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Written by HG

Category: News

Published: 29 August 2026

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On 22nd August Richard and Pat played in the 7 game Oxford Tournament.

Here are their reports - Richard in a tough A division and Pat in an equally strong B division.

Richard :

I played in the 7 game Oxford tournament. It wasn't that memorable as I only won 3 but I did have some good games and unusual bonuses.

In game one I found ORIBATID as a double double on move 1. Also bonused with CHAUNTS to edge the game 443-416. After a good win in game 2 played top seed Harshan Lamabadusuriya. Usually I get well beaten when I play him but I started with 3 bonuses in four turns - EBRIATED for 90, MIDWATER for 67 and TRAMELED for 78 which gave me hopes of an upset.

Harshan was scoring well however with non bonus plays and PREACHES for 86 so kept in range. I then spotted I had RELINING through an open E but sadly it was blocked inadvertantly by his play of SOV. and after his next move of ORGIA he has set up an S lane with one in the bag taking the lead by 416-406. I could not really block effectively with the one vowel I had and score so had to take a chance he wouldn't have a bonus and leave the spot playing GLARING for 22. However, he then bonused with TOADIES to win. (game board attached)

After a one sided loss in game 4 lost an entertaining game 5 against Bob Lynn. He bonused with BEADIER and NOSEGAY in moves 2 and 3 but after my WEXE for 65 and ECCLESIA for 71 the scores were close. He bonused again with UNTRADED for 68 but I had SOONEST for 84. Not enough for me to win though as he had the initiative in the end game and I had awkward tiles.

Game 6 looked like another loss as I had a lot of low scoring plays in mid game my opponent scored 97 for LACQUER to take a good lead. I had to bonus to have a chance of winning. Played BUY to set up a new bonus lane and hope he played elsewhere. There was a nice spot for CASTE for 37 so the lane was left free. I then picked up the J and found POTJIES for 101 to win 417-378 (board attached)

In the final game I disappointingly missed some plays that cost me the game. Doubted OUTPRICE so didn't play it and then later had a bonus of ARUGOLA at a crucial point but missed where it played hooking the A above SH this miss cost me as he bonused with SALTIES and then got ZAG for 48 to win.

Best words;

Richard : ORIBATID - 95, EBRIATED 90, MIDWATER 67, TRAMELED 78, POTJIES 101, ECCLESIA 71
Opponents - LIFELIKE 82, LACQUER 97, NOSEGAY 83, UNTRADED 68, STIRRUP 66

Pat :

On Saturday I took part in the one-day tournament in Oxford.   The tables were quite spread out,  as there were only 29 players today. They were split into 2 divisions. I was in Division B. I won 3 games, lost 3 games and had a bye. Unfortunately I left my scoresheets behind, but I can remember playing GOOSIER and RABBITS.

 As neither Richard nor I was likely to win a prize, I took this general photo of the action. Richard is in the centre of the picture.

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Written by HG

Category: News

Published: 04 July 2026

Hits: 422

Best improver for the third quarter of the season is Johnny Sammon, ahead of Jim Macey in second place and Pat Llanwarne in third place.   Welcome to Mel Lewis, Colin Lewis, and Rhiannon Lee, and new members John Bush and Daniel Face.

High-scoring words:

·       158       OVERGILD                   Richard

·       131       COASTERS                  Charles (9-timer)

·       131       GRINNERS                   Charles (9-timer)

·       118       ENZYMES                    Graham

·       110       TZIGANES                    Tim

·       106       KENTIAS                      Jim

·       105       VINTAGE                      Polly

·       101       LARNEYS                     Helen

·       101       REJOINED                   Pat

·       100       OUTGAZE                    Richard

·       99        REFUGES                    Charles

·       98        CONTACTED                Helen    (9-letter word)

