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Scrabology #2, April 5 2015Scrabble Enthusiasts of Greater Boston. Prepared by Quinten SteenhuisManaging your rackHow many points can you expect a tile to contribute to your score at the end of the game? Assuming your rack consists of one tile below, plus 6 more unknown tiles:?SXZHR EJWVUQ258531.11.3-1.5-4-5-5.1-7Source: rule of thumb when choosing between letters to keep: ETAOIN SHRDLU (or more precisely, ETAOIN SRHLDCU) represent the most frequently appearing letters in the English language, in order. ATONIES is the most common bingo for a reason!Real-world rack leave value always depends on position in the game and the other tiles on your rack! High-point tiles are riskier to keep towards the end of the game. An S or blank is worth less at the end of the game, when it is less likely you can play a bingo.Basic Guidelines for managing your rackKeep the blank unless you can gain 25 points by playing it. Keep the S unless you can net 8-10 points.Play away duplicate letters, even a duplicate S. (E is the one possible exception)Keep a balance of vowels and consonants to match typical English words. Ideal: 4 consonants, 3 vowelsDon’t hold on to “power” tiles if your goal is to play a bingo, especially Q or J which have a net negative value.Don’t “fish” (play off a single tile in hopes of drawing to a bingo) too often at the expense of your score. Two turns of 25-35 points = a bingo after fishing.Exchange when appropriate.Play off consonants when you see that few have been played on the board, and do same for vowels. Be aware of net-negative tiles that haven’t been seen yet (especially the Q).Word knowledge, especially of 2-3 letter words and vowel/consonant dumps makes it easier to get a good leave without sacrificing points.Rack management can pay off the most in the early game, when your goal is to get bingos. In the latter game, pay attention to vowel/consonant balance and harmful tiles, but worry less about managing your rack for a bingo.Finding BingosIn Scrabble, the player who gets the most bingos usually wins. Why? The lowest bingo score, 56, is higher than the highest score you are likely to get without a bingo. But: better to score 30 points 4 times in a row than four 10 point plays followed by a bingo!The easiest time to play a bingo is in the first half of the game, when it is more open. Some boards are more bingo-friendly than others. A board with many overlapping words will be hard to fit a bingo on. Look for a “bingo lane” that leaves a hook for a letter on your rack (such as an S) or a letter free to play through for an 8-letter bingo. Consider 2 and 3 letter words as hooks. If there is nowhere to play your bingo, don’t waste time managing your rack to get to one.Reducing the “Search Space”Prefixes:A ....... ANTE- ANTI- AUTO-B ....... BE- BIO- BY-C ....... CO- COM- CON-D ....... DE- DIS- DOWN- DYS-E ....... EM- EN- EPI- EX-F ....... FOR- FORE-I ....... IM- IN- INTER- ISO-M ....... MEGA- MID- MIS- MONO-N ....... NEO- NON-O ....... OB- OFF- ON- OUT- OVER-P ....... PAR- PER- POST- PRE- PRO-R ....... RE-S ....... SEMI- SIDE- SUB- SUPER-T ....... TELE- TOP- TRI-U ....... UN- UNDER- UP-SuffixesA ....... -ABLE -ACLE -AGE -AL -ALLY -ANA -ANCE -AND -ANE -ANT -ARY -ASE –AUX -ATEB ....... -BACK -BALL -BELL -BOOK -BOYD ....... -DAY -DOME ....... -EAU - ED -EE -ENCE -ENT -ER -ERY -ET -ELLA -ETTE –ESS –ERSF ....... -FORM -FUL -FULLYG ....... -GENYH ....... -HEAD -HOODI ....... -IBLE -IC -ICES -ICLE -IDE -IER -IES -IEST -IFY -ILE -ILIA -ILY -INE -ING -ION -IOUS -ISE -ISH -ISM -IST -ITE -ITIC -ITY -IVE -IX -IZEK ....... -KINL ....... -LAND -LESS -LET -LIKE -LINE -LING -LONG –LY -LEDM ....... -MAN -MENN ....... –NESS -NEDO ....... -OES -OID -OL -OLOGY -OMY -OR -ORY -OSE -OUR -OUS -OUT -OVERR ....... –ROOM -REDS ....... -SHIP -SIDE -SES -SIS -SION -SOMET ....... –TION –TED –TES -TERU ....... -UM -UPW ....... -WAY -WISE –WOODZ ....... -ZEDSource: and BOLD entries are the top 15 endings for the most common 2000 bingo words (from the 2006 word list)Word study techniquesAlphagramsWord study programs, such as Zyzzyva or a generic flashcard program like Anki, can be configured to show the tiles shuffled in alphabetical order. This lets you quickly arrange your tiles so that they match the image in your memory.Mnemonics / Common Bingo “Stems”A bingo “stem” is a 6 or 7 tile rack, to which 1 letter can be added, forming a bingo play. We are considering the top 5 6 and 7 letter stems. Both 7 and 8 letter bingos are available approximately an equal amount, so you should give them equal weight in your word study.Based on same principles as mnemonics. Anagram + mnemonic = anamonic. Find a memorable phrase that contains the letters that can be added to a bingo stem.Six letter stems:TISANE+? (Every letter except Q and Y = “Quite Yucky”): EXCELLENT HERB TEA WAKES MEN WITH A JUMP; GIVES FOOD POWERFUL BUZZSATIRE+? : BAD SPEECH REVIEW; FLAMING WITRETINA+? : THE RED PUPIL PREFERS MUCH WINKINGRETAIN+? : SMUG WIFE KEEPS THE CHILDRENARSINE+? : POISON MIGHT KILL OFF THRIVING CHILD’S MOJOSENIOR+? : OLD GRAMP VOWS TO JUMP DITCHSeven letter stems:NASTIER+? : RIBALD HOUSEWIFE'S CAMPAIGN TALKRETSINA+?: RESINATED GREEK WINE CALMS FUN PHOBIASTONIER+? : I BRAVE ROCKY JUNGLE PATHSAIRTONE+? : BACH'S PLAN: RAZZ DADENTRIES+? : DOORS INTO FT. KNOX MAGICALLY LEAD TO VAULTSERASION+? : *BAFFLING SOME DETECTIVES (* means ignore the vowels)Source : with some updates for OTCWL2014 by Quinten, Mic Barron as provided on CGP mailing list. Make your own to aid memory!Strategies around BingosWhich racks have the bingo?AABCERT ADKLMRU AEILORT ADFFHNO ACGIKNO DFILTUU(Source: The Scrabble Player’s Handbook).Anagram practice:How many anagrams can you find? Number of solutions given as (total, common)ANTSIER (9,5)ANGRIEST (8,5)SEARING (8,3)TASTIER (7,4)TIRADES (7,4)DEPOSIT (6,2)TRIANGLE (6,6)Source: with updates.Finding bingos with the blankApplying the rack management principles in reverse, substitute the blank for the letter that best fits.Are you missing a bingo-prone letter on your rack? E.g., ETAOIN SRHDLCU?Can the blank give you the only option to use a space on the board? If so, it ONLY will help you if it becomes that letter (e.g., an S)If you have more vowels, try making the blank a consonant, and vice-versa. Remember the 4-3 rule.Does the blank allow you to form a common prefix or