Pre-Tournament Goals
The Baton Rouge Scrabble tournament is less than a month away. My study goal is to have the following word lists 90% learned.
1) All the 3s.
2) 4 and 5 letter vowel dumps.
3) 4 and 5 letter JQXZ words.
3) The 350 most probable 7 letter singletons (a singleton is a word with only one anagram).
4) 14 "useful" 6 to make 7 letter stems.
5) 10 useful 7 to make 8 stems.
I've been working on the singletons lately, and I've already had a couple pop up in play. I think they are slightly more useful to know than the stems because usually the words are obscure, whereas with the common stems at least one of the words is common enough to figure it out on your rack.
It feels pretty good to play ANEROID, ALEURON, or URINOSE, because I know that there was no way I would have played them before I learned them, and they make a big 50 point difference. Although I recognize the benefits of knowing the 9 anagrams of AEINSTR, I know that I would have figured out at least one of them on my rack, if not more. I mean, how many times will I play ANESTRI in lieu of RETAINS? (Actually, once so far).
I'm just saying that when it comes to probabilities, it's more useful to know 9 singletons than 9 anagrams.
My goal at the tournament is to play well enough to move out of the bottom division. For this to happen, I would have to place at least in the top three.
Your logic is impeccable. A stunning display of critical thinking skills. :P
Anyway, good luck on the tournament.... Cut to montage: Mike Waugh in training.
Mike Waugh on exercise bike studying word lists on his computer screen.
Mike shadow boxing, yelling out anagrams of RETAINS with each punch.
Mike playing Scrabble with a Russian bodybuilder at the gym. Bodybuilder lays down word, looks triumphant.
Mike on subway reading Scrabble strategy book.
Mike running through park, seven-letter words float across the screen.
Mike running up steps carrying Deluxe Scrabble set under his arm. Reaches the top, turns and holds board above head.
Mike and bodybuilder back at gym. Mike plays BALBOAS. Bodybuilder falls over in slow motion. Close-up as his head hits the floor.