Watch Your P’s and Q’s
Mara contemplating her strategy.
If you were playing The Millionaire on TV and were stuck for an answer, the rules of the game allow you 3 options that give you a better chance at choosing the correct answer. You could eliminate half of the answers, leaving only 3 to guess from; you could ask the audience; or call a friend to consult with.
When Mara and I play Scrabble, we have similar rules. We give ourselves 3 free dictionary look-ups and one chance to consult with Sally, the owner of Café de Sol, where we frequently play, who also likes to play Scrabble. As a last resort, we have considered one question posed to a random stranger, but things have never gotten that bad.
Yesterday, Mara played a fake Q word. It was very impressive and she asked Sally before risking it. Sally gave her the same answer she gave me earlier when I had asked her. “Is this a word?” “It could be,” Sally replied.
I wasn’t about to challenge Mara’s word, seeing that I had a word to play off it, which would not only re-use her 10 point Q but would land on a triple word score.
What you can’t see in the picture is that behind Mara is a wireless computer station, and, when it wasn’t our turn, both Mara and I went to the computer and got online while waiting for the other to play. “See, we might as well be playing online,” Mara, who has been trying to convince me to play online Scrabble with her for a long time, said.
I was busy shuffling letter tiles and muttering to myself, enamored with the word “ELVIS” that was spelled out in front of me. But it was a proper noun and I knew that was against the rules. Eventually, I used the word “EVILS” …and hit the triple word score again!
“Don’t you just love what you can do with letters?” I said to Mara.
Can you guess who won this game?
August 26th, 2005 11:43 am
What fun! I would say that Elvis was DEFINITELY in the building! Michele sent me. Have a great weekend.
August 26th, 2005 12:13 pm
I’m a big fan of scrabble too — I’m going to have to start instituting the three consultations rule! I bet that you won the game, with all of those triple word scores.
August 26th, 2005 12:14 pm
I forgot so say that Michele sent me! Sorry for the multiple posts.
August 26th, 2005 12:19 pm
Usually, the one who is allowed to play fake words wins. What Q-word was it?
With limited dictionary consultations should come unlimited dictionary challenges.
oh, and, Hi, Michele sent me.
August 26th, 2005 2:00 pm
On-line Scrabble! Let me at it. Well maybe not, since I waste enough time as it is playing Snood on line.
I’m betting you won Colleen, since you always do!
August 26th, 2005 4:12 pm
Oh, I love scrabble!! My husband and I just played the other night. He always, always kicks my butt.
Hope you have a great weekend Colleen:)
August 26th, 2005 4:15 pm
I’ll bet that you won!
August 26th, 2005 4:25 pm
Sometimes I win but play a less than good game, and sometime I lose but play a good game that I can go away feeling good about. When this game was over, Sally asked, “Who won and who played the best game?” In this case Mara said, “She did and she did.” So there you have it, but Mara is very capable of kicking my butt on occasion, though. Maybe she’ll drop in and remind me what her fake Q word was. I can’t remember. It looked real!
August 28th, 2005 6:06 pm
Hello! I’m here via Michele. I have a friend that I regularly play Scrabble with, and I am definitely going to start using the dictionary lifeline. Thanks!
Lish
August 28th, 2005 6:55 pm
It seems like such a simple thing to be able to change rules on a home game like that, and yet I’ve still never done it myself:(
Btw, hello Michele sent me!:)
August 29th, 2005 7:42 pm
I keep looking for the Q word.
My First Wife and I once played to a 333 to 331 tie. When the numbers get that high for both, we call it a tie.
August 29th, 2005 11:06 pm
Oh, this brings back memories. It’s been far too long since I’ve played. Congrats on the triples!