News

Details: Written by HG; Category: News; Published: 05 October 2024; Hits: 18

Best improver for this quarter is Amanda, ahead of Pat in second place and Jim, Deborah and Richard in joint third place. Well done, Amanda! Welcome to Nick, and Polly Vallance.

High-scoring words:

· 115 QUESTED Wanda

· 112 UNFAZED Pat

· 107 SEQUINNED Wanda

· 107 TEXTERS Charles

· 104 PREBAKES Graham

· 102 HANKERS Hepzi

· 101 SPANKED Wanda

· 97 ZINGERS Nick

· 95 DIVULGED Graham

· 95 ECHIDNAE Richard

· 93 DIATOMS Graham

· 92 TURNPIKE Charles

· 91 INTERIM Graham

· 90 REBITES Helen

· 90 VITIATE Graham

· 88 DABBLES Deborah

· 88 SMELLER Amanda

· 88 TRAINED Maire

· 86 SCARRING Joy

· 81 LINTERS Maire

· 77 ERASION Jim

· 76 CLINGER Mary

· 76 TITTIES Jim

· 75 OARIEST Jim

· 75 STARRED Mary

· Other words: ARTSMAN 74 Jim, STAINER 74 Maire, STAIRED 74 Jim, MAILERS 73 Maire, TAUNTER 72 Jim, PORTALS 71 Keith, TESTIER 71 Jim, SARDINE 72 Jim, WANIEST 71 Jim, ALINERS 70 Jim, GREATER 70 Maire, PAINTERS 70 Jim, TREASON 69 Keith, HUNGERS 68 Keith, CARNETS 67 Jim, DEAREST 66 Maire, ANTSIER 65 Jim, BASINET 64 Jim, GENDERS 64 Jim, SWEETER 64 Maire, SCALDING 63 Keith, TORNADO 63 Maire, FUSSIER 62 Jim, TRAINEE 61 Maire, WHEEZED 52 Amanda, CRANIAL Amanda

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game (scores over 100 also appear in the high-scoring words section):

· BADGERED 66 METEORIC 63 LEGATION 80 POSSIBLE 78 (consecutive moves)
(also INSTEAD 74) Graham

· ALLICES 70 ROOTAGE 75 DEXTERS 87 EPEIRIDS 83 Richard

· CODIFIED 98 PONGIER 77 WEARIES 70 SITUATE 69 Wanda

· OREGANO 68 EXPERTS 109 TERTIAN 75 SEQUINNED 107 Wanda

· EERIEST 64 REORDAIN 94 IRRIGATE 61 CLAIMANT 65 Richard

· FRIANDE 93 RESIGNED 70 HIREABLE 76 JIRGA 50 Helen

· OUTLEAP 64 UNHOPED 72 EXPIRES 92 ORIGANES 67 Helen

· SKATINGS 92 BOOTEES 72 SPANKED 101 QUESTED 115 Wanda

· TEXTERS 107 URINATED 61 RAINIER 67 STAINED 79 Charles

· TUMBLERS 64 BROWSES 95 NANNIES 79 KING 57 Helen

· CANNONS 69 UNEAGER 70 HOMEBOYS 90 Helen

· CAJOLES 85 BRANDIES 76 BATHROBE 90 Charles

· CREATING 76 REPROVED 95 DEVOTING 74 Wanda

· DEVIOUS 80 STRAWEN 81 FOOLERS 93 Helen

· ELOGISTS 83 RAIDERS 96 SATIATED 72 Graham

· ENNEADS 73 RELISTS 72 DEARIES 73 Richard

· ENTAILS 72 FINANCE 85 ARTISAN 70 Helen

· EPISTLE 77 TARDIEST 83 PRONAOI 65 Richard

· ETERNAL 70 TOELESS 66 EPITOME 78 Graham

· FAIRLEAD 86 DOSSERET 66 MANHOOD 85 Richard

· LEGATEES 80 CUSTARDS 86 TREATIES 64 Helen

· MINTERS 71 SHIRTED 70 SERIATE 66 Wanda

· REBAITS 68 TRANCES 76 FRONTERS 62 Wanda

· SABOTAGE 74 EPSILON 90 RETURNEE 61 Graham

· SPIRITS 86 MINUTES 73 TOADIED 78 Fiona

· SUITORED 80 FINEISH 73 OVERGOT 77 Richard

· TUNABLE 62 TRAYNES 72 QUAI 69 Helen

· ZELANTS 90 EROSIONS 70 EXTERNS 83 Graham

Other things:

