E3 OURIES(T) is probably the best attempt here to try and open something up. It might be difficult for him to block everything especially without the E. #strategysaddest
It felt like I couldn't do much of anything on this board. Indeed, I shouldn't do much of anything: the two best plays are exchange NT and I8 (FAA)N. ANCE# takes many front hooks, and the N which I keep is not one. :( #strategymedium
Most interesting position of the game is here. I spent a while considering the merits of E4 GLAD and E4 GLADE -- the X setup is beautiful and massive, and hitting an A or O with 4/5 draws seems pretty likely. It is probably pretty important for me to hold the E and only play E4 GLAD on the offchance that I miss every vowel draw. Ultimately, I chickened out and decided to take the guaranteed points. But it seems like blocking lanes to the E + scoring + setting up a SECOND X bomb outweigh the security of crushing the spot now. After the game, I pointed out the potential setup to Josh, and he said something like "that would've made the game interesting. " So there's that. #strategysad I guess.
This outruns every available bingo, but the best play is 14B SQUIRM, which blocks more of Jennifer's potential bingos than any other play, leaving only column A open. J4 WAZOO is notable. #strategysmall
Quackle prefers KEX, blocking JUPONS with four S's unseen. I chose EX because I wanted scoring potential with the K, though it is not all that helpful on this board. #tacticssmall
Top equity C13 KEX gives up extremely simple VOX in response. I played AX over C12 XI because I wanted to cut off DUSTINGS now while it was still so dangerous; sadly, I missed C11 AKIN, which looks wonderful to score, give nothing back, stop DUSTINGS, and set up the stealth AKING hook for later. #findingsmall 16:31
this is probably an overadjustment, I wanted to prevent monster E column bingoes. however, I am taking quite a big hit, about 6 points in the sim. Tough call, cause VERY also makes her plays a bit easier. I think this is a bit too far, since TERM has some risk involved as well with the leave and stuff. #strategysmall but it's up for debate!
Didn't know fricking EWERS. Feels like SADDEST but since it's only 5 points. #knowledgesad and also 1K VEG(A)S. I was completely out of time. #timeSADDEST
C: In fact, Alec did draw the T, so good thing I'm not a wizard.
A: 3L LIE is best. The lane in column O is easier to use after LIE than after LIED, and the D is a useful bingo tile. #strategymedium
I thought DIALOGUED was the only valid spelling, but DIALOGED is valid too. Same with DIALOGER just like DIALOGUER. If I wasn't fully sure of the bingo, blocking the hotspot was fine and it at least sims ahead of 4J DODGE and 4J DADO. #knowledgemedium
I misread a 9 on my scoresheet a 4 and thought I was 50 points worse than my actual score. Even so, this would be okay except that B1 (VAC)UA is much better. #strategylarge
i don't know at what point i started playing such lame defense lol. F9 IODATE is fine, or 5D GIE as well. i know it's tempting to block all the things but it's hard to sacrifice so much equity. i don't care about winning, i care about equity. -7 to IODATE, which seems reasonable. i guess i like lowering stdev in this situation. right? maybe this isn't a mistake. #strategymedium maybe
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
watching my laptop start to whine and heat up to the temperature of our sun as it sims makes me feel so much better about having had a hard time finding a good play. like, yes, this pile of metal and numbers, too, does not know what to do here. fwiw, it likes 7F WE, so it's only like a #tacticssad (ish)
Sid pointed out SNUG J8, which sims even with FUGIO, but is probably a little bit better. Quackle always underrates defensive moves like that. Another option, which I didn't see, is OUZEL C11. OUZEL wins the sim, but I like SNUG best. (-1) #visionsmall
I did see F2 WARN, which would have been fine if she didn't phony. But BOUNCERS was the only bingo I saw for her. Although I couldn't stop her from making parallels on Row 5, I think 7H ULN(A)R would have been a much better version of this while still accomplishing what I was looking to do- block the U. #visionlarge
I thought it was only CAYOMAS* instead of MACOYAS (I got confused with CAEOMAS) so this is a huge mistake. I was probably supposed to play G2 RUBI(CONED) which is totally badass. #KNOWLEDGESADDEST
i saw TARRIER but it seemed dumb to block up a couple of (bad) lanes. however, 10 pts is 10 pts. i should just take the points, right? what do you think? -7 #strategymedium
the insane thing is that i still have a 96% chance of winning after this. what i really need to do is find L2 NEUROmA #findingsad or play 8M (N)AN to open up space and keep the U for the Q. #strategysad
Q thinks I should play both FUNGOES and FAX over this. I didn't consider FAX strongly, but the board is REALLY bad for scoring if I play it, so there's a ton of defense value, plus the almost guaranteed bingo next turn. FuNGOES only drops my score by 22 in comparison with FOE, and drops his average by about 4. I think the dearth of scoring spots on the board should have led me away from playing FOE. #strategysmall
i should have just played VIPER at 8A. i keep the Z to score next turn. i thought she was less likely to have a bingo through the O, after what could be a vowel dump. quackle likes 15A UP keeping VIZOR for next turn. -7 #strategymedium
Played the correct move of DZO and then picked it up for just ZO; it's better to play DZO and then play my M atop CRUOR next turn. For the third straight game I was extremely low on time, didn't record it for these last few moves. #endgamelarge
13A GLIA seems kind of insane to me with two Is and two Ns still in the pool but the sim says it's best. I really did not want to open it up like this, but I didn't see any other options. #strategysad