Pasadena Report

Ethel Sherard Cannon Celebrity Tournament
Pasadena City College
Louis Creveling Lounge
Pasadena, California
January 21, 2007

Game 1 vs. Tom Titus

A poor start to the tournament. Mostly small, bad plays by me and then I wasn't able to find a bingo despite some decent-looking racks. On turn 9 I finally played TONnAGE for 68 but Tom's JESSE for 83 had put me in a big hole. When Tom played cREOLINE* on turn 10 for 74 I was behind 175-318 and afraid to challenge so I didn't. Tom's a quick player and this was my first tournament game in over a year so I had time trouble: I went over by 48 seconds. The only power tile I got was a blank. I feel very rusty.

274-470
0-1 -196

It's no fun to start any tournament, much less a 7-game tournament, with a spread of -196.

Game 2 vs. Don Austin

Got a blank on my second draw, but couldn't find a bingo until turn 8. I played TETRaDS which was quickly challenged. I had hooked the S to FOH and now I was sure FOHS was no good. Don wisely challenged both TETRaDS and FOHS so when the play came back unacceptable I started doubting TETRaDS also. Surprisingly, Don opened the board up with WIRE allowing me to play STaRTED hooking the D on WIRE. I tried to keep it tight from then on resulting in a low-scoring game although Don did play INSnARE late in the game. It wasn't quite enough for him.

328-316
1-1 -184

Game 3 vs. Anita Sy

Anita is a kind, quiet lady who smiles and says nice things while she's beating you! I recorded my racks so I was able to replay this game on Quackle. Wow! I missed a bunch of bingos. Anita played RAVINEs on turn 3 while I again sat with a blank on my rack trying to find bingos. After playing LAWINEs for 66 and EX for 56 I was down 191-204 but felt I could win the game. My next two racks changed that: IOOORSU (exchanged 000U) followed by IIRRSUY (exchanged IIRUY). Meanwhile, Anita kept making nice plays and it was now 201-266. Late in the game I think she purposely didn't block a bingo lane just to make me feel better. I bingoed out with STAINER for 65, which was not even close to enough. My tracking and rack recording were 100% though and I had 4:16 left on my clock.

307-390
1-2 -267

Lunch

After the tournament-provided Subway box lunch, I called home to check on Kristi and Bodie and report on the morning's action. I hope the little guy takes up Scrabble one day!

Game 4 vs. Margy Slavin

To reach my goal of winning 4 games, I know I have to win 3 of the 4 afternoon games -- not an easy task! Margy Slavin IS Southern California intermediate Scrabble. She doesn't study, she plays. She's been playing a while. We get off to a good start with strong plays and after six turns it's 150-154. I feel good. The rest of the game is not good for me though. Margy plays OXEYE and SCAbIES while I have a few bingos I can't play. I sputter out. I blame my scoresheet and decide to use different scoresheets for the next 3 games.

287-371
1-3 -351

Game 5 vs. Joe Clark

The new scoresheets work much better! After JIVED and MAZE I play UPRAIsE on turn 3 and I'm up 135-82. This is more like it! Later, Joe plays UNCASED and suddenly I'm down 262-283. But I have good tiles and am able to play ReTINAL for 72 in a tight spot. I get a few more good tiles, a few more good plays and it's over. Five games into the tournament it finally felt like I was playing Scrabble.

453-340
2-3 -238

Game 6 vs. Mollie Braverman

My friend and nemesis. I played Mollie at my first tournament ever - Pasadena in 1994. She beat me then and I can't remember ever beating her in a club or tournament game since. I'm due. It's a good game with good plays on each side. On turn 10 I play TRIAGED and Mollie plays NEedIEST. I lead 293-281. Mollie then plays SPECTURE* which I successfully challenge. I get big plays from the J and X to seal my first victory against Mollie.

425-340
3-3 -153

Game 7 vs. Emilie Pandolfi

I really want to win this game and go 4-3 for the tournament. On her second turn Emilie plays FLOWY* for 43 and I don't even think about challenging it. Now I have to add high-point 5-letter words to my study list! I respond with DINErOS for 72 and two turns later play DISRAtE for 72. DISRAtE makes a hook spot for Emilie to play METERED for 83 and then EX for 52. This isn't looking good. In the middle I get some no-go bingos and make crappy little set-up plays that don't pan out. At the end I play GRAZE for 48 and am down 25 points with KNST on my rack and Emilie holding AEFGINT. I actually feel hopeful: if she ignores an obvious spot and makes a really bad play I can go out with KENTS* and if she doesn't challenge it I win the game! But she's no dummy. She takes her time, tracks the tiles and makes the clear play. Sigh.

349-419
3-4 -223

My Bingos

TONnAGE
STaRTED
LAWINEs
STAINER
UPRAIsE
ReTINAL
TRIAGED
DINErOS
DISRAtE

Congratulations to my friend Jay Hillis on his 4th place finish in the Intermediate Division.