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This feature as been absent for a while
for sheer lack of material. This month we have an
action game between Stewart Holden and Brett Smitheram. Follow
the play board by board and try to anticipate the play. Stewart (+0) 0
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BINGO 22 is best -- to keep a vowel with the V tile.
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Brett SA(P)ONIFY [e5d] 102 102 An excellent double-double find! There are two other hard to find bonus plays. The unlikely F(R)AYINGS and SANG(U)IFY, both on column [i]. Many strong players would be happy to balance and just take the 26 points for FY here! Stewart (-78) Too many consonants make a very unhappy rack! |
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CHEVY looks attractive for 38 points [a12a] but for only
1 less TENCH has a strong claim for first choice. Probably Stewart
wanted to shift the V tile and didn't know CHEVY; VETCH, [f1d]
would do that trick but it is not recommended. Well, again the bag gives a kindly twinkle with a much sought after blank -- or is it a knowing wink with just two U’s for vowels? next |
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Brett thought UNURGED was American and thus dismissed it, but he also missed UNGUARD in the same two parallel places. Stewart (-81) Sort of rack that raises hope of a bonus but the lack of
an S or E tile reduces such hopes dramatically. |
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Quite a good choice and better than the highest scoring PRUINA [b10d] 28 points. Possibly the best play is PARTI [d1d] but you would be brave to give up both vowels! Brett (+57) Excess vowels but that blank is a big asset! The lack of
any power tiles makes the [h] column triple unattractive. |
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Brett ARCUA(T)ION [f6a] 62 188 A choice of six bonus plays here! I suspect most of us
would be grateful for AROU(S)ING for 60 [i1d]. The others are:
CONARIU(M) [g6a] COU(M)ARIN [g6a] ORIGANU(M) [i5d] and top score
CONURBIA [g6a] for 63 but who could resist the brilliant 9 letter
play! |
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Well spotted and the only place to go for the much needed bonus play.
Always worrying when the opponent lands a bonus but here
Brett still has a comfortable lead. Though |
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A very good net haul but a sorry leave of CGM. CHIMER was seen but Brett thought it was an OSPD word. The best play, however, was another double-double with MIGHTIER and would have been a rare mirror-play of SA(P)ONIFY! Stewart (-105) |
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That’s a start! The offer must not be refused!!
Brett (+59) A embarrassment of riches without vowels! |
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Not just a consonant dump but minimising an X play or a
double-double word score at [b10]! Stewart (-79) The game is difficult, a whole bonus behind facing an opponent
who will take out openings every time they arise. All that and
an awkward rack too! |
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TEXAS is also okay! This probably looked as though it had to be played to shape-up and close-up but BATEAU [h1d] for 27 points might have provided more openings! Brett (+38) The lead is still quite strong but it must be a pressure
to see it being whittled down and having to face a rack of just
one vowel! |
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Keeps E and shifts two consonants, I thought SCEND was
overlooked for 30 off CHIVE but that and another higher scoring
word were seen and rejected by Brett. My feeling is
that very few players would have found the highest score over
the board and the position is given on the puzzle page! Another chance to score, but watch out there are still
5 A tiles unplayed! |
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BAIZE or BLAZE at d1 score 40 but the play is clearly best! Brett (+19) Cool play has led to a decently balanced rack with both
an E and an S. The alert must be for a bonus play and the question
is will it go down if there is one? |
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It is a yes to both questions, the play will also score at [b2d] for somewhat less. Stewart is back in trouble again. Stewart (-103) Duplicated A tiles, 6 unplayed E tiles and 100 down. It is not good! |
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Both DAZED [l11d] 36 and ADZE [l12a] 39 score slightly more and are better plays.
Brett (+69) The tile bag is again unkind to Brett. All different tiles
but a clumsy non-blend. W and U are always sworn enemies! |
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Gratefully taking advantage of the row 1 A tile!
Stewart (-105) It’s back to the wall trouble with a doubled A and
still 4 T’s unplayed. |
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Aware that he had the last S, the play was chosen in preference to COAL. Possibly the 18 points for OAT [k12a] was best? Definitely not SEARAT [h10d] for the 32 point S sacrifice! Brett (+95) Even though he has a good lead, Brett will not be complacent.
Especially with this rack! |
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Using up the tiles and filling the open space all for a reasonable score!
Stewart (-117) So many worries as to be carefree! |
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So many good scores around but Stewart is still looking
to go out with a flourish. OARY [g14a] is worth 41 and there
is some 44’s and a 45 on the 14th row. Brett (+ 86) Pretty grotty rack but Brett has a plan! |
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“Two A’s left for OVERAWE, and GUN makes it unlikely that Stewart will block the higher scoring [a14] position.”
Badly needs a bonus but AA does not help! |
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Ditching the A to take the last remaining tile!
Brett (+ 78) Not the hoped for bonus but a situation well under control! |
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This is the best there is but it is good enough.
Stewart (-114) Stewart had previously spotted to places for his outplay.... |
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Remaining faithful to his find. REALTORS [b14a] yields 74 points. The Final Score Brett 466 - 7 = 459 A lively game full of interest throughout and there was
a hint that Jack might topple the Giant at one stage but it did
not quite come to that! |
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