fine over DAVIT in terms of turnover. I will say a slightly better play is L1 A(N)VILED since I use the ANURAL hook, which was missed again. #visionsmall
This is clearly a mistake. I missed the BAGGIER hook, therefore, K1 ROOmIER, ROOtIER, or ROOkIER should have been done. Those are all so good defensively. #visionmedium
I was thinking of PREOWNED, which is why I played this. But I could have cut spread a lot better than I did by finding 5H R(e)NEWERs for 68. The best valid nonbingo is 4H s(P)EWER. #findinglarge
It's close between this and 5C WIFE. I think it's fine to keep a vowel normally, but there's also 7 more Is to draw, so that's why it sims a little ahead of few. #strategysmall
I did not know 4B S(T)ANZAIC for 90. Too bad that R is not 1 spot further to the right, I would have been lucky has hell with the 3x3 of CZARINAS! An improvement over ZOA would be 6I AZ(O)NIC if I don't know the bingo. #knowledgesad
This is a good play, however, O7 YEN(t)E for 40 is clearly better and was missed. IIP isn't that bad of a leave with only 1 more I to draw. #findingmedium
I thought about doing 6H LOP and was hesitant to do that, but the sim seems to favor it. I thought maybe Kurt didn't have great X plays if he had it, but he also would have just did ?EX plays underneath. Maybe IX could be his range if he didn't play DEX since that keeps IIIM? Looking back, Kurt does not have the X as often as I might have thought. If he draws it, miraculous job. I would do 6H LOP instead of POL in a do-over. #strategysmall
I have drawn a lot of clunky racks after PERINEA, but this was another costly mistake- I didn't see 6A WINT(R)Y for 37. WINY just allows Mack to close off the top right of the board with a Row 1 play since that takes out the R in RISER that I would need as well as next to the T in DEBT. #visionmedium
I was not comfortable doing N1 LOO. That said, I think I need to clean up my rack better with J9 TROLLO(P), which was missed. It also defends the bottom of the board nicely. #visionmedium
I took longer than I should have on this turn, and it put me in a not great spot later on. That R in GIAOUR looks so compatible with my rack. But the fact is nothing fits there. I suppose I did something right. I believe Joe would recognize the hook on EPIDOTE and I had a gut feeling I missed something better. A positionally safer bingo is 5H TEPEfI(E)D, which I didn't spot. I do like that better than the 7s I found of this, DEsPITE, and PrEEDIT on Row 7 now that I see it. #visionmedium
In a do-over, I might do N7 UN(AXED). While UNTAXED does accomplish my objective of opening up another 2 bingo lines while behind, UNAXED is worth the 3 point sacrifice since it bingoes 20% more often. I like that a little better. UNTAXED drew a hold but was correctly accepted. #strategysmall
Should probably play it safer with 14F JU(N). For me to score 2 more now but let him average 6 more next turn is not quite worth it if he has high-scoring parallels. #strategysmall
I have trouble seeing the word BUNGEE for some reason. It eventually jumps to 3rd in the sim because Quackle recognizes that I do need to pick a WEN hook to hit stuff there. Even 4C NGWEE is fine since there's still 6 Es left to pick. I probably should have taken the 6 more even with getting rid of both Es. #strategymedium
This isn't bad, and I think this is fine to do over PAVIS to save scoring power. But 11H SPIV restricts Dustin's options more for the long haul and sets up my other S nicely which is not going to be easy for Dustin to block. I like that better. #findingsmall
I did underestimate how good H1 BET(H) is here despite giving up 7 immediately and allowing Dustin a vowel to play through. There is merit to doing that since I can draw into J5 ZETA to keep the board tight and continue to score. Worst case, if Dustin did not improve his rack, I can always respond with 2F ZE(E) on the following turn to block the board even more. It's a couple valuation points back of ZEP. #strategysmall
For only 7 more points, C12 EAUX just felt too reckless. I do keep better, but there's still too many things Paul could hit. A simulation actually does prefer C12 EAU setting up my X since I could hit 15A COX on my next turn. In addition, Paul actually averages the same after XU vs EAU. I should have given more thought to doing EAU despite the X not being very good immediately. #strategysmall
