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#character-encoding UTF-8
#player1 AH Andy Hoang
#player2 JJB John J. Bulten
>AH: EINOOSY 8G YO +10 10
#note 0:16 [24:44] AH has a respectable +479 spread after three wins, and JJB has an unbelievable +896, so this will be an important grudge match for standings. JJB is unaware of the no-repeat rule and anticipates meeting AH twice, needing to win one of two, while AH is committed to winning in one go. AH is awarded first and correctly keeps EINOS with initial static value of 15.0. Quackle likes oy only a negligible 0.3 more than yo.
>JJB: AAAEKNW 9E AWAKE +26 26
#note 1:22 [23:38] JJB finds best play, directing a hook to himself.
>AH: EGILNOS J4 ELOIGNS +75 85
#note 2:35 [22:09] AH calculates carefully and seizes the hook, forgoing 2 points more with the choices of legions/awaken (vowel at double), or longies/ai/we/yas (open nonuple).
>JJB: ADNPSTT E3 STANDP.T +72 98
#note 0:27 [23:11] JJB has walked into a findable natural as well, but is uncertain about whether it pluralizes (it doesn't). Given this he prefers the temptation line be double rather than triple.
>AH: ADHORTT 8A THOR. +33 118
#note 1:32 [20:37] AH calls a hold indefinitely, and finally allows it after seeing the optimal response. Also of note: hadst/yah/oka/ed 28, torahs/wo/yar/oka/eh 36.
>JJB: CEEEIUY 7B EYE. +28 126
#note 1:16 [21:55] Another easy-to-find optimal play.
>AH: ABDILOT K1 TABLOID +81 199
#note 0:33 [20:04] Significant pressure.
>JJB: CEIINUU 1K .UNIC +24 150
#note 3:12 [18:43] The ugliness of this rack should not dissuade one from pressing above the norm. Uncute 1g 27, leaving II, and cuisine 3b 20, leaving just U, lead the pack, up to 7.1 ahead. Unite and incite rate within a point of tunic, as does exchanging to CEIN (7.9). JJB notes cunit and unica/uncia, but their placements are further behind (ditto unciae).
>AH: ADGPQRZ 2J Z.P +38 237
#note 0:29 [19:35]
>JJB: ?EIINRU 4B UNI. +8 158
#note 6:07 [12:36] JJB is not studied up on this rack and is unfamiliar with incisure 66 (only 23.7 better due to blank retention). He knows the EIR? leave for unit is immense, 34.3, though for immediate points he could choose a lesser leave like with uniter/we/yar 23 (16 without the R), or uteri 4d 12.
>AH: ADGIMQR 10G GAM. +25 262
#note 0:34 [19:01] Having cashed the Z on a QZ draw, AH could get 33 for qi/si now (12.9 higher value; or 32 for maqui b1, or 19 for qaid d2). These all rate better than the underlap play, but AH wants that row cashed and the leave looks acceptable (DIQR is -6.4). He rightly reasons that qi/si is likely to remain another turn.
>JJB: ?CEIIRV A2 VICE +22 180
#note 3:52 [8:44] Now JJB makes a good choice among hard alternatives. His time is hurting, but not by comparison to previous games! Vie/si/unite rates 3.0 higher on synergy, above vier.
>AH: DIIJQRT F2 QI +33 295
#note 0:17 [18:44] Rightly cashing the Q at last, and getting to hold the J in reserve; power tiles keep rolling in.
>JJB: ?EFIORR N1 .nFERIOR +74 254
#note 0:43 [8:01] The one bingo available; bingos are now even but with power going AH's way another big play is needed to even the score.
>AH: DIJLORT 8L JI.D +60 355
#note 0:32 [18:12] Quickly playing the bingo equivalent that was made available.
>JJB: AEGMSSU 11A MAGUSES +102 356
>JJB: AEGMSSU -- -102 254
#note 0:52 [7:09] JJB convinces himself that both magus and standpat take standard plurals, when neither does (magi is the plural, standpat is an adjective). AH holds, challenging after 28 seconds, seeing through both phonies. This is perfectly fitting, because in their last meetup (Charlottesville 2019), AH made two related challenge misjudgments, neglecting the fact that neither agitato nor volti takes an S; so here he is clearly studied up enough to challenge two false plurals at once. The real heartbreak, besides incisure, was about how JJB spotted misusage 87, only after being challenged (diff of 83.1).
>AH: EELORTX O3 EX +39 394
#note 1:14 [16:58] AH has hardly needed his clock, having drawn the fourth power tile in five turns. Oddly, standpatter 28 was available.
>JJB: AEGMSSU M8 .MAGES +24 278
#note 1:36 [5:33] JJB writes down misusage 87 but cannot bring himself to put it down after losing a challenge. His play is 61.3 behind, with SU leave of just 1.7. Arguing over a few points, Quackle suggests vug 14 on leave (AEMSS 16.6, just ahead of vugs); but the opportunity to return to striking distance (394-341) has now passed and AH is highly likely to pass JJB in standings.
>AH: AELORRT 13F REALTOR. +60 454
#note 1:13 [15:45] AH seals the deal with a good draw to his good leave. Standpatter is the best play not to bingo.
>JJB: EFNSTUV H12 F.VE +42 320
#note 0:34 [4:59] Resetting his priorities, JJB accepts the fave dump.
>AH: ?ABEEIO 14H .OE +14 468
#note 0:44 [15:01] With three natural bingos and plenty of time, AH is gratified to draw the second blank. There are a few better leaves available than ABEI? 27.0; the lead is AE? 36.4, obtainable via bogie 16 (9.4 diff).
>JJB: ANRSTUU L8 .UN +16 336
#note 2:06 JJB has one more hope for a bingo and makes the best choice. Which player draws the bingo?
>AH: ?ABEINO A8 .AIlBONE +86 554
#note 0:21 [14:40] AH is rewarded with common bingos in columns A and O both, finding the best one (above debonair and taborine). He is now looking at another 200-point blowout of his own, after his victory by 370 in round 2.
>JJB: AHLRSTU 15J THRALS +33 369
#note 1:43 [1:10] Nothing remains but to score the highest. JJB finds the right spot but makes an unnecessary high-risk phony six, which both players think valid; the correct play was thurls. However, his having passed this phony off unintentionally means AH missed a chance to increase his spread by 33+18.
>AH: DW 4I W..D +16 570
#note 0:31 [14:09] Aside from not spotting the last phony, this was the correct mopping up anticipated by both players.
>AH: (U) +2 572
#note Here AH becomes the sole undefeated player and avenges JJB for Charlottesville, having challenged off two phonies and played four well-earned bingos, while JJB missed one and neglected to play another one after being burned. JJB's consolation is passing off one phony in the end (AH's only serious error), having a near-perfect game himself aside from bingo judgment, and still having a slight spread advantage despite a 203-point hit; it's clear there are more fireworks between these players to be anticipated in the future. Known points available: JJB 0, AH 53. Overall points available: AH 75.6, JJB 178.2.
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