· New personal bests: Richard 634, Megel 583, Mary 430

· 9-letter word: BATHROBES Deborah 46

· Unusual word: PHWOAR Charles

Name	Old rating	New rating	Rating change	P	W	D	L	Average	Highest score	Highest ever
Amanda Lowe	82	93	11	22	7	1	14	306.3	360	392
Pat Llanwarne	123	130	7	14	8	0	6	351.6	431	516
Jim Macey	116	122	6	13	9	0	4	357.5	455	478
Deborah Porter	130	136	6	27	15	0	12	364.3	482	542
Richard Spencer	202	208	6	34	31	0	3	449.9	634	625
Maire Bennett	55	58	3	15	2	0	13	286.5	402	498
Keith Radbourn	69	71	2	34	5	0	29	277.4	337	418
Graham Harding	179	181	2	40	28	0	12	427.0	533	661
Sharon Hewitt	130	131	1	21	11	0	10	350.7	453	548
Helen Harding	186	187	1	37	28	0	9	424.1	598	609
Joy Wade	107	106	-1	23	8	1	14	334.6	451	484
Fiona Titcombe	152	149	-3	21	10	0	11	365.1	466	551
Martin Stephens	113	109	-4	26	10	0	16	335.1	437	477
Wanda de Poitiers	182	178	-4	29	18	0	11	400.7	591	598
Charles Parker	104	99	-5	29	11	0	18	331.3	470	509
Hepzi Rodrigues	137	132	-5	23	10	0	13	352.0	418	554
Michael Spencer	93	82	-11	21	4	0	17	289.0	358	502
Insufficient games – a previous quarter’s results, or 13 games in a quarter, needed to qualify
Nick	106		0	2	1	0	1	321.0	336	336
Polly Vallance	89		2	9	3	0	6	299.7	363	363
Megel Barker	174	184	10	6	5	0	1	465.8	583	583
Mary Twomey	106	105	-1	9	3	0	6	310.2	430	430
Maureen Barlow	122		0	0	0	0	0		0	528
Jen Brennan	50		0	0	0	0	0		0	436

Details: Written by HG; Category: News; Published: 23 September 2024; Hits: 77

On 8 September Richard played in a one day tournament in Luton - here is his report :

I entered the one day event at Luton on 8th September and was the only East Berks player attending.

48 Players were split into divisions of 8 and played everyone else in their group followed by one final game to decide final placings. I found myself in the 3rd of these against similarly rated players.

In Game 1 I started with the bonus of WATERISH and added two more of SERICON and ROBINIA. My opponent hit back with two bonuses of his own plus a 60 for FRIZ but I held on for a 441-401 win.

Game 2 was more comfortable. Pleased to spot REMIGIAL for 63 and a nice spot opened up to play TRASHES as a double double for 98 WIN by 421-308

Game 3 was a bad game though closer than it looked! I trailed by 10 after 13 turns and reluctantly felt I should go for good points on offer to take a 302-278 lead. The downside was it meant emptying the bag! The opponent has SNOOZER in two different places for 102 and I was caught for 20 on my final rack which led to a 400-282 win for my opponent.

In Game 4 the opponent had 2 bonus to my zero but had a lot of low scoring plays including 2 changes. However I scored very well with non bonus plays throughout and won by 445-326.

Game 5 was much tighter but had the edge after bonuses of AERADIO and RETINTED and held on for a 444-422 win including a 10 point time penalty for the opponent.

Game 6 started brightly with bonuses of STAINED and ANTIROLL in 2 of my 3 opening turns but opponent was scoring well while my scoring dried up. He then took the lead with ANGARIES and won relatively comfortably 414-385.

Game 7 was a good game for me. Challenged off OOWARI early on then bonused with CELIBATE and GERONTIC to give a healthy lead. Opponent then played a fun bonus of MOSTEST which I challenged but turned out to be good! Final score a win for me of 439-387.

Game 8 was a play off to determine 1st and 2nd places with both my opponent and I leading on 5 wins each from 7. It was a good game with 3 bonuses each. I bonused with CERRADOS for 63 on turn 2 but opponent hit back immediately with GLAZIERS for 87.

I then than had further bonuses of TOASTING and EXIGEANT on turns 4&5 which almost killed the game off. The opponent bonused with DRONIEST and ROUTINE on his final two moves but I scored enough to hold off the late flurry with a 446-428 win giving me an overall result of 6 wins from 8 and a first tournament win for quite a while.