Holy defensive board after 9H IOTA! That might even force him to exchange occasionally. I was not fond of a super tight board early on since my ADY leave wouldn't have served me that well. But IOTA sems to sim ahead of TOADY because Brandon averages 7 points less after IOTA. #visionmedium
I think I really need to do 15A DJIN here. This is a mistake that is very avoidable. I score only 1 less while giving back so much less to him. #findingsmall
I suppose COLT isn't bad since there's not much to score in this position. CT? is actually not that bad leave after O4 TOT(HE)R, which I didn't spot, despite the open Gs as floaters even though 7s I play would open up good counterplay for Eric. I think either TOTHER or 7H TORC look slightly stronger. #findingsmall
Even though I am basically hosed at this point, this should be 15H FRONT if I'm going to go here. I didn't recognize the JELLO hook for some reason. Even then, O1 FONT, which was missed, is better to leave the JELLS/JELLO hook open. #findingmedium
I thought that UNLEARN was a made up term from when people had to remove expurgated words from their brains during Covid. UNLEARN is perfectly valid. #knowledgesad
This is where I lost the game. Yes, I need to play longer with this rack. But the proper way to do it would have been C9 B(A)RBOT for 26. The right side of the board is very volatile and I need that to be open when I'm down, especially against someone who tends to play aggressively. I would welcome that at this deficit. The A in VAPED is not that useful for parallels on this board, so I can live with using the bottom left. #findinglarge
I can't be scared of Joey blocking Row 6 plays at this time. If anything, it would serve as a diversion so that maybe I can hit stuff ending with the C in COME. 7I DAY is fine. #strategymedium
I did see HERNIA in the same spot as HEN and deliberated the 2 moves for a while. A play like ONO doesn't tell me he's keeing a scoring leave. The sim tells me that I average only 2 points more at an 8 point sacrifice, so accordingly, I should have gone with HERNIA. Maybe this is a reasonable adjustment after his last play, but generally speaking, I should just take the points and not play scared since the top left of the board will be opened eventually. #strategymedium
I enjoyed setting up my L, I suppose it's a cute play, but I needed to spot A10 EMETIN for the score and the turnover for Ss and blanks. #findingmedium
I think I sacrificed too much short-term equity even if I made a board conducive to my S hook. 4G U(P)HOVE is not an easy play to spot and I think that's better to minimize risk. Evan is more unlikely to hit 2x2s from the V after he just picked 6 tiles, and me picking 2 vowels could potentially kill me for several turns. #findingmedium
B1 NIQAB does score 14 more than this. That said, I'm shocked I didn't lose out on that much win % even though I lost out on a decent amount of equity. Maybe this isn't that bad of a time to miss NIQAB given that I only need to win the game? There are still 5 more Is to pick and leaving RU won't help out too much with that. I should still find NIQAB and play that given that Evan is more random. #visionmedium
I unfortunatly rushed this play because I realized this was better than anything else I had before Dan played MODISH. But the fact is, 11E T(R)ENChED or C(R)ENaTED are better regardless of what Dan played prior. #visionmedium
I didn't love anything here out of all plays I saw- this, D12 D(R)AM for 20, J10 AM(I)D, and G1 DAM came to mind. I liked taking out the S hook for GESTAPOS with this, but the sim thinks it's too big a point sacrifice when I won't be up by much. I think DAM is a better play than DOLMA if I'm going to miss 11H MAT(E)D, which does beat out all those plays in the sim and on static equity. #visionmedium
This isn't terrible since I'm not scoring much and it's definitely safer than F1 LILI(E)D. But the standout play is B2 NIT(R)ID(ED) which is worth it despite keeping the unfriendly LL combo. #visionlarge
I think the better equity play of J2 KA is now a bit too dangerous. Yes, I am changing course rather quickly. But of course since OKA is also good, that's why its valuation is quite a bit higher than my play. #strategysmall?
