The Wong Stuff


Sunday