Welcome to the Jerusalem Scrabble Club

COME PLAY WITH US … VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME!

*** NEW PLAYERS: CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ***

Director: David Litke, 050-535-1800, david_sojsc@yahoo.com 

 THIS WEEK AT THE CLUB…

***  Season 76:  Wk 11 of 25 – July 27, 2021  ***

We grinned (or grimaced – you couldn’t really tell under our masks) and bore it: a doubling down on Covid restrictions in light of the escalation in infections and the awareness that we are a vulnerable population. Thus we made sure to keep the lower parts of our faces well covered; sat obediently at single-game tables and stoically put up with the loss of our customary drinks and refreshments.

On the cheerful side, warm congratulations flowed from all sides to Marilyn, who married off her daughter Aviah on Sunday. “In the fullness of time,” one member smiled, “you may see some little ones….” “Halevai,” said Marilyn, “I should live till then.” “Play lots of Scrabble,” advised the well-wisher. “Scrabble is good for the brain, and it will keep you alive.” As if she had overheard this exchange, Pamela, in her first game, attached BORN to FIRST, landing on a triple and racking up a healthy score.

It had to happen sometime: Elaine’s remarkable record of 16 consecutive wins in B1 to start the season was broken only by Steve on Tuesday night. On the broader stage, “Filipino Word Battler” recorded 24 consecutive victories last year, and was panting for more. (What is it with these Asians and Africans?) Closer to home, the legendary Rafi Stern, prodigious player and one-time club member from the US, bettered that record with 29 consecutive wins.

First player: “I’ve been having trouble with my vowels.” Second player: “Oh, really? I’m rather consonanted.” In a recent game, one player’s first five racks contained the grand total of three vowels – two of which were U’s and the other I. Undaunted, he managed to play off his letters without changing any. Which leads to the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question: When/how often should you throw in? While every game has its own answer to this challenging question, the following observation may be in order: Top players are generally far readier than less experienced ones to refresh an unpromising rack. The latter, gazing glumly at a couple of U’s and I’s, or a conglomeration of consonants that looks like Polish, may feel hope springing eternal and trust that their next draw, or the one after, will restore their fortunes – all the while losing vital points while they put down minimal-scoring words. Henry V, had he played Scrabble in between his military exploits, might have urged these fainthearted: “Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood – and throw in those letters!”

WWW:   Pamela, DavidL, DavidS

WOW: SEQUELAE(Wendy),  TIDDLIER(Aryeh),  BEMIXED(Chani),  GESTALT(Pamela), PEPTIDE(Steve)

PHOW:  UNILOBAR(DavidS)

Stats (high win, high loss, high triple):
A:    564, 453, 1474 (Chani x 3)

B1:  534(Hilda), 404(Lesley), 1228(Nechama)

100-pt plays:  DETAINEE, 131 (DavidS, 3×3),   BREEZIER, 108 and QUAINTER, 104 (both Hilda)

 Attendance: 33