I like the aggressive nature of this play considering I have an S and Dustin is random. But so far my board vision is slightly off: F8 (N)AW is 37 and is definitely worth it. #visionlarge
I think it's fine to get the F off my rack since the F doesn't mesh well with the K or the M. It's very close with doing M12 FAX in equity and the sim. I am shocked to see that I actually bingo 24% after FAX vs only 7% after FUNK. That ought to sway me in the direction of playing FAX simply because I want to bingo asap when I have the blank. While I was hoping to pick an I for 14F XI, I definitely underestimated how good KMN? actually is for bingoing given the open S available. #strategymedium
And now I have to block his only out play of (C)LOVER without giving him a spot to play LOVER. But a move that could have netted me more spread is to do 2A A(C)E so that I get more for my out play. #endgamesmall
I did not know O1 BANZAIS here. But BAZINGA and BIZNAGA were both blocked. If I don't know BANZAIS, I should have at least seen 4A BAZAR, which is a very strong gerund leave on a wide open board such as this. I suppose I had the right idea by passing up O4 ABA(S)ING since at this point, the Z is holding me back if I need to bingo. #knowledgelarge
XED in the same spot seems like the play according to the initial valuation. I think the situation dictates that I play FEZ over XED since there are fewer Ts left than Os for Zach to reparallel on Column L. Zach averages about the same whereas I will average several more- I hope Zach makes a play at L12 with an A so that I can hit him back with my X. #strategysolid
Very happy I saw this play. It's easily more sound than L12 T(O)MB. I think this is a great time to get some high pointers off my rack and wait to score again with the X. #visionspoton
I didn't see the 15H (RELAX)ERS extension on this turn. Even with some clunkers I could pick, 17 points is too many to miss out on. 1st sizable mistake this game. At a minimum, I need to keep my I just in case Zach plays through the U in VACUA and I pick the Q. #visionmedium
This isn't bad. Looking back, in order to gurarantee myself an out in 2, I needed to do E9 GR(O)WL first so that I have multiple out spots to play SIM. #endgamesmall
I could not remember if AMPLER was good, so I settled on this instead of 13B FORGED. FORGED would have also weakend the SCUP hook Glenn most likely set up. #knowledgesmall
1st key miss this game. I completely missed the SPAVIN hook, but I also had a 3x3 of A8 SUbO(C)EAN, which Mack immediately found after the game. If I'm going to miss the SPAVIN hook and the 3x3, at least spot N7 ApO(L)UNES. He dodged a bullet, didn't he? #findinglarge
This was not a great time to dump my U separate from something since he has the Q. It's possible he had more clunk after also showing a P and a K. I have to assume he will dump the Q next turn. With QOPK specified as a partial rack, I think if I wanted to make my type of play, 4K RULY is a better version of this since I also have 1 more shot to draw a scoring tile compatible with the N10 hotspot. #strategylarge
1st tile on my rack is after a Q in the alphabet. Not too often one sees that. 11G V(E)R(I)ST appears to clean up the rack much better and is a clear improvement. I did not spot that. #visionmedium
This is one way to force the board open against him. He's not going to suspect that I am keeping an S. However, this was not a good time to make this specific play because I saw H7 G(A)RISHLY and talked myself out of it. #knowledgelarge
I did not know D6 MADHO(u)SE in this position. I did look for H11 plays and did not come across H11 (A)MAHS. That's a gettable one and clearly worth it over YODH if I don't know the bingo. #findinglarge
I did intentionally choose this over J4 WEKAS and WAKES just because I have another S to make SKAS. I probably overvalued the K5 hotspot and he would probably sniff my setup and play defensively. WAKES and WEKAS are simming a couple points ahead of KAS despite my bingo % being roughly equal between WEKAS and KAS. #strategysmall
