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#character-encoding UTF-8
#player1 Mike_Frentz Mike Frentz
#player2 Steve_Grob Steve Grob
>Mike_Frentz: AEEOVWZ 8D WEAVE +30 30
#note Word Cup 2024, Round 24. If the choice, as I thought it was, were between WEAVE and ZOEAE, I think I got it right; the Z threatens at least 32 next turn, while VW threatens nothing. My choice, however, did not include ZOWEE, which is clearly best.
>Steve_Grob: CEINPRS I7 PRINCES +78 78
>Mike_Frentz: ENOOORZ H12 OOZE +47 77
>Steve_Grob: BILLO D3 BILLO. +22 100
>Mike_Frentz: FLNOORU E4 FOO +23 100
#note Ugly, but there's no clear way to improve on it.
>Steve_Grob: ADK C2 DAK +34 134
>Mike_Frentz: AELNRUU 15A NEURULA. +77 177
>Steve_Grob: ADEEINT B8 DETAINE. +72 206
>Mike_Frentz: AAGGPWX A7 PAW +38 215
#note GAP in this spot, threatening WA- plays next turn on column C, is an interesting idea. They sim about even.
>Steve_Grob: LOV F6 OV.L +14 220
>Mike_Frentz: AEEGGGX B1 GAG +22 237
#note Quackle likes GAGGER D10, setting up the X for next turn, or else cashing it now at A11. I don't mind this, though.
>Steve_Grob: HIOR 11I .HOIR +20 240
>Mike_Frentz: EEEGIMX M9 ME.GE +22 259
#note I LOVE this play, and am glad Quackle backs me up. This sets up multiple E hooks for score (with only two more to draw!) and threatens big X scores with a ton of draws. And if it gets blocked, I should still be able to score with the X (A12 if nothing else).
>Steve_Grob: HU N9 UH +30 270
>Mike_Frentz: AEFINNX O7 FIX +51 310
#note Or FAX, but there are more Is to draw.
>Steve_Grob: AINOR 14K NORIA +19 289
>Mike_Frentz: AEENNTT O12 NE.T +15 325
#note TENNE C9 is nice, scoring a few more and gunning for those blanks.
>Steve_Grob: CTY 12A C.TY +24 313
>Mike_Frentz: ADENQTT G10 QAT +15 340
#note Or at G4. With the pool starting to get scary, though, I'd rather make Steve open.
>Steve_Grob: AIJ N5 AJI +31 344
>Mike_Frentz: DEENSST J3 DENSEST +79 419
#note Though it's scary to do with both blanks out, bingoing still yields the best chances. (Of the non-bingos, plays at O1 like TENDS do best, leaving 1 in the bag for potential counterplay.)
As I draw my tiles, I see no blank, check my tracking, and see how Steve just wins. Which would drop me to 13-11, potentially starting the same death spiral that has plagued me late in Nationals before.
And then I have to sit there for eight minutes, waiting, poker-faced, hoping that somehow, Steve doesn't see either of the two bingos that play.
And I wait. And wait. And then...
>Steve_Grob: ??IRSTY 3H Se.ITaRY +70 414
>Steve_Grob: ??IRSTY -- -70 344
#note Sometimes you get lucky.
>Mike_Frentz: BDIMRU M2 DUMB +22 441
#note (BUM instead, but whatever.)
>Steve_Grob: ??IRSTY O1 TaRdY +26 370
#note (Minus 10 for time.)
>Mike_Frentz: IR 11E RI. +6 447
#note (Final score recorded as 451-360.)
>Mike_Frentz: (IS) +4 451
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