·       97        GRAKLES                     Helen

·       96        PTERINS                      Johnny

·       95        QADI                            Tim

·       94        FLEDGING                   Maureen

·       94        SKILLET                       Pat

·       92        CHATTIEST                  Charles

·       92        MOANERS                   Maire

·       90        BRAZILS                      Charles

·       90        JONES                         Helen

·       89        ISATINE                       Johnny

·       89        TASTIER                      Daniel

·       89        VERSIFY                      Helen

·       88        CREATES                     Jim

·       88        TRIODES                     Jim

·       87        MAUNDER                    Jim

·       87        URINATES                    Maire

·       86        ENCODES                    Helen

·       86        SLEETING                    Jim

·       86        SOUTANE                    Maureen

·       85        ENACTED                     Mel

·       84        SNIRTLE                      Johnny

·       83        TITULARY                    Helen

Other words: 82 AMBLERS Maureen, 82 JOUSTING Charles, 82 MADNESS, Maire, 82 PATTERS Maire, 82 PHONETIC Helen, 82 SHADIER Jim, 81 DIESTER Jim, 81 LINTERS Maire, 81 PAROLES Johnny, 81 TOEIEST Jim, 81 TWINGES Charles, 80 ABDICATE Helen, 80 HAUNTED Maureen, 80 INTENDS Charles, 80 LEAGUERS Jim, 80 SEARING Jim, 80 SEARING Johnny, 80 TAILORS Maire, 80 TANKERS Maire, 79 SUPPING Maureen, 78 TOWERED Johnny, 77 INSIDES Johnny, 77 REALISTS Johnny, 77 SPURTED Jim, 77 TAILERON Jim, 77 TORRENTS Jim, 76 CHALETS Wanda, 76 OTARIES Jim, 76 PARROTS Maire, 75 DONATES Johnny, 75 INSPIRE Jim, 74 BICCIES Charles, 74 LEARING Mary, 74 RAVINES Michael, 74 SEASONAL Keith, 74 TOUGHER Maire, 74 TRAILED Hepzi, 74 UNDERATE Jim, 73 COURSES Maureen, 73 EAGLETS Maureen, 73 GOALIES Jim, 73 MANGERS Maire, 73 UNSWEPT Jim, 72 ANESTRI Johnny, 72 ADONISE Jim, 72 DIURNAL Maureen, 72 LEARNED Johnny, 72 TARGETS Keith, 71 INTREAT Hepzi, 71 URALITE Johnny, 70 GRAFTERS Polly, 70 HOLDING Mary, 70 LATRINE Hepzi, 70 RETAINER Mary, 70 STUNNER Johnny, 69 DENTILS Jim, 69 EARNEST Maureen, 69 TRAINERS Maire, 68 BONACIS 68 (a fish) Johnny, 68 SILENCE Johnny, 68 SNORING Mary, 68 SOREDIA Jim, 68 STAINED Maire, 67 BLINKER Polly, 67 STARTLET Maire, 66 AFFORDS Mary, 66 BOLDEST Jim, 66 FOREGONE Mary, 66 WINTERED Jim, 65 EASTERN Maire, 65 HARRIERS Maire, 65 PETUNIA Hepzi, 65 REALTIE Johnny, 65 STERNAL Johnny, 64 ELOCUTE Charles, 64 GAMETES Johnny, 64 HAIRNET Johnny, 64 LORNEST Johnny, 64 OQUASSA (a fish) Wanda, 64 OUTRIDE Jim, 63 CHLORIDE Maureen, 63 DISORDER Michael, 63 STALKER Hepzi, 61 LENIENT Johnny, 60 DOUSERS Hepzi, 60 ETAERIO Johnny, 60 SNAFFLES Charles, 58 AUDIENT Johnny, 58 NUTTIEST Maureen, FIERIER Amanda, STERILE Amanda