suffix?Further ReadingAnalysis of 4,500 online Scrabble games: or “Leave” analysis – put in a custom rack, get back the “value” of any additional tile: Maximal “leaves” – what are the best racks? Some useful lists to take a look at: Top 5 Six- and Seven-letter Bingo Stems (Ordered by added letter)TISANE+? : EXCELLENT HERB TEA WAKES MEN WITH A JUMP; GIVES FOOD POWERFUL BUZZ(OR: “not *Quite Yucky” = every letter except QY)ENTASIATAENIASBANTIESBASINETACETINSCINEASTDESTAINDETAINSINSTEADNIDATESSAINTEDSATINEDSTAINEDETESIANFAINESTEASTINGEATINGSGENISTAINGATESINGESTASEATINGTAGINESTEASINGSHEITANSTHENIAISATINETAJINESINTAKESELASTINENTAILSNAILSETSALIENTSALTINESLAINTETENAILSETAMINSINMATESTAMEINSINANESTSTANINEATONIESPANTIESPATINESSAPIENTSPINATEANESTRIANTSIERNASTIERRATINESRETAINSRETINASRETSINASTAINERSTEARINENTASISNASTIESSEITANSSESTINATANSIESTISANESINSTATESATINETAUNTIESSINUATENAIVESTNATIVESVAINESTTAWNIESWANIESTANTISEXSEXTAINZANIESTZEATINSSATIRE+? : BAD SPEECH REVIEW; FLAMING WITARISTAEASTERIAATRESIABAITERSBARITESREBAITSTERBIASATRESICCRISTAERACIESTSTEARICARIDESTASTRIDEDIASTERDISRATESTAIDERTARDIESTIRADESAERIESTSERIATEFAIRESTAIGRETSGAITERSSEAGIRTSTAGIERTRIAGESHASTIERAIRIESTREALISTRETAILSSALTIERSALTIRESLATIERTAILERSIMARETSMAESTRIMISRATESMARTIEANESTRIANTSIERNASTIERRATINESRETAINSRETINASRETSINASTAINERSTEARINPARTIESPASTIERPIASTERPIASTREPIRATESPRATIESTRAIPSEARTSIERTARRIESTARSIERARTSIESSATIRESARTIESTARTISTEATTIRESIRATESTRATITESSTRIATETASTIERRAVIESTVASTIERVERITASWAISTERWAITERSWARIESTWASTRIERETINA+? : THE RED PUPIL PREFERS MUCH WINKINGCERATINCERTAINCREATINTACRINEANTIREDDETRAINTRAINEDARENITERETINAETRAINEEFAINTERGRANITEGRATINEINGRATETANGIERTEARINGHAIRNETINEARTHTHERIANINERTIAKERATINLATRINERATLINERELIANTRETINALTRENAILMINARETRAIMENTENTRAINTRANNIEINAPTERPAINTERPERTAINREPAINTRETRAINTERRAINTRAINERANESTRIANTSIERNASTIERRATINESRETAINSRETINASRETSINASTAINERSTEARININTREATITERANTNATTIERNITRATETERTIANRUINATETAURINEURANITEURINATETAWNIERTINWAREARSINE+? : POISON MIGHT KILL OFF THRIVING CHILD’S MOJOARCSINEARSENICCARNIESRANDIESSANDIERSARDINEINFARESEARINGSERASINGGAINERSREAGINSREGAINSREGINASSEARINGSERINGAHERNIASNEARISHSENARIIINJERASSNAKIERALINERSNAILERSRENAILSMARINESREMAINSSEMINARINSANERINSNAREERASIONPANIERSRAPINESSIERRANARSINESSARNIESANESTRIANTSIERNASTIERRATINESRETAINSRETINASRETSINASTAINERSTEARINRAVINESSENIOR+? : OLD GRAMP VOWS TO JUMP DITCHERASIONCOINERSCRONIESORCEINSRECOINSDINEROSINDORSEORDINESROSINEDSORDINEERINGOSIGNORESREGIONSSIGNOREHEROINSINSHOREIONISERIRONIESIRONISENOISIERJOINERSREJOINSNEROLISMERINOSEROSIONORPINESIRONERSSENIORSSONSIERNORITESOESTRINORIENTSSTONIERURINOSEENVIROSRENVOISVERSIONSNOWIERNASTIER+? : RIBALD HOUSEWIFE'S CAMPAIGN TALKANTISERAARTESIANRATANIESSANTERIASEATRAINBANISTERBARNIESTCANISTERCERATINSCISTERNACREATINSSCANTIERTACRINESDETRAINSRANDIESTSTRAINEDARENITESARSENITERESINATESTEARINETRAINEESFAINTERSANGRIESTANGSTIERASTRINGEGANISTERGANTRIESGRANITESINGRATESRANGIESTHAIRNETSINEARTHSTHERIANSINERTIASRAINIESTSATINIERKERATINSNARKIESTENTRAILSLATRINESRATLINESRETINALSSLANTIERTRENAILSMINARETSRAIMENTSENTRAINSTRANNIESNOTARIESNOTARISESENORITAPAINTERSPANTRIESPERTAINSPINASTERPRISTANEREPAINTSRESTRAINRETRAINSSTRAINERTERRAINSTRAINERSARTINESSRETSINASSTAINERSSTEARINSINTREATSNITRATESSTRAITENTERTIANSRUINATESTAURINESURANITESURINATESTINWARESSTONIER+? : I