From: robert felt <rfelt@ix.netcom.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 09:00:27 -0800
Subject: Re: on OUT and UT
Message-id: <3.0.5.32.19980209090027.0086b100@popd.ix.netcom.com>

Welcome Joe Edley. Your comments are acute, but I will still stick with UT. The critical factor here seems to be that opponent has just bingo'ed and "what opponent pleases" given the current status of the bag is unlikely to be a bingo. Given eight unseen e's it is likely that opponent has 1 or 2, and we are still anti-odds to draw one with a two tile pick. Thus the e in finery becomes an immeasurably useful asset for us, and is less likely to be of immediate use to opponent. True, that area may well be where opponent plays next turn, vitiating our sacrifice, but the single most likely play for opponent next turn is ZEE for thirty-six, and that position, and facing that scenario, the extra lines after UT may very well be the difference between bingoing or not.

At 07:22 AM 2/9/98 EST, you wrote:

To date: agreed with all plays but JADES and CULLIONS. IMHO, JEANS or JANES were superior as was COCOUNSEL. I love this new position! For this rack I believe that the two best are OUT and UT, with OUT getting my vote. Other plays don't get to the point quick enough, including UNLIT. The TRAIN leave gives you your best equity for a bingo and you need it badly. While there aren't zillions of spots, what's there is enough to earn the fish. Regarding which fish: UT simply gives away too much to opponent. While it increase our bingo chances, it gives away unnecesary points and keeps the board way-open for oppo. "to do as he pleases", while OUT blocks nicely.

at the cost of blocking ourselves, we must remember that our bingoing won't win if opponent gets too far ahead. OUT keeps us a little closer. And if opponent doesn't bingo this turn, we don't NEED to (tho I recognize we'll probably be closer to a bingo down next time--but it's still very early)--we can just nurture our rack one more turn. IMHO this is a great teaching position. Which takes precedence, offense vs. defense. OUT does some of

and does both well. Joe