Hack-the-Q in the Endgame

The game that almost slipped out my hand after leading by as much as 99 points two moves back, then in a flash of brilliance, 007jem sprang with back to back bingos! When the smoke was cleared, I found myself trailing by 41 points and the battle went down to the wire in a thrilling endgame finish...

Let me begin my story from this board position:

(position after 007jem's pETITION)

After this bingo by 007jem, I immediately tracked down the 16 unseen tiles (nine tiles in the bag and seven in 007jem's rack) which revealed as AAEEEEEIOU?GRRQV. There was still blank! The easiest spot for opponent's bingo next turn would be the second column parallel to pETITION. There was another spot in the 14th column but it requires S in the second position which makes it difficult to play like ISOGRiV/SHETLANDS as one of possibilities based on unseen tiles, but it's unlikely to happen. And so, I focused my attention on the second column. My first thought was to play HAET/(pH, EA, TA, IT) but there could be a possibility of VAQUERo/pHo bingo. I also thought about PATH, but it would open the A and T for 8-letter word bingo possibility. How about the vertical play say five letter word parallel to pETITION like THEMA/(pH, EM, TA) but this could be an easy target for bingo and also a good scoring spot for the Q like tORQUE for 74 points, so I decided to play...

(position after tiger2002's MEATH)

It was a choice between HEATH and MEATH, but I played the latter. I drew RIOEE from the bag, and the unseen 11 tiles after this play were AAEEEU?GQRV. Check out 007jem's next play...

(position after 007jem's AcREAGE)

Alas, another bingo with a blank, and that was the only bingo spot for AcREAGE! Suddenly, I was behind by 41 points. The last rack of 007jem rack was EQUV per my tracking list. I was about to play HEARIE for 27 points blocking QUA spot, then out in the next play, but there was another spot for the Q, in the I of GRIP! Assuming I continued as mentioned, my final play would be DEMO for 11 points, catching 007jem with EUV (7 point value). In my initial calculation, the final score would have been 506-516 which loses. In endgame situation like this, I have my own style of arithmetic computation. The difference in score based on the current board position was 41, so it would be a negative score for me because I was trailing, say -41. Double the value of unplayed tiles and get the algebraic sum, thereafter the plays. You can also get the cumulative algebraic sum per turn like the following example:

Scenario 1:

                                    -41

tiger2002: HEARIE +27  -14

007jem: QI             -21  -35

tiger2002: DEMO    +11 -24

007jem: (EVU)        +14  -10 (losses by 10 points)

Scenario 2:

                                    -41

tiger2002: HEAME +30  -11

007jem: QI             -21  -32

tiger2002: NORI    +10 -22

007jem: (EVU)        +14  -8 (losses by 8 points)

Scenario 3:

                                    -41

tiger2002: HIRE      +26  -15

007jem: QI             -21  -36

tiger2002: MOLE    +14 -22

007jem: (EVU)        +14  -8 (losses by 8 points)

I realized that two moves look-ahead allowing the Q-play won't be able to win the game. So, my next idea was to make the initial play that would block the QUA and QI spot, at the same time. Candidate words in mind were HAREEM, AERIE, AMEER or AIMER. And so, I continued with another set of scenarios:

Scenario 4:

                                          -41

tiger2002: HAREEM       +10 -31

007jem: VEX                 -13  -44

tiger2002:  IO/(GI,ROT) +13 -31

007jem: (EQU)               +24  -7 (losses by 7 points)

Scenario 5:

                                     -41

tiger2002: AERIE      +6  -35

007jem: VEX            -13 -48

  Variation 1:

    tiger2002:  MHO   +12 -36

    007jem: (EQU)      +24 -12 (losses by 12 points)

  Variation 2:

    tiger2002:  RHO    +29 -19

    007jem: TUNE       -14 -33

    tiger2002: MAG     +6  -27        

    007jem: (QU)        +22 -5  (losses by 5 points)

Scenario 6:                                       

                                       -41

tiger2002: AMEER      +8   -33

007jem: VEX              -13  -46

tiger2002:  RHO         +29  -17

007jem: TUNE            -14  -31

tiger2002: YID            +8   -23

007jem: (QU)             +22  -1 (losses by 1 point); almost but not quite!

Scenario 7:                                       

                                       -41

tiger2002: AIMER      +7   -34

007jem: VEX              -13  -47

tiger2002:  RHO         +29  -18

007jem: TUNE            -14  -32

tiger2002: EL/WE        +8   -24

007jem: (QU)             +22  -2 (losses by 2 points); aarrghh!