Bonus highlights;

Me - WATERISH, ROBINIA, REMIGIAL, AERADIO, ANTIROLL, GERONTIC, CERRADOS, EXIGEANT

Opponents- SNOOZER, ANGARIES, MOSTEST, GLAZIERS

Well done Richard !

Here are a couple of his boards.

Details: Written by HG; Category: News; Published: 15 August 2024; Hits: 188

Over the weekend of the 10^th and 11^th of August, there were 2 one day Scrabble tournaments in Oxford. The weekend was one of the hottest of the year, but the air-conditioned room made for a refreshing atmosphere. Players came from Edinburgh, Kent, Southampton, Staffordshire as well as more local Oxford and Berkshire players.

The first tournament consisted of three divisions of 16, with seven games to be played.

Helen played in Division A, Richard and Graham in B, and Pat in Division C.

Pat probably wished the tournament could have ended after 3 games, not 7, as she won her first 3 games, including one by 223 points – Pat scored 514 ! Pat then lost the remaining 4 games, finishing with 3 wins and a 10^th place finish.

In Division A, Helen probably wished the tournament could have started AFTER the first game. She was drawn against the top rated player, and lost by 197 points – ouch! Her luck didn’t change much during the tournament, and her two wins came against the two players who finished below her at the end of the tournament. One of which she beat by 4 points, this followed a game which she lost by 6 ! Some very close games indeed!

In B, Richard and Graham matched each other game for game both with 4 wins from 5 games. Richard then had to play a local Oxford player, who had a much lower rating than his 40 years Scrabble experience would suggest. The ratings were wrong and Richard had three bonus words laid against him in the first 3 moves! Not easy coming back from that.

Graham won his game, so played the Oxford player to decide the winner of the division. The game started with 2 bonuses each – Graham managed a third later in the game, and held on to win by 38 points, and won the division – well done Graham.

Day 2 had a different tournament schedule, groups of 8 players each playing each other. Pat, Helen, Richard and Graham were joined by Fiona and Megel.

Fiona and Pat competed in Division D and both won 3 games. This was a good performance by Pat as she was bottom rated in the Division. Fiona scored over 400 in 4 of her games, which included beating Pat in the last game of the tournament.

Division B was the only division with 10 players. It also contained the other 4 East Berks players. Fixtures were calculated after every round, and frequently there was at least one matchup of East Berks Players. Helen won 2 games out of 7 with a highest score of 449. Richard won 3 games including 2 with scores over 480!

Megel won 5 games during the day, with his lowest score being 389 against Graham. Graham lost his first game then went on a 5 game winning streak, beating a player who was unbeaten over the two days. In the last round, a King-of-the Hill round, Graham had to play the same player again, and lost but still finished second. Megel won his last game, which was enough to secure a ratings prize. Well done Graham and Megel.

Here are few of the more unusual words East Berks players played or were played against them and a couple of the finished boards :

TUTANIAS, FOSCARNET, PIEZO, CROZIERS, HOPDOG, SERPULID, TETRAPLA, SELENIUM, SUNDAES.

Note well : this final board contains the word GOY, which since 2021 has been invalid.

Details: Written by HG; Category: News; Published: 08 August 2024; Hits: 243

The Broadstairs tournament took place at the end of July, and Richard went along. Here is his report:

I entered two one day events held at Broadstairs on 27th and 28th July. Its a good option for anyone considering combining Scrabble and a summer holiday -you can easily walk to the beach from the venue.

I played in Division A on both days (8 games on each day) with day 1 being packed with good games.

I started Game 1 against the top ranked player so was very pleased to win the game 462-373. After two bonuses there was a nice spot for WILJAS near the end for 75 which sealed the win.

Game 2 was very exciting -a 514-477 win. I started with 3 bonuses in the first 5 turns -PERILUNE, ROOTSIER and FAWNERS to give me a 130 lead. The opponent put up a good fights with 3 bonuses and 2 50 point plays but I held on.

I lost game 3 476-418 but another good game -the opponent spotting the tricky OESTRIOL and then getting high scoring plays with the Q and Z.

Game 4 could have gone either way with the opponent having both blanks at the end but the board was quite closed so difficult to bingo and I held out for a 375-368 win.

Game 5 was similar -I had two early bonuses but the opponent came back with 55 for HOOPY and 76 for MELTIER towards the end. I thought I'd lost but found EDGER for 30 with several overlaps and hung on for a 421-418 win. See Board attached.

