Today Scrabble Talk is going to discuss one particular moment in a game. The game can be from real one or online with friends or computer.
So when playing against computer on Scrabble app, we got this rack of QVECXEZ. A bit awkward combination but still playable for high points, now take a look of the board condition.
The board is still very open, with many 'hot spots' are still available. The obvious one is the Triple Letter box next to I from mOINEAU. You can play EX/EON/XI for an easy 53 pts but it's very tempting to play somewhere else as you already held the Q for QI/QI/IN (64 pts).
A more speculative one, there's a Double Letter box on the triple lane above the A from MARRIERS and wait to put the Z there and hit the Triple Word box.
One thing to look is the leave here, QVC combination is not a pretty one.
What will be your move and why?
Here are a few thoughts from @alexieishere :
.@scrabbletalk instead of the obvious play EX/EON/XI for 53, I choose CEZVE/EMO for 41, get rid of awkward tile and high chance of drawing I
— Alexander Gozali (@alexieishere) September 25, 2014
.@scrabbletalk just realized that EXEC/TE/WEX/ODE for 45 is safer, but QVZ is really awkward, still think CEZVE is better though
— Alexander Gozali (@alexieishere) September 25, 2014
We opted to play safe and fishing for the I, EXEC/TE/WEX/ODE for 45pts. Successfully to draw I in the next turn, so QI/QI/IN was obvious. Had a dreadful EVHYVZL after playing QI, but lucky we could make (B)EVVY.
Here is the final board :
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Both of Alex play were equally, I think. Even though EXEC is way safer but the QVC leave will instantly destroy you no matter what tile you pick, as I recalled Q and V has worst 2-letter word synergy, and C will make it even worse.
ReplyDeleteThe conclusion, for me, with I think he just missed it, MOC/ONE/CEZVE, safe play, leave Q and X and worth same like EXEC, 45 points. The only downside, it make the X less dangerous because you already use ON spot (now it impossible to play EX.EON/XI in there). But the MOINEAU will help X, even with that spot already used, you can still play 2*3 parallel moves like YEX/YE/EA/XU or, just EX/EA/XU if you believe you can pick I for QI (as your Q will do little help for you if you fail to pick I), or YEX.MOINEAUX. Both of it, yield about 50 points. With lucky draw I, you can play QI/QI/IN first continue with MOINEAUX, resulted 3 high-scoring moves sequence that most likely will wipe out any big score bingo (80-100 points bingo) from your opponent if he managed to play a bingo during that
Oh! I didn't see the MOC/ONE/CEZVE. Might play it instead of EXEC. I was thinking to play down there, but surprisingly MOINEAUX* is illegal.
Deleteoops, sorry QVZ. But still if I pick 3 letters like that most likely I will put the V to garbage can
ReplyDelete