At this stage, I was looking at the possible tie breaks if the score was tied. Checking the Game Statistics, I had a better bingo score of 92 points for PURSLANE compared to his 85 points for AcREAGE. And so, I had the advantage in the tie breaks in case of a deadlock.

What else was left on tiger2002's choices. Check out the play:

(position after tiger2002's AIMER)

tiger2002 followed Scenario No. 7.

(position after 007jem's VEX)

007jem replied with VEX. In this board position, a play of HOLE/(WO, DE) for 15 points catching 007jem with QUE (12 points value) losses by 8 points. See tiger2002's next play:

(position after tiger2002's RHO)

At this point, 007jem had EQU left in his rack and no other choice but to play HOWE. Supposed 007jem opted for PE instead of VEX in the earlier move to block RHO, he would be left with QUV, and tiger2002 can finish it off with HELO or HOLE for an 8-point win.

(position after 007jem's HOWE)

Alas, 007jem used that square for his E, and so I need to look for other spot. Initially, I found EL/WE for 8 points! Can you spot the winning move? Check out tiger2002's final move...

(Final board position after tiger2002's MEATHE)

MEATHE/EE scored 13 points plus 11 points for unplayed QU added to 497, so the final score of tiger2002 was 521. On the other hand, 007jem subtracted 11 points from his 529 decreased his total score to 518. I almost blamed my previous play of MEATH, but it turned out to be the vital word for a back hook game winning move! However, I needed a four move look-ahead in order to catch 007jem.

(Match Results 521-518)

Advancing to the Final Round for a winner take all tournament match.

(pixie vs. tiger2002 in the Final Round of 4 Players bracket)

(tiger2002's Stats after the match)

Another classic endgame finish using the endgame strategy of hacking the Q! I hope you have learned another technique. Until next blog post!

Law of Probability played versus kinglee

It is interesting to note that crossword games like Wordsmith are not only scoring words you play on the board, but also utilizing skills on how to tackle the law of probability especially in the pre-endgame. For this week, I am going to show two of my games against kinglee that demonstrate the idea on how to calculate possibilities in a given situation. After reading this whole post, your mindset will be focused on brainstorming ideas, and you can exploit this strategy in your future games, win or lose! Let's start the ball rolling on the last two concluded matches vs. kinglee. This was the first of the last two games we have played, starting from this board position:

(position after kinglee's OXTAIL)

The game was almost equal before kinglee's four-timer, OXTAIL. We have one bingo each, GERuNDS for me and DELIBATE for him. I also played SEAWAN, a four-timer. In this board position, it was not really my intention to play CuNT but I want to make sure if this was really deleted by Wordsmith in the original YAWL lexicon, and so, I tried to play it.

(tiger2002 played CuNT)

As it turned out, it was confirmed that CuNT has been removed by Wordsmith. You can see the red mark on the upper right portion of the screen, indicating that the word is invalid. If you are planning a play out using this word when that's the only winning move, better not to do it in your future games now that you have read this. Check out the play of tiger2002:

(position after tiger2002's CUTIN)

Knowledge in hooking letter to existing word is just a way of improving player's scoring game. Later in the game, kinglee has built the lead and the position looked like this:

(position after kinglee's WEIRDY)

kinglee played five tiles, WEIRDY hooking W to HAP and connecting to the letter I on the board, scoring 36 points and left one tile in the bag. The lead was 65, and unseen tiles from tiger2002's point of view were EINQSTUY. Surveying for the possible bingo options, there were two opened letter E which could be a potential spot. This is now the crucial point of decision. The only way for a bingo next turn in either of the two separate spots was to dump the letter E in the hope of drawing the letter N in the bag, and the probability of pick up was 1:8 or 12.5% chance. If that happens, EPHEDRIN could be played either of the two openings as mentioned. Other tile pick up would have no chances of bingo. Worse scenario would be a pick up of letter E, in view of SQUINTY/ALTS possibility for my opponent. I realized also that if I drew the N, I should assume that the final rack of kinglee would be EIQSTYU and this would mean big scoring chances loomed in the triple lane like for example, QuEY or QuIT. So, I could not swap a tile because of that potential scoring spot for kinglee. Then, I thought of partially blocking that spot by playing EN atop GERuNDS for 3 points. But then, kinglee could play QUITES/(GI/ET/RE/uS) with a score of 38 points and he would be leading by 100 points after that. And, if N was really in the bag, I could play the last bingo move, EPHEDRIN on the E of CHLORATE for 88 points catching him with the Y, and a 6 point victory for kinglee would be the only closest margin of loss that tiger2002 could get. Other option would be to dump the letter "I" elsewhere in the hope of drawing the S for a SPHERED/ALTS possible bingo next turn, but that would be the only spot available and could be blocked, easily. Why not give a try, then after that, wait for kinglee's move. So, tiger2002's final decision was this play....