Right idea with the turnover and blocking the HUMPS hook. I will say that TURNIP is a worse play than it usually is because I should not be keeping 2 Os with 3 more usneen. While TURNIP isn't egregious, I should be looking to address my O problem while also blocking more indirectly with F2 UNROOT or even 4C UNROOF. #visionmedium
HOOD isn't terrible. I will say that an improvement is to play 7H OHO. Keeping the D actually provides nice stability in my leave to reduce the toxicity of the IJ combo and OHO also does a better job of setting up my J. #strategysmall
Always keep looking for better options just when you think you have something. That's what allowed me to find the only bingo that gets the B on the best square. #findingsolid
I didn't care for B1 JEAN just because I don't have an S and Cesar could very well gobble up the A1 spot, but J2 JACANA(s) needs to be spotted. That's the play. #findingmedium
MUCH isn't bad. NU(C)HAE was missed and that does look better for the more balanced leave. In addition, if I draw poorly on my next draw after NUCHAE, I have 6A (E)MU as a decent backup play that gives nothing back to him. I like NUCHAE better than MUCH for this reason. #findingmedium
I don't love L(E)MUR after looking at this again. I think maybe 9K MOULD for the points is better than board shape when I'm only down a bingo. There's enough Es and As to hit stuff from the D in DEMEANS and that's just too many points to give up. I could also do M9 LUD if I wanted to set up my M, but I'm realistically gonna need more than just 20 points on average. Yea, MOULD it is. #findingmedium
10G JoSTLED was tempting at first, but I'm very happy to spot this play. Passing up the bingo is the way to go here and was one of my best strategic decisions this tournament. I unfortunately cannot give Rafi Stern, who I just met at nationals, a shoutout with his infamous AAT* phony that he accepted with K5 JET saving my S. #strategysolid
While I did hit the extension I was hoping might draw a challenge since this is a 9, I really needed a play that would turn over more tiles since there's 3 more Ss unseen. C3 BEADI(L)Y would have accomplished that nicely while scoring the same as BELEAGUER. #findingmedium
Unfortunately, 1 vowel too many will doom me. I have no wins. I only saw 14A (R)EBATO and missed C3 BOATE(L) for him. If I'm going to miss BOATEL, this play should be 12C OSSIA. #endgamelarge
Playing through is better than exchanging, as much as it sucks that I could not pick a vowel. I think I had the right idea if I wanted to take away a key scoring spot and block the L. However, I also think that LAV is better than TAV since I have a more synergystic leave. But the play that sims the best is 2C TR(O)MM(E)L, which I did not know, and I might have even done that if I knew it and saw it. #findingsmall
Here I definitely agree that 2K (J)OCKY is better than JOKY. In addition to 6 more points, I improve the leave, and prevent many Row 1 parallels. #findingmedium
I think I should have left the N off to significantly improve the leave. It's amazing how 1 fewer point means a much more manageable leave. #strategymedium
I'm shocked at how well this play sims despite it being poor on equity. Even so, I think I need to be more desperate by doing 2M WA(B). It only plays 2 tiles just like ROW does, but it makes a much higher scoring threat on Row 1. I'd do WAB in a do-over. I didn't see A8 (C)UBOID, but I really needed Column A open since any vowel can go after the C. #findingsmall
This isn't terrible. But keeping the S after OATY actually helps him more than it helps me since my average goes up and his average next turn goes down. ISU is a very weak leave, therefore, I should have done 13B OUTSAY over OATY. OUTSAY actually opens up 2 nice scoring spots and is simming ahead of OATY. #strategysmall
Right idea to ditch the V and hang onto the Z. For some reason I only spotted the INFANTE hook later on but not the INFANTA hook at all. 11H OVAL is just too good here to fork 2 S setups in 1 play. #visionlarge
Maybe an overreaction to her fish? Quackle is saying it's fine to outrun here and I probably should just play H11 GOSH and save 11A MY in case I need an emergency scoring option for next turn. #strategymedium
I got to cash in the setup I saw. That being said, 2A OME(N)ED is easily stronger despite keeping the W for another turn, which I did not spot. #visionmedium