Game 6 was the key game against the eventual winner. Opponent played ENGORED which opened a 9 timer opportunity -my rack was ABNOOS? I went for the 9 timer but played too fast putting down BANDOORS. BANDORES is good but I got confused and missed BRADOONS (a word I knew) which would have scored 149 .Spotted BRADOONS about a minute after playing the phony.

Despite that miss the game was still tight and would have been a tie of 458 each -unfortunately it was 5 point penalty challenge and I felt I had to challenge the opponents KEELAGES. Overall a missed opportunity to go to 5 wins.

Unfortunately the last 2 games didn't go for me and I lost both by over 100 to finish on 4 wins from but still enjoyed the day overall and had the consolation of the ratings prize.

Day 2 also started well. Started with SHRIMPS for 95 on move 2. Opponent then played CORTILES quickly unsure of whether it was good. CORTILE is good but and according to the definition is a courtyard so was a bit puzzled at then end of the game that it turned out to be invalid. However, pleased to find DYNATRON for 86 which helped secure a 450-393 win. See second board below.

The next 4 games were shared with the player that drew better winning so not the excitement of day 1. However game 6 was a painful loss as. We both started badly with me changing once and the opponent changing twice and playing a phony of MOTTLIER which I challenged off. Towards the end there were few opportunities to bingo and I picked up the J and Z which I though would be enough to win. Playing LUZ for 39 gave a 16 point lead but the opponent managed to score well with his final plays -29 for DON, 32 for AYES AND then 41 for HOS while there wasn't a great J spot. It was also a very complicated endgame to work out and my opponent was left on 12 seconds on his clock while I went down to zero seconds. I therefore avoided going overtime but lost 413-405.

The last 2 games were shared giving me 4 wins from 8 though pleased to spot SNAGLIKE in the final game.

A selection of my favourite words/bonuses played by me and against me are as follows;

Me - PERILUNE, ROOTSIER, FAWNERS, SNAILIER, ENNOBLED, MEDCINAL, DYNATRON, COTEAUS, GLENOID (non bonus), FOEDARIE, INTORTED, DENTARIA, SNAGLIKE

Opponents- OESTRIOL, STOVING, KEELAGES, SLEEKIER, INFERIA, IRIDEAL

Details: Written by HG; Category: News; Published: 08 July 2024; Hits: 322

Best improver for this quarter is Wanda de Poitiers, ahead of Richard and Michael Spencer in second and third places. Welcome to Joanne (Jo) Hepburn and Megel Barker.

High-scoring words:

· 112 EXOTICS Wanda

· 105 SOUPING Sharon

· 104 SQUIRTER Joy

· 102 TRACHEAS Megel

· 101 QUINTARS Helen

· 98 FRONTAGE Graham

· 97 WEEDING Graham

· 96 TRAYFUL Graham

· 95 DASHIEST Helen

· 94 CLIENTS Helen

· 94 STREAMED Deborah

· 93 SECTION Hepzi

· 92 EVASION Helen

· 92 EXAMINER Helen

· 91 PARSONS Graham

· 91 STUNTED Graham

· 89 SLINKER Maire

· 89 SKIVERS Charles

· 89 STAINED Charles

· 86 FAIREST Helen

· 86 SOAPIEST Jim

· 85 IRISATE Jim

· 85 SPANGLE Keith

· 84 STRIDER Jim

· 82 BLASTER Maire

· 82 HIDEOUT Charles

· 81 DOUBLET Helen

· 81 URINATE Maire

· 80 BEAUTIES Helen

· 80 UPRIVER Mary

· 79 STREAMS Charles

· 78 CINEMAS Martin

· 77 DERIDERS Joy

· 77 EASTERN Jim

· 77 HAIRNET Jim

· 77 HASTIER Maire

· 77 ZESTY Maire

· 76 HUNTERS Maire

· 76 PAUSING Keith

· 75 PASTIER Jim

· 75 THINNERS Maire

· 74 DUMPIER Jim

· 74 OFFENCES Martin

· 73 STERNER Maire

· 72 BANDAGES Jim

· 72 SOLDIER Jim

· 70 ATONERS Maire

· Other words: BENDERS 69 Maire, BITTERS 69 Maire, DETAILED 69 Maire, LADDERS 69 Maire, LASAGNE 69 Jim, BRASSING 68 Charles, PIRATES 68 Maire, SHELTIE 68 Jim, RAISERS 67 Maire, TAENIAE 67 Jim, TOUSLES 67 Maire, URINATE 66 Keith, DELETING 64 Keith, INERTIA 64 Keith, NASTIER 64 Jim, SEQUINS 64 Keith, SNAGGLE 64 Helen, ARSENAL 63 Jim, FESTERS 63 Jim , SMELTING 63 Maire, CANISTER 62 Maire, LAMENTS 62 Joy, LOOPIEST 61 Jim, VIOLINS 54 Charles, BASQUE Charles, BREADED Amanda, NATTERS Maire