(position after tiger2002's EN)

I played EN, but I picked up the Q! Alas, it's all over! kinglee played LIEN/(AIR, WED, ANY) then followed it up with SUETY after I responded with REDIP/(DELIBATED, OP). It's a loss! At least, I have tried it, and will calculate the same idea in any future games with the same situation of catching up. Up next, was our latest completed game today. This was the board position.

(position after kinglee's MURRIEs)

I played two bingos, BEHOTING and ANISETTE, but kinglee had two blanks and played two bingos as well, CREASInG and his current move, MURRIEs. I was trailing, 291-380. In this board position, tiger2002 found a nice bingo!

(position after tiger2002's PONDERATE)

It was a risky opening for a nine-timer, but PONDERATE was the only scoring play available based on the previous board position. I drew ARLOVFS from the bag and I could form FLAVORS but no place to go, unless kinglee would give opening. This was the next move of kinglee:

(position after kinglee's ZLOTE)

What a bold ZLOTE play by kinglee, and this opened up another nine-timer and a four-timer at the same time! The score was 359-434, and tiger2002 was trailing by 75 points. With three tiles in the bag, the unseen tiles were EIJLPQRSUX. There were high point tiles (JQX) still unplayed. I was thinking to play FAVORS in the opened four-timer for 56 points but there were other scoring options available for kinglee, the Z or the E in the triple lanes! FOVEAL in the triple was also a good scoring move. Inspired by tiger2002's previous post regarding the pre-endgame tactics, this was his ultimate chance of a possible comeback, check out the play:

(tiger2002 swapped L)

I decided to swap the L instead of playing it elsewhere like LET for 8 points. It would be more difficult for him to work out the possibilities of 10 unseen tiles compared to 9 tiles, leaving him guessing how many tiles that were swapped because in his mobile/tablet screen, it would only appear as "tiger2002 swapped tiles". That's what you called tactics, and anyone could exploit this strategy in their pre-endgame now that it has been revealed and proven effective in some situations. How many possible rack combinations that could be formed from unseen 10 tiles and analyzing the possible moves? That would be a big headache for him if he wanted to perform simulations, LOL! Wait for a while, why did I swap L in the first place? I was hoping to draw that important letter and the chances of a miraculous pick up was 1:10 or 10%, and praying kinglee won't block it. Check out the tile pick up:

(tiger2002 has drawn R)

What a lucky pick! Without further ado, kinglee played............

(position after kinglee's QUIZ)

kinglee maximized his score by playing QUIZ to make it 359-500. That was a commanding 141 point lead by kinglee! So, his final seven tiles has been revealed in my tracking as EJLLPSX. And, here comes the fantastic move that shattered kinglee's high scoring game!

(tiger2002 played FAVORERS for 193 points!)

(Game Statistics after FAVORERS)

FAVORERS scored 193 points catching kinglee with EJLLPSX (24 points value), so the final score of tiger2002 was (359+193+24) 576. While kinglee's final score was (500-24) 476. What a dramatic endgame finish! If only Wordsmith indicated the number of tiles that has been swapped by tiger2002, then kinglee would have played in the opened E instead of Z which was more logical to block. I don't know exactly what was the rack of kinglee before the QUIZ play, but I guessed the score of 66 points was too tempting for him.

(Final Score tiger2002-576, kinglee-476)

(chat messages after the game)

(4-players bracket final update)

Earning 20 coins in this memorable feat!

(tiger2002's Stats after the tournament)

Conclusion:

When ahead, it is a golden rule not to create more openings. It is better to score and block at the same time to minimize the chances of opponent's comeback. On the other hand, when you are behind in the pre-endgame situation like this, try to explore possibilities even though how slim the chances are, who knows, it could be the only probable way of stealing victory from the jaws of defeat! You are already in the brink of losing the game anyway, why not give a try? Always keep in mind: "The game isn't over 'til it's over!" And that should always be the battle cry of a good competitive player!

Mission Accomplished

On June 13, 2014, elzurdo opened up the two Triple Word Squares, and tiger2002 exclaimed in excitement as the letter he needs fit the word for a nine timer! This was the board position and my current rack was EEQRSTU:

(elzurdo played JILTS)

Sure enough, tiger2002 laid down the bingo and broke his own best word score record in Wordsmith, for 202 points in single turn.