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

·       ENTAILER 82 MASTING 80 OUTVOTE 91 FOLLIES 82 STAYNED 94 HERTZ 56    Helen

·       BROIEST 76 INSUREE 74 NARDINE 73 CONFUTES 86            Graham

·       CANTIER 78 RESAILS 67 TOADIES 72 REDROOT 70               Richard

·       CHAPTER 84 EXACTION 68 ORIENTAL 61 REINJECT 62            Graham

·       DEBITORS 74 INHALER 76 INCLUDES 64 FREAKING 64            Helen

·       ENTOILED 66 ALIMENT 84 ENERGISE 72 SONDELI 79            Graham

·       IRRITANT 60 WILLIES 74 OBLASTS 76 SPOUSED 80               Daniel

·       RONDELS 70 STARNOSE 68 OOLITES 60 FADS 53                 Helen

·       TAWNIES 77 LANCERS 73 EPSILON 63 QUOIFING 94             Helen

·       WHEELING 78 RESONATE 77 QUAVERER 96 FALLOWED 98            Helen

·       BEACONS 74 AVOCETS 73 REALISED 60                                Helen

·       EXOCETS 81 INANEST 63 REFUSES 83                                  Graham

·       GNARLIER 61 RIGIDITY 69 RELIANT 60                                   Deborah

·       JOLTIEST 84 STINGER 65 SNOOPER 76                                 Graham

·       LARNEYS 101 ZINCITES 72 SEALION 71                                 Helen

·       NAIFEST 73 UILLEAN 67 TENDERS 74                                     Wanda

·       OVERLIT 74 ANOMIES 87 TATTERS 76                                    Helen

·       REGIFTS 82 OWRIEST 70 DOVIEST 69                                    Graham

·       TRAILER 70 OTARINE 66 INVENTS 72                                     Deborah

·       TRUCKLES 78 INEARTH 74 FURIOSOS 61                               Wanda

·       YOLKIEST 95 AVIZES 89 SWEETIE 74                                     Graham

·       ZIPLINES 77 ARTERIAL 77 SECATEUR 74                               Charles

New personal bests: Christina 283, Helen 646, Jim 480, Polly 448    Well done to all!

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Written by HG

Category: News

Published: 17 June 2026

Hits: 434

After a disappointing day 1 at Manuden, Helen, Richard and Graham were joined by Fiona for another 7 day tournament. 32 players – one large division. Here are their reports :

Fiona :

I attended the Sunday event at Manuden, the second of two one-day tournaments featuring seven games in an open division.

I got off to a flying start, beating the tournament's top-rated player, which left me optimistic about the rest of the day. Sometimes I feel a little intimidated when facing very strong opponents, but he was very friendly and we had a nice chat before the game.

Drawing both blanks certainly helped, as did finding three bonuses: MINTIER, EtIOLA(T)E and UNGRADe(D). My invalid play of BOONIE also escaped a challenge, so I definitely had more than my fair share of luck. I was pleased with my end game - realising my opponent was stuck with an unplayable Q, I opted to maximise points rather than simply playing out. We initially thought I'd won by two points, but a recount revealed the margin was actually four.

 Despite playing only one bonus, my opponent still scored well over 400 points, which shows that high scores don't necessarily depend on finding lots of bonuses.

(BOONIE seems a strange omission from the dictionary. BOONIES is apparently short for "BOONDOCKS", and with BOONDOCK valid in the singular, its absence feels rather odd!)

My highest-scoring play of the day was BAUXITES for 101 points.  I’d just played a bonus and picked up AEISTUX, so I couldn't believe my luck when my opponent placed a B on the centre triple-word square. That was definitely one of my highlights of the tournament. Despite the 101, I went on to lose that game. Right at the end, I wasn't 100% certain that LIS was valid, so scored a lot less for my bonus DEBASED to make the safe LID instead. At that stage the score was 405–281, so I felt reasonably confident of victory. My opponent's bonus landed for 94 points and she was out, but my final pickup was worth a painful 18 points, creating a 36-point swing and handing her the win!

That game has convinced me that I need to put some serious effort into learning three-letter words over the coming months. It's definitely one of my weaker areas and has cost me several games in the past.

Unfortunately, after my opening triumph, I spectacularly failed to win another game and finished second from bottom of the standings with just the one win from 7 games, and an eye-watering negative spread!