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game:

· GAZE 50 QUINA 56 HURRIES 77 JETON 71 LOWRIES 87 OVARIAN 87 INTITLE 60 Helen

· AEROBIC 73 TRAWLERS 74 DENIERS 85 LACQUER 79 FOXED 65 Wanda

· ANNOYING 64 INFECTS 88 TAXI 55 IZAR 57 REVERED 94 Helen

· EJECTOR 104 STANGED 92 FLOATIER 67 LOUDENS 70 Wanda

· REBUTTED 63 OPIATES 71 NOSTRIL 70 CUSHION 80 Graham

· CONVENES 101 FORESTER 72 HARKENS 74 Wanda

· DECANTER 68 TEMPLED 84 RESTIVE 79 Graham

· DELUDED 71 ODDMENT 96 ERECTING 74 Wanda

· DINGBAT 83 RETIRAL 72 EGOTIST 72 Richard

· DOCKING 84 RECLINER 57 ANODISE 82 Fiona

· FASTENER 90 UNITARDS 70 OUTLIER 76 Helen

· GENTEEL 69 SORBENT 80 DENTILS 83 Wanda

· HETAIRA 89 TOLERANT 74 NEOGENE 85 Richard

· LACTEAN 70 LEAVENED 74 SHINTIED 83 Richard

· LINEATED 76 SECTIONS 80 STARTERS 84 Wanda

· LODESTAR 68 COMATOSE 78 BESTAIN 81 Graham

· NERVILY 76 DIACTINE 74 IODURET 66 Richard

· OSTEOID 77 ESCALATE 72 STROKER 91 Wanda

· POUTING 67 TINDERS 73 FURCATED 80 Richard

· RERAISED 69 FENESTRA 62 ALOETIC 68 Wanda

· RESIDUES 80 AUSTERE 73 INUTILE 77 Wanda

· RESTAGED 74 INSANER 76 ANTLERED 74 Wanda

· TAGETES 73 RECITING 72 BANEFUL 66 Wanda

Other things:

· New personal bests: Helen 609

· 11-letter word: ADMINISTERS 34 Michael

Name	Old rating	New rating	Rating change	P	W	D	L	Average	Highest score	Highest ever
Wanda de Poitiers	164	182	18	34	29	0	5	437.5	575	598
Richard Spencer	185	202	17	28	26	0	2	439.0	531	625
Michael Spencer	80	93	13	32	9	1	22	313.6	407	502
Hepzi Rodrigues	129	137	8	20	10	0	10	349.8	465	554
Martin Stephens	109	113	4	25	11	0	14	332.9	443	477
Fiona Titcombe	148	152	4	23	14	0	9	396.3	494	551
Amanda Lowe	80	82	2	26	6	0	20	306.2	379	392
Joy Wade	106	107	1	14	6	0	8	333.2	442	484
Sharon Hewitt	131	130	-1	14	9	0	5	359.2	418	548
Graham Harding	180	179	-1	44	33	0	11	428.5	571	661
Helen Harding	190	186	-4	42	33	0	9	444.6	609	609
Maire Bennett	61	55	-6	32	2	0	30	264.0	343	498
Pat Llanwarne	130	123	-7	17	8	0	9	346.4	442	516
Deborah Porter	137	130	-7	28	14	0	14	354.3	440	542
Charles Parker	113	104	-9	32	14	1	17	320.4	443	509
Jim Macey	126	116	-10	19	7	0	12	354.8	447	478
Keith Radbourn	82	69	-13	36	3	0	33	282.8	380	418
Insufficient games – a previous quarter’s results, or 13 games in a quarter, needed to qualify
Megel Barker		174	1	6	4	0	2	400.8	464	464
Joanne Hepburn		38	-26	3	0	0	3	269.3	292	292
Mary Twomey	99	106	7	9	3	0	6	319.9	377	430
Jen Brennan	50		0	0	0	0	0		0	436
Maureen Barlow	122		0	0	0	0	0		0	528

Page 1 of 21

Best Improver – July to September 2024

September 8 : Luton

Oxford 10/11 August

July 27-28 : Broadstairs

Best Improver – April to June 2024