From: Rich Baker <rgb5@cornell.edu>
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 16:17:19 -0500
Subject: RE: Consensus Game #1, Turn #4
Message-id: <3.0.2.32.19980125161719.007be1d0@postoffice.mail.cornell.edu>

On 1/25/98, Fern Lindzon wrote:

Why vertical and not horizontal? I realise that there already is an S hook along row 15 and this one would be worth less points. I also see how IN could then be used along column C for DIN (ZIN AND). I'd be worried about setting that up for opp. even tho we have another N.

I did mean to comment on the Z-N combination in my first post. Thanks for reminding me. If we play horizontally, the Z is still accessible to opponent for cheap 39 point score with ZED. If you really want to be paranoid, you could play WELD instead of WEND to prevent opponent from using the Z at all, and a NNS? rack is only slightly worse than LNS?. (Funny... I work at LNS: Laboratory of Nuclear Studies.) The point is that we don't need to play defensively and paranoid here. We have a blank and an S, so we will probably bingo within two turns.

The vertical placement of WEND may actually decrease opponent's scoring on row 15. No high score tile can be placed on the DLS at 15d and the score for any 5lw starting at 15d will probably just barely justify using an S. On the other hand, if we draw a 7lw that starts S- or xS-, we may have a good score for it.

Besides, if we really want to impress ourselves, there are 43 9lw we might be able to play starting at 14a. ;)

A correction to my earlier post: I stated that we have a 97% chance of drawing at least one vowel after playing WEND. In fact, we have an 81% chance. 97% is the chance of drawing at least 1 vowel if FIVE tiles are drawn. Sorry about that.

Rich