Vs. Sam: DAGWOOD looks stronger than ENOW, because it dumps some awkward tiles and defends better. Also, FARD is not defensive. Look at how it gives an easy avenue to open the left side of the board. Indeed, the whole left side of the board was covered in this game. If you want to go for defense, G(I)RD blocks things much more effectively, leaving one frustrating hook left.
Vs. Brian: With plays like ADEJLST, do you ever count the tiles that bingo with your stem? That can really help you decide when to fish and when not to, and it only takes a minute or two.
DAGWOOD's not bad. I didn't see it... if I had, it woulda been a close call whether to play it or not. Pretty comparable. I don't think ADFG? is that bad a leave... won't bingo right away, but it's potent for scoring 30 now and bingoing later
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I think you are going to be hard-pressed to score 30 with ADFG? next turn on this board. Another nice thing about DAGWO(OD) is that it gives some opportunities to partially close off the HOBO hook next turn.
I never did claim that GIRD shut down an entire quadrant of the board. It just makes it a lot harder than FARD does. My point is not that G(I)RD is a great play. I would play FR(I)G myself. Rather, I want to say that "defense" is a pretty weak justification for FARD. In choosing not to play FR(I)G, you're way too worried about row 1 plays, which are often going to help you more than hurt you with your bingo-prone rack.
There would be a lot more suspense if you actually posted these live, during the tournament, rather than after the fact when we already know you have ascended to Scrabble godhood.
I really don't like FARD. you have the blank - with FRIG you score the same and increase your bingo chances. you even set up a cute lane that you are much more likely to have access to. what's not to like? were you prioritizing blocking the I and not giving back 6s to the triple?
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Vs. Brian: With plays like ADEJLST, do you ever count the tiles that bingo with your stem? That can really help you decide when to fish and when not to, and it only takes a minute or two.
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I never did claim that GIRD shut down an entire quadrant of the board. It just makes it a lot harder than FARD does. My point is not that G(I)RD is a great play. I would play FR(I)G myself. Rather, I want to say that "defense" is a pretty weak justification for FARD. In choosing not to play FR(I)G, you're way too worried about row 1 plays, which are often going to help you more than hurt you with your bingo-prone rack.
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You know from past experience I've managed to get sames simmed and posted, with commentary, in between rounds.
Not always, of course. Depends on how fast the rounds move and how fast I play.
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It's probably still the right play, bleh.
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