From: dstock@BIX.com
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 1998 14:40:35 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Correction to EDIFY vs. HYOID
Message-id: <9801081440.memo.38538@BIX.com>

Thanks to Robert Parker for showing me that the probability analysis in my earlier posting on EDIFY vs. HYOID was incorrect. I had incorrectly generalized a technique that works for full racks (and is useful, even under game pressure, for helping to determine whether to challenge a high-probability seven-letter word if you know you have studied all the words with a sufficiently high probability).

Robert's computer analysis (which appears correct) shows that the probability of a natural ING in the opponent's rack (2.82%) is almost as likely as XI (3.23%). Wow! There goes another half-point off of EDIFY, making the choice closer yet.

My apologies to all for the mistake.

-- dan