Scrabble Consensus Game - Move 5

[Charlie Reams]

So as VEX seems to be the overwhelming favourite, we'll move the game on a little early. We scored 36, and Quackle replies with 11J BANJO for 40. Lucky we didn't leave that A-hook... We trail 110-236 but with both blanks to come, anything could happen. Here's the situation:

[Michael Wallace]

So 14A PA gets us 44, leaves QUIVE, not terrible.

I'm worried about the O on BANJO - would Quackle really really play that for 'only' 40 if it didn't have the Z? I suppose for a score of 40, the most a Z play would get is 62, and then that opens up the TWS so it might think it an ok trade? QUO would block it and leave a not too easily playable TWS, but only scores 15.

I'd also be worried that Quackle has an S to stick on BANJO. N10 PA/PE seems the only way to try and fight both the Z threat and the S, but even then it doesn't entirely block the TWS/BANJOS combo, and only scores 20. That said, I think I'd be quite tempted to go for that, because I'm so scared of the Z.

[Jimmy Gough]

If REQUIP is a word it would be good. Failing that, I agree with Craig.

[Ben Wilson]

No REQUIP alas. QUENA L8 for 48 ain't bad but as the Rac rightly pointed out the O of Banjo is somewhat troubling and if Quackle then lays down QUIZ...

Toss-up between that and PA. I'll just agree with whatever Beevers says.

[Ian Volante]

Is POQUE allowed? N10D for 44. A board opener with EQUIP on H7 for 29.

[Craig Beevers]

So 14A PA gets us 44, leaves QUIVE, not terrible.

I'm worried about the O on BANJO - would Quackle really really play that for 'only' 40 if it didn't have the Z? I suppose for a score of 40, the most a Z play would get is 62, and then that opens up the TWS so it might think it an ok trade? QUO would block it and leave a not too easily playable TWS, but only scores 15.

I'd also be worried that Quackle has an S to stick on BANJO. N10 PA/PE seems the only way to try and fight both the Z threat and the S, but even then it doesn't entirely block the TWS/BANJOS combo, and only scores 20. That said, I think I'd be quite tempted to go for that, because I'm so scared of the Z.

Quackle would play BANJO keeping almost anything. The only other plays with the J from that score like 28. You can't really draw any inferences from its move.

Not going to give my vote yet. Just going to list some of the factors


PA scores 44 leaves QUIVE.

QUIVE(R) is an option next move, 29 points
an N pickup (or blank) gives (R)EQUIN for 75/78


PE scores 44 leaves QUIVA

QU(EN)A is an option next move, 48 points


QU(EN)A scores 48 leaves PIVE

PE is an option next move, 44 points. Some flexibility there if you pickup an O or A and want to dump those instead
Turns over 3 tiles


QUIVE(R) scores 29 leaves PA

PA is an option next move, 44 points etc.
Turns over 5 tiles
A- front hook for QUIVER, U-P if we get an I to hit the top middle TWS
Creates counter openings for BANJO

[Michael Wallace]

Quackle would play BANJO keeping almost anything. The only other plays with the J from that score like 28. You can't really draw any inferences from its move.

So it doesn't worry about the chance we have a Z? Interesting. If I were playing I'd be terrified of that (but I am not very good at Scrabble). I suppose the probability is fairly low, so expectation wise it presumably (if you could be bothered to work it out) works out.

[Craig Beevers]

Quackle would play BANJO keeping almost anything. The only other plays with the J from that score like 28. You can't really draw any inferences from its move.

So it doesn't worry about the chance we have a Z? Interesting. If I were playing I'd be terrified of that (but I am not very good at Scrabble). I suppose the probability is fairly low, so expectation wise it presumably (if you could be bothered to work it out) works out.

There's a lot there Quackle opened up but these factors wouldn't be enough to overturn a choice of JOB etc. even if Quackle kept something mediocre. Keeping something like the Z or S just makes the choice easier. 12 points is a huge amount to give up for positional play at this stage of the game.

[Gavin Chipper]

We trail 110-236

Is that the fault of the tiles, or Quackle being that good?

[Charlie Reams]

We trail 110-236

Is that the fault of the tiles, or Quackle being that good?

Hard to separate the two. Quackle is very good, but has also had much better tiles than us (e.g. it drew a bonus immediately after the previous bonus, which is pure fluke). I'll analyse the game in full at the end and we'll see if we made any major errors.

[Charlie Reams]

Voting closes at 23:59 tonight, get your votes in soon.

[Marc Meakin]

PE A14d, my vote.

[Marc Meakin]

We trail 110-236

Is that the fault of the tiles, or Quackle being that good?

Hard to separate the two. Quackle is very good, but has also had much better tiles than us (e.g. it drew a bonus immediately after the previous bonus, which is pure fluke). I'll analyse the game in full at the end and we'll see if we made any major errors.

I think picking up both V's so soon in the game is unlucky, and Quackle has been very fortunate with the tiles.

[Jimmy Gough]

I vote for PA.

[Michael Wallace]

Let's go for PA then, I prefer QUIVE as a leave over QUAVE.

[Craig Beevers]

I would have voted for PA btw.

Good Scrabble debut from Oliver Garner at New Malden btw.

[Kai Laddiman]

I would have voted for PA btw.

Good Scrabble debut from Oliver Garner at New Malden btw.

We're going to a tourney together on Saturday btw

[Oliver Garner]

I would have voted for PA btw.

Good Scrabble debut from Oliver Garner at New Malden btw.

Cheers mate, won a tenner with the ratings prize