Welcome to the Jerusalem Scrabble Club
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Director: David Litke, 050-535-1800, david_sojsc@yahoo.com
THIS WEEK AT THE CLUB…
*** Season 75: Wk 25 of 25 – May 11, 2021 ***
Amid the worrying security situation in many locations, the Club carried on doing what it does so well – playing Scrabble, bringing to an end our longest-ever, 25-week, covid-delayed season. Some players allowed themselves a quick call mid-game to check that family members were safe; others stoically first finished their games. The sociable Jan Sokolovsky made a welcome reappearance, and new player Barbara Shama proved she was far from new to the game by winning the first two. Remarked her opponent in Game 3: “She would probably have won that one as well if she hadn’t been stuck with the Q.” Thanks to Peta and Wendy for making things run smoothly in David’s absence.
By rights, the delicious-sounding PIDDLIER, played by Dahlia, ought to be good. It isn’t, but passed. In contrast, her perfectly fine AROINTED – from the archaic AROINT, meaning “Begone!” – was challenged by the knowledgeable Brenda, who “thought it had two Rs.” Brenda got her own back when Dahlia challenged SIG and QUOTH, which are both good. And Dahlia achieved an almost-bingo score by adding T on the bottom middle triple square to Steve’s (not good) INSANES and playing down to it with BRIT.
Rita confided that she really doesn’t appreciate it when her opponent closes down the board, a known tactic when a player is leading. “I like to win,” she said,” but I also like to have fun.” Certainly it’s no pleasure to play in a straitjacket, though it can prove a player’s mettle. A faint heart could lose you the game, while a bold leap in the dark – such as JudyM made when she attached the S of NIACINS to the front of PALE and was challenged – can do the opposite. Turns out SPALE (also SPAIL) is a chip or splinter.
Scrabble etiquette: Should you remind your opponent to watch the clock? Nothing in the rules says you must, but each game presents a different scenario. If you are way ahead, you might decide to be kind, especially to a less experienced player. And reminding a forgetful opponent to hit the clock following his or her play feels like the right thing to do (though no one could blame you for waiting a few seconds!). Equally, nothing obliges you to tell your opponent how many letters are left in the bag, but many players do as a courtesy.
“Some people will do anything to avoid being in the playoffs,” murmured a broadly grinning Aryeh on his way out. “I lost all three [games]!”
WWWW: Dahlia WWW: Richard, JudyM, Liran
WOW: SELVAGE(Chani), SADDHUS(JudyM)
PHOW: OVERSIT/UNMENTOR(JudyM), IODINOUS(DavidS), PIDDLIER(Dahlia)
Stats (high win, high loss, high triple):
A: 463(Madeline), 422(DavidS), 1358(Chani)
B1: 461(Richard), 369(Alice), 1176(Richard)
100 pt play: —–
Attendance: 31