Despite my disappointing overall performance, it was a fun day and I had some lovely opponents, meeting plenty of people I hadn't played before. As always with James's tournaments, it was impeccably run, and a highlight was definitely Stella's homemade cakes in the afternoon

Graham :

After winning only 2 games in the previous day’s Manuden tournament, this was a better day. I was definitely playing better, seeing bonuses. 

The day started well with EQUINE for 50 on my first move. I didn’t win the game, but as I had  struggled to find high-scoring non-bonus words the previous day, I was quite happy. I scored over 400 in the next 4 games, winning 3 (including a large win against Fiona – sorry!). 

The game I lost in that sequence was primarily due to my opponent starting the game with 3 bonuses (TABARDS, THORNIER, OOGAMIES) – I did well to only lose the game by 76, in what ended up as a 6 bonus game.

My large winning spread in the games I won meant I was the highest player on 3 wins (out of 5), and if I won the last 2 games I may have sneaked a prize. Sadly, for me I was well beaten in both games and finished  in 22 place. The most unusual word played against me was GROSZE. I  knew the word without the final ‘E’, and my opponent played GROSZE/EXEAT for 72 points!  Ouch!

Richard :

I won 4 put of 7 games played in the Sunday tournament. Five of these game involved margins of well over 100 with 3 against me and two in my favour so the tiles influenced the results. I was pleased to win both of the remaining close games though as the opponents could have won both

In game 2 the opponent had a two early bonuses BARONET for 74 and BRINGERS for 64 with my SHOUTER in response . However their scoring slowed and I managed to take a lead after TIX for 38. They then phonied when STYLIER was the only bonus with that rack. I then bonused with EVOLUTES to take a winning lead. Opponent did bonus again with TILTERS but I won 415-386.

In game 6 the scores were close throughout but the opponent had a small lead of 351-341 and both of us were close to bonuses with a blank each on our racks and one decent lane available. However they took too much time trying to work out the endgame and played LA for just 4 to try to block the lane. I then blocked the spot conclusively with XI for 27 and the time pressure told with their next play enabling me to play out for a 390-364 including a 10 point time penalty 

Word highlights were, Me - VIRGATE 88 , INTIMAL 78, CHEAPIES 76, COALIZE 105

Opponents - INDEBTED 63 , AZLON 74 

Helen :

I arrived at the Manuden Sunday tournament hoping for a better day, as I hadn’t done very well on Saturday.   As on the day before, I was about mid-table in standard; looking round the playing room, I could see several familiar faces from the day before, plus some new ones too, so it was going to be another competitive (or is that challenging?) day.

My first game was against the same opponent that I had played in the opening game on Saturday, who turned out to be the only person that I would play twice over the weekend.   I won that game, and the second, both by smallish margins, then lost the game before lunch by a similar amount, to arrive at the break on 2 wins out of 3 and a small positive spread that put me in 11th position.   I’d played a few words that I was proud of: EPSILON for 74, my opening move of the day, and ALNAGERS for 80, and had drawn a challenge for another word, ANTLIONS for 71 (it’s an insect not unlike a dragonfly).

My not especially good tuna sandwich at lunch must have had a beneficial effect, for I won the first two games in the afternoon by large margins, scoring well over 500 points in each game.   The letters flowed for me in both games, and I played 4 bonuses in one game, including UXORIAL for 88 points (from an unpromising rack or AILORX?, the word kind of floated to mind), and 6 scores of over 50 points in the other.   Suddenly I was on 4 wins out of 5 and was in 3rd place.

I was drawn against the third-highest rated player in the penultimate game.  It turned out to be a scrappy game with a close, hard-fought endgame, and I won by just 9 points with my lowest score of the day, 393.   That put me into second place, just ahead of two other players also on 5 wins out of 6, and behind the only unbeaten player, who was my opponent in the final game.  I tried hard but lost 404-445 in spite of playing ABIGAILS for 76 points and CHOREAS for 92 points.   That put me in fourth place at the end, which was far, far better than I had expected at the start of the day.

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Written by HG

Category: News

Published: 09 June 2026

Hits: 438