I considered I6 VI(E)WY as well as my placement as well as exchanging. I wanted the right side of the board to be openable later on, so I eschewed the I6 placement while behind. F6 OW(L)Y sims better than I would have thought given I am keeping an ugly leave that I felt was more likely to lead to an exchange than playing VIEWY. Based on this, OWLY is probably better. #strategysmall
It's probably fine to just score as many as I can immediately even though I was given the 10J hotspot, which is conducive to my F. It's simming a little ahead of GOX. #strategysmall
This time, I came up with a good short-term blocking play. But the issue is bigger than last turn: I didn't see 15F OR(D)NANCE. Big whiff. #findinglarge
This play was quite sloppy. I didn't see 2J I(N)GLE which undoubles both my E and I. Even 6G GIE is fine if I don't spot INGLE. Did I FORGET how to play Scrabble for a turn? #findingmedium
I saw 12H WOODR(A)TS and talked myself out of it. It's perfectly valid. I chose WORD over WOOD since I have an S to set up on a 2nd line. Still, #knowledgesad
N5 (D)ALTONIC got blocked and LACTONIC doesn't fit due to the Z being in the way. I think O8 COATI loses on the spot because that empties the bag and Scott could use Column E to take everything out. Maybe A8 AL is better just because it's 12 more and I could still hit ELECTION on Row 4 with 3 more Es unseen. #strategymedium
Fishing is clearly correct here. I think if I wanted to force Joey to open the board for cheap, I think 6H (B)U(N) or 6H (B)U(N)D are better versions of this play. #visionsmall
I got the endgame wrong too. I had my tracking as if he had CJ, so I thought I was J-sticking him. If I had tracked AJ, I would have realized I can't stop him from going out, so the best play I would have generated would have been A4 (C)ICALA forcing him to play out with B11 JA(G). #endgamelarge
I probably didn't need to be so defensive here since Amika didn't keep an S after OOLITE. I got too focused on blocking this and shoud have looked harder and spotted C9 DA(B)BLE for 40, even with the hooks it takes. That's too many more points. #visionmedium
3B OW seemed crazy. I can see why this could be a strategical oversight- G3 WO is 8 fewer points but my bingo % shoots up to 43% compared to just 13% after WITES. It still sims quite a bit ahead of WITES despite what might usually be a big difference in score. On the other hand, this isn't even that good of a board for bingoing besides the open T in PAINT. Other than that, I pretty much have to play a 9 or score like 61 with the S in AMNESIAS. Quackle has puts some 3A plays ahead of some Column G plays. #strategymedium?
1 letter off from getting back in this one- would have hit a 3x3 of INFANTAS! Looking back, maybe it's not that crazy of an idea to do 13A AFA(R) to distract him. I didn't think about that and maybe he would actually bite the 12A spot since that has a vowel and he scores more easily there. #strategylarge
I think I have to just give up and cut spread with K11 ADIEU at this point. Even if I draw the L, I have to play 5 tiles to score anything. I'll have better odds of drawing 14J J(E)TTY as opposed to 14J J(A)NTY after my play. #strategysmall
I don't know Rick's game very well at this time since the last time I played him was November 2019 in Philadelphia when I won Division 1 for the first time ever. Accordingly, I wanted something that parallelled more letters in IOLITE, so I passed up F8 EDIfIeD. I did not know H1 mEDIcID(E), but I should have seen H1 rEDIvID(E) as there's only 2 bingoes that play at H1. #findingmedium
One of my worst nightmares as a Scrabble player: on the Tuesday after this tournament, I was driving to work and I thought to myself, "gee, I think I missed a better bingo than OLIGURIC". Sure enough, I did. H8 (U)RoLOGIC for 83. #findinglarge
I think I would have been rather insane to fish off the M with 6G M(EW) even though Ed is more unlikely to block a 3x3 when there's only 1 tile that fits in the 4th position in this case. Despite giving back potential D1-D4 or D1-D4 plays, C2 SMARTED still comes out on top in the sim. It's slightly worth it for 3 more now even if Ed seemed to be fishing his last 2 turns. #strategysmall