BRAVE ROCKY JUNGLE PATHSNOTARIESNOTARISESENORITABORNITESCOINTERSCORNIESTNOTICERSONERIESTSEROTINEGENITORSHORNIESTORNITHESIRONIESTJOINTERSINSTROKERETINOLSINTONERSTERNIONSSNOOTIERPOINTERSPORNIESTPROTEINSREPOINTSTROPINESINTRORSEOESTRINSSNOTTIERTENORISTTRITONESROUTINESSNOUTIERINVESTORSEROTINYTYROSINE*AIRTONE+? : BACH'S PLAN: RAZZ DADAERATIONBARITONEOBTAINERREOBTAINTABORINEACTIONERANORETICCREATIONREACTIONAROINTEDDERATIONORDINATERATIONEDANTIHEROORIENTALRELATIONANOINTERREANOINTATROPINEANTERIORNOTARIESNOTARISESENORITATENTORIANOTARIZEENTRIES+? : DOORS INTO FT. KNOX MAGICALLY LEAD TO VAULTSARENITESARSENITERESINATESTEARINETRAINEESENTERICSENTICERSSECRETININSERTEDNERDIESTRESIDENTSINTEREDTRENDIESETERNISETEENSIERFERNIESTINFESTERGENTRIESINTEGERSREESTINGSTEERINGNITERIESKERNITESENLISTERLISTENERREENLISTSILENTERMISENTERINTENSERINTERNESONERIESTSEROTINEINSERTERREINSERTREINTERSRENTIERSTERRINESSENTRIESINSETTERINTERESTSTERNITETRIENTESESURIENTRETINUESREUNITESNERVIESTREINVESTSIRVENTEINTERSEXSERENITYERASION+? : *BAFFLING SOME DETECTIVES (*ignore the vowels, only consonants form new words)BARONIESSEAROBINSCENARIOANEROIDSANODISERFARINOSEORGANISEAILERONSALIENORSMORAINESROMAINESROMANISENONARIESRAISONNEERASIONSSENSORIANOTARIESNOTARISESENORITAAVERSIONBingo Stems from your name or city!ANNA + ???BANDANABANANASANANDASNAGANASLANTANAMANANASSAVANNAZANANASABANDONWANNABEBANIANSKANBANSBONANZABANYANSCANCANSCANAKINCANTINAANCONALCANNULACANZONAANDANTENANDINAPANDANILANDMANMADONNASANDMANPANDANSRANDANSANLAGENTANNAGEALANINEAEONIANANANKESANNEALSEMANANTANTENNAANNATESZENANASTANNATEINFANTAINFAUNAANHINGAHANGMANANGINALANGINASWANIGANGOANNASWANGANSHANUMANHOSANNAXANTHANMANAKINALANINSANTIMANNAVARINNIRVANANUNATAKANNULARANNUALSMANNANSANNONASANNATTOSWANPANANURANSBOSTON + ?BOONESTOBENTOSBONITOSBOSTONSBOUTONSCARMEN + ?MENACERMARCHENCARMINEROMANCECREWMANKANA + ???WAKANDAKANAKASKATANASIKEBANABANKSIAKANBANSTANBARKPANCAKEASKANCEKACHINAHACKMANCANAKINKATCINAMANPACKPACKMANRANSACKDHANSAKTANKARDDANSAKSTANKAGEKHANATEALKANESALKANETANANKESAWAKENSUNAWAKEKAFTANSAWAKINGANGAKOKKAHUNASALKALINKALIANSMANAKINKINARASKATSINASANJAKSMANUKASNUNATAKANORAKSPYSANKAKANTARSKWANZASLANCE + ??BALANCECANALEDCANDELADECANALCANELLAMANACLECAPELANANLACESLACTEANCANULAELACUNAEVALANCEBLACKENCENACLECHANCELCALCINECONCEALCANCELSCANDLEDCLEANEDENLACEDCLANGEDGLANCEDLANCHEDINLACEDCLANKEDCELADONCANDLERCALENDSCANDLESUNLACEDNACELLECLEANERRECLEANCLEANSEENLACESSCALENEENCLAVEVALENCEANGELICANGLICEGALENICCONGEALCLANGERGLANCERGLANCESCHANNELCHALONEPLANCHECHARNELLARCHENLANCHESMELANICENCINALCAPELINPANICLEPELICANCARLINEINLACESSANICLESCALENICAULINECRANKLESLACKENNUCLEALCLEANLYALENCONCANNELSUNCLEANLYNCEANNOPLACECORNEALSECONALLACTONECALZONEENCLASPSPANCELCLEANUPLANCERSCENTRALLUCARNENUCLEARUNCLEARLARCENYCANTLESCENTALSLANCETSCENSUALLACUNESLAUNCESUNLACESLATENCYVALENCY*LAUREN + ? (NEURAL, UNREAL)NEBULARLUCARNENUCLEARUNCLEARLAUNDERLURDANEFLANEURFRENULAFUNERALGRANULENUMERALUNLEARNALEURONNEUTRALNEURULAUNRAVELVENULARQUINTE+?ANTIQUEQUINATEQUIETENINQUIETINQUESTQUINTESQUINTETUNQUIET*RACHEL + ?LEACHERCHARLIEHACKLERCHARNELLARCHENCHOLERACHORALECHOREALCLASHERLARCHESTRACHLECHARLEY ................
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