(tiger2002 played REQUESTS for 202 points!)

(tiger2002's Stats after the play)

In the same game, tiger2002 was in quest to know whether or not the word LBW is valid in YAWL as inspired by his previous post, and his plan was focused on finding a spot to play that word. Because of the safe lead, there was an opportunity to do this thing, neglecting any best plays and just relaxing a bit. This was the board position:

(elzurdo played MEET)

In this board position, tiger2002 was thinking on how he could play LBW instead of scoring. See what did he play...

(tiger2002 played MILL)

MILL sets up two possible spots for LBW, hoping that elzurdo will not block it, LOL!!! If blocked, then there was still a blank to work for it. Now, watch out the play of elzurdo...

(elzurdo played TRY)

The moment of truth was about to explode! And tiger2002 played it, wait and behold! Was it valid or not?

(tiger2002 played LBW)

And so mission accomplished, LBW is confirmed valid! And why tiger2002 didn't chose the other spot for LBW with better score? He wanted to make use of the ETA hook for scoring opportunity in succeeding turn, if not blocked. Wow, tiger2002 got the other blank!

Hoping that Wordsmith will not remove this word, so that it can be used to balance the tiles in case of heavy consonants rack.

tiger2002 top 10 play of the week (Jun 6-12)

This week, I am featuring some of my top plays in the Wordsmith Tournament app for more mind boggling quiz. Just click the "Show tiger2002's play" when you found a play in your mind and compare it. Good luck!

1. Opponent's current rack is DKLT. And the only scoring play available for opponent is LAXEST/PHT. Find the key move to victory.

After that key move, you can follow up with NIS/De/ID. If blocked, then another option would be INS/NUN/INS.

2. There are 11 anagrams that can be formed from this rack (AEINRST), and tiger2002 played something that described it.

Yes indeed! RETINAS is pleasing to the eyes of Scrabble/Wordsmith players! The other 10 anagrams include ANESTRI, ANTSIER, NASTIER, RATINES, RETAINS, RESIANT, RETSINA, STARNIE, STEARIN and STAINER. Not only that, RETINAS can combined with 21 letters of the alphabet (except Q, V, X, Y & Z), e.g. A-ANTISERA, B-BARNIEST, C-SCANTIER, D-STRAINED, E-TRAINEES, F-FAINTERS, G-GRANITES, H-INEARTHS, I-INERTIAS, etc.

3. U's and I are the most hated combination that have landed tiger2002's rack, but in this board position, it turned out as a gem! What is that unusual word?

4. Bingo with the X could be a joy to find!

Well spotted!

5. Knowledge of hooks would help players score huge points using high point tiles!

6. Unseen tiles going to this board position were blank, DEEILLLOST (4 tiles in the bag). The threat in the four-timer lane was so scary, but tiger2002 found a way to win whatever tiles he would be drawing.

No need to block the dangerous lane (say HA/OH/ZA) when ETHICAL for 38 points was the best scoring move that would increase the lead. After that, Slammin having the rack ?DELOST played a bingo hooking S to DAY, but not enough points to catch up tiger2002.

7. kinglee has been ahead for most part of this game until this board position occurred. Unseen tiles from tiger2002's point of view were ADEEORRT. A bingo was immediately spotted, but the word should be played such that opponent could not make good counterplay.

If you found DIADeMED along the 14th row, that would be a dangerous opening for opponent's scoring possibilities. And so, ADMIxED is better than ADMIrED minimizing kinglee's scoring options, in view of DETER counterplay in the triple. tiger2002 luckily drew A in the bag and eked out a narrow marginal win!

8. Playing parallel words could boost up your score! Check out the play of tiger2002 against QB1!

You can also play GAUDIES hooking S to OBTEND. That would be an open board with more scoring options in the succeeding plays. But, tiger2002 played the defensive position of the bingo!

9. Another well spotted scoring play by tiger2002 in this board position!

Very powerful front hook move! Try to study also words with Q but without U.

10. And last but not the least, tiger2002 avoiding possible three-in-a-row loss against Tontoblink, has found a strategic play in the endgame! Unseen tiles were STOTIN. Watch out tiger2002's play in the blink of Tonto's eyes!

tiger2002 played TRIOdE keeping the S for the much needed play out scoring option! Sure enough, Tontoblink played STOT/(SIS/TOP/Oda/TEN) for 26 points to go ahead temporarily, 452-444. The tiger2002 laid down the S! You should spot that one! :))