New Year... New Words
Posted by Megel Barker on Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Finally made it 500.
So far I have familiarised myself with the 'vowel set' for both 7 and 8s, which has improved my play considerably.
Last year September, I set myself a target of covering the first 500 most probable bingoes in scrabble. Using a combination of Zyzzyva and Aerolith.org, I have finally achieved my scrabble target. This was not a smooth ride as I have not been as committed as I should be. However, comparing my progress now with where I was a year ago, has made me realise how important it is to study word lists.
So now I am at my success, I have resolved to get to 1500. To be fair whenever I do study I normal cover about 10 alphagrams per session. So I project I will need to put aside 100 days throughout the year to be successful. We will see. I also aim to enter at least 1 rated tourney this year. Strangely enough I still have a provisional rating from ABSP- 105.
I lived in England for 10 years and it is only while living overseas, I am realising how much scrabble was played there. I feel mildly jealous. However, my scrabble epiphany came in the Gulf in Oman. With MSI events around the country, I suspect with my current practice regime and better understanding of rack leave, I could really improve under tournament conditions.
Anyway I am on to 520 now and has just met the new words LAETARE and SIENITE. It was also good to be sure that ADORNER and READORN are actually words. Another Interesting one is ATTONES(D) , with two Ts.
Practice makes perfect, I am even now being accused on ISC as someone who uses an anagrammer. So I guess I must be improving!
One of the things that needs to improve here in Oman is the inclusion of Omanis in the Scrabble scene. For a long time the scene has been the domain of expatriates mainly from the subcontinent. For the pastime to become a popular endeavour more club activity is required. From my understanding scrabble playing in Oman is at its lowest for the past 20 years. It is time to open the sport to include Omani Nationals. How do we do this? I am not sure but it must be an imperative for the sport to survive. The benefits are invaluable for a country that aims to achieve full bilinguality in its educated class.
More new words and more hopes for 2015.
So far I have familiarised myself with the 'vowel set' for both 7 and 8s, which has improved my play considerably.
Last year September, I set myself a target of covering the first 500 most probable bingoes in scrabble. Using a combination of Zyzzyva and Aerolith.org, I have finally achieved my scrabble target. This was not a smooth ride as I have not been as committed as I should be. However, comparing my progress now with where I was a year ago, has made me realise how important it is to study word lists.
So now I am at my success, I have resolved to get to 1500. To be fair whenever I do study I normal cover about 10 alphagrams per session. So I project I will need to put aside 100 days throughout the year to be successful. We will see. I also aim to enter at least 1 rated tourney this year. Strangely enough I still have a provisional rating from ABSP- 105.
I lived in England for 10 years and it is only while living overseas, I am realising how much scrabble was played there. I feel mildly jealous. However, my scrabble epiphany came in the Gulf in Oman. With MSI events around the country, I suspect with my current practice regime and better understanding of rack leave, I could really improve under tournament conditions.
Anyway I am on to 520 now and has just met the new words LAETARE and SIENITE. It was also good to be sure that ADORNER and READORN are actually words. Another Interesting one is ATTONES(D) , with two Ts.
Practice makes perfect, I am even now being accused on ISC as someone who uses an anagrammer. So I guess I must be improving!
One of the things that needs to improve here in Oman is the inclusion of Omanis in the Scrabble scene. For a long time the scene has been the domain of expatriates mainly from the subcontinent. For the pastime to become a popular endeavour more club activity is required. From my understanding scrabble playing in Oman is at its lowest for the past 20 years. It is time to open the sport to include Omani Nationals. How do we do this? I am not sure but it must be an imperative for the sport to survive. The benefits are invaluable for a country that aims to achieve full bilinguality in its educated class.
More new words and more hopes for 2015.
Tags: scrabble oman oman scrabble club
A teacher of mathematics who enjoys playing scrabble, and who has naively saddled himself with the goal of improving his game to an expert level.