Now I'm not in a good spot. I do need to play long here, and while this does block some BEACHY plays, I think I needed to spot F9 R(E)FILM here to make a more volatile board. I didn't spot that and REFILM is quite a bit ahead of FIRTH. #visionsmall
Right idea to use this spot to score and pull ahead. Looking back, I should have seen ALMS in this spot since it's harder to end bingoes with an A than an L. #findingsmall
This turn was sloppy. At a minimum, I should have seen 15F COOP, which as you all will see, simply cost me 4 points and wouldn't have changed the board much. But even then, 15F COOPT is the play. #visionsmall
I got too excited here because I knew I was close to 700. The play should have been H1 DELUSTE(R) for the purpose of play finding. But it worked out in the end because if he has AENOORT, he still hypothetically has RATOONE(D) available, which I think he's more likely to find than ANTEROO(M), which he has right now if I pick EJR out of the bag. #visionsmall
I forgot if HAOLE was expurgated or not, so I didn't play that. Either way, I would play J7 O(L)EA in a do-over and save a much better leave of AEHS both for bingoing and for scoring potential. #findingsmall
10J S(L)EAZE is the play that was missed. That's definitely worth it. And even so, 11J Z(O)EAE gets rid of another vowel to improve my leave quite a bit. #findinglarge
Thankfully Wes went overtime by less than a minute. I didn't see E2 (WO)OF but I was nervous I was going to miss out bingoes through the T. Neither one of us knew that AFTER took an S, and while this is a winning play since N7 CHAsTEN would not quite score enough after accounting for my remaining tiles, Wes actually had no playable bingoes before I played AFTER. Therefore, WOOF really should have been the play! #endgamelarge
I think it's fine to pass up 6F FU(C)I on this turn since I give up 10 points to do that. I really need to get the F off my rack and didn't see 14B FU(G)IO, which sims better against a more random rack. #findingsmall
It seemed like Ian was consonant heavy, so JEU appeared to be more sound. I somehow average 20 more after AJUGA. I think I played this turn too scared. It's one thing if I average 1 point fewer after JEU. But not when I average 20. Even JUG in the same spot is probably fine to avoid X bombs, but I shouldn't be too concerned with that since there's many ways to play it, and Ian only averages 4 more after JEU vs JUG. #strategymedium
Maybe H10 FOIL since the F is actually not doing much on this board. I'm not down a ton, so I don't think I need to be desperate to fork just yet. #strategysmall
This play is another mistake. I looked for some time for -LESS words and I can't be chickening out on things like K5 BeDLESS which is 101. The only playable bingo on Row 14 is DEBtL(E)SS. Even something as simple as 14G B(E)DS is better because it isn't worth it to keep 2 Ss on this board. #findinglarge
I saw but chickened out of F7 MO(C)HI. That's the move I need at this score to fork the board better and make an aggressive S setup. And yes, MOCHI does sim ahead of both my play and 10B HOM. #knowledgesmall
I can see why L4 PALEO sims a little better than POOL does- I liked my idea of setting up another S hook when I have one, but at the same time, there's still 8 more Es to draw. I think if I wanted to set up another S hook without potentially putting myself at risk of drawing more Es to a leave containing an E, perhaps 11J ALOE is an an improvement here since OPS is a great leave both for bingoing and scoring. #strategysmall
Good thing I saw the only 7 in this rack. I needed to see the SEDGY hook on this and play this at 6D for 2 less not giving back nearly as many points. #visionsmall
The standout play that was missed here was G7 F(R)EAK. It's good that I held onto my T for JURAT plays, but FEAR was just not a good play. #visionlarge
It would not have been necessary to take advantage of the DAWTS hook since I did not see 1H (G)OuRMETS for 89. Also a cool bingo which I did not know was 1H (G)ROmMETS. #findingmedium
