Volume 2, Issue 13 Aug. 27-Sep. 3, 2019

Worcester Scrabble Club News The fugitive, captured

Like a latter-day Dr. Richard Kimball (played by Harrison Ford in the classic 1993 movie “The Fugitive”), Aaron Green was tracked down long enough this past week to play three round-robin games. A week ago Thursday, he defeated Judy Horn 380-297 at Lexington, and followed that with a 407-361 win over Joel Horn at Worcester to keep his shot at the title alive. But a late-night loss to Chris Kulig ended Aaron’s run and means that Joel has clinched his second Worcester Scrabble Club title. Joel’s 17-5, +1,197 performance saw him average 425 points per game, with an average spread of 55 points, and five narrow wins, by 3, 5, 11, 20, and 23 points. A fine overall performance. A loss by Aaron in any of his 10 remaining games will secure second for Mike Wolfberg. Third place is still undecided, but at 13-9, Chris K. is in the best spot at present. Nicole Kazarian needs to win at least two of her remaining three games to catch him, while Beth Mix needs three or more wins in her remaining five games. Our next club title for this fall is likely to be a one-day gathering, as Bob Becker has offered to host such an event at his unparalleled venue.

In other action Tuesday evening, there were five Collins games, with Kelvin Sikazwe putting up four bingos in five turns to score the evening’s high game of 522. And we welcomed back Mike Krochmalny, who participated in both OWL and Collins games. And Nicole made BARIST(A)S in a game she lost by only four points.

Worcester Scrabble Club Champions

Spring 2011 Bob Becker Summer 2011 Ben Harrison Fall/Winter 2011-12 Susan Kirchhausen Spring 2012 Seth Lipkin Fall 2012 Evans Clinchy Winter 2013-14 Seth Lipkin Spring/Summer ’15 Chris Kulig Spring 2016 Bob Becker Fall 2016 Seth Lipkin January 2017 Joel Horn June 2017 Chris Sinacola Fall 2017 Seth Lipkin Spring 2018 Seth Lipkin Fall/Winter ’18-’19 Chris Sinacola Summer 2019 Joel Horn

Scrabble in the news

The CNET website reported Aug. 26 that Eagan, Minnesota police ticketed a driver for playing Scrabble on his phone, and issued a wry tweet: “ ‘Ticket issued to driver on Yankee Doodle Rd,’ the tweet read. ‘To clarify, playing online Scrabble while driving is illegal.’ The department hashtagged the tweet with #notworthit.” True fact that.

2

“The Dictionary Wars, Part 6 More troubles for Webster, and dinner with the prez

Who knew that lexicography could be so contentious? When Noah Webster saw the octavo abridgement of his dictionary, it “disordered his perception of himself as America’s premier authority on the English language and made him appear to be just the latest in a long string of competing lexicographers.” But as much as Webster himself may have been upset, the facts are clear: The abridged version was much more concise, with 47,000 definitions in 532 pages, and affordable — $6 in 1830, or about $150 in today’s dollars. It made money for Webster and was reprinted many times. The definitions were shorter and larger free of Webster’s earlier moralizing. Over the next few years, Webster’s son-in-law, Chauncey Goodrich, would buy the copyright to the work and eventually the stereotyped plates, which publisher Sherman Converse had mortgaged to a New York printer. After that, Webster and his family have nothing more to do with Converse. But then a new challenged arises. A young schoolteacher, Lyman Cobb, who had published his own spelling book in 1821 and had begun to gain market share, wrote a series of letters to the Albany Argus newspaper attacking Webster for his many alleged errors and defects. Webster hit back in both newspapers, letters, and pamphlets, and, for the most part, the public supported him. So, too, did President Andrew Jackson, who on December 28, 1830, hosted Webster and about 30 others (mostly members of Congress) for dinner at the White House. Webster didn’t like Jackson’s politics. He didn’t like the food. But he did like hearing praise for his books. Many battles lay ahead, but for the moment, at the end of 1830, Webster could feel, with some justification, that he was winning the dictionary wars.

arly American lexicography.” What would happen? In short, it would mark the beginning of the “dictionary wars”! Are you incredulous to learn that? Well, tune in next week for part 6 and learn more!

Andrew Jackson, who had Webster to dinner

Using the fives to secure a Collins win

A bug from down under There were numerous notable bingos last Tuesday, including Joel Horn’s play of VEDALIA (anagram AVAILED). This insect, Rodolia cardinalis, is commonly known as the Australian ladybird. Joel also nicely handled the rack BLINK?? There are 11 sevens (12 in Collins), and Joel made the lovely INKBLot. Kudos to Kelvin Sikazwe for his VOLITATE#, which means “to fly about.” Perhaps, as this is a Collins word, an Australian lady-bird would indulge in such a flight.

Lyman Cobb, who tried to “eat Webster’s dinner.”

In their second Collins game last week, Chris Sinacola had early bingos of SABEING and RETIRING to lead Kelvin Sikazwe, but Kelvin came charging back with SLINGeR to cut the lead to 50 and ANESTRA# on turn 13, which won five points for a challenge, to lead 359-356. What saved Chris’s game? Recent study of the fives. He played LIVOR# and DICHT# on turns 9 and 10 for a total of 42 points. Then, after ANESTRA# put Kelvin on top, Chris held the rack of ADEILNW. Knowing Kelvin held AEEZ, Chris needed to block a DWS at the A in ANESTRA to prevent the Z going there, but also needed to be sure to go out in two plays and not give Kelvin too good a way to use the TWS spot in the upper right. Chris played LAWED as shown at right. Kelvin’s outplay of (R)AZEE leaves his short, and there’s no play to AW. Playing ZA at the TWS is also too few points. Kelvin’s ZEA# for 31 made for a 414-390 final. A key difference in this game? Those five-letter plays.

Visual quiz: What “Worcester word” is shown here? Bob Becker player it on 8/27!