No floating O for EXPONENT. My play is the tempting play to make. But for spread purposes, I should have done L10 NEXT as the simulation tells me his bingo % is literally 0 next turn. I should have done that. #visionlarge
It's behind playing through this rack with K6 DJ(I)NN with equity, but it actually sims competitvely with DJINN. when I sim this one. I hated DJINN since that takes several hooks 1 space short of the DWS. After DJIN, DNR? is not a bad leave with an open E or O. Playing DJIN could, however, cause Cesar to hook DJIN himself and make it hard for me to use Row 11, especially if I don't draw a vowel. In a do-over, I might do DJIN just because I'm down a lot and if he doesn't have an S or N, he might have to leave it open. Definitely an instructive position when I have spread to make up. #strategymedium
I did not know the U hook on HALER making HALERU. I was afraid to do AUDIO in the same spot as AURA since that lets him outrun me easily with the B6 hotspot. That said, at least see DOURA. #findingmedium
This has to be a record for most Rs drawn on an opening rack! I still remember my record for most Is picked on an opening rack which was 5 during Princeton Rd 1 in October 2024 vs David Firstman. I whiffed on the WHALER hook, and therefore, I7 ERR is fine. #findingmedium
After Bryan's last play, I was nervous about doing K4 NERVuLE. It's possible he might have had an R for the RANI hook, but of course he could have also kept AEIN or EINT as a leave. Accordingly, I chose a bingo that did not take an S. I couldn't remember if LEVANTER took an S (it does). That said, I should have given more thought to doing K6 NERVuLE for an extra 2 points and if Bryan might not have kept high pointers to try to go for them myself. #strategymedium
I did not know 11D TACHIST(E). Funny thing is, I can substitute the T with an M for TACHISME, which has 3 anagrams. This is the best nonbingo play, but still, #knowledgelarge.
I liked the defense of this play, but a simulation actually prefers N10 GL(UT) due to the scarcity of vowels. After Bryan played ARO 2 turns ago, I think keeping a U is better than usual, and I can also take out some scoring plays at N10. #strategysmall
Sucks that K11 QAT got blocked. I would call this a mistake- yes, it is the right idea to turn over more tiles in the hopes of improving the Q. I should have played GOATEE at 10B for only 1 less point so that I potentially give myself 2 spots to dump the Q next turn if needed, in this case 11A QI and 12E QAT. It also blocks the O in DUOMI better, and that's why 10B GOATEE sims better than my play. #visionmedium
The 1st 4 turns were all reasonable. Missing 8J ENFACE is just very bad. 2nd significant mistake I've made this game with the other being accepting PLOWN*. From the 2 FAENA placements, I chose this one since doing O8 FAENA allows Sam to score using the N10 spot. Yes, this is better than O8 FAENA. But I'm not using that to rationalize against a play I clearly missed. #findinglarge
Quackle puts FUN and FUB very close to each other in the sim since keeping 2 Ns isn't exactly ideal to keep either. It slightly prefers FUB despite the duplicate Ns. #strategysmall
This move actually sims quite well despite it being poor on static equity. There's only 2 As left for her to be able to play on top of the G, and if she plays below the G with the numerous Is that are still unseen, I can actually play underneath and make the board harder for her to play on. That said, I can see N2 CLAW being better since it's 8 more and it still effectively takes out Column M. #findingsmall
The valid bingo that scores the most is 15A STANCHE(R) or SNATCHE(R). I cannot believe I accepted RECHANTS*. This looks so bad, but I was too scared to challenge. Gosh! #knowledgelarge
I am aware that Arie has played plenty of Collins games before. I needed to call this off, and I didn't. That's a big mistake since ASWING# is only valid in Collins. #knowledgesad
The listing of all of the player's mistakes. For more information about mistakes, check the 'Mistakes' section of the about page.
Duplicate game detected (Tournament 12914, Round 2).
Warnings are notifications to players that they might want to update some of their GCG files. To learn more, check the 'Errors and Warnings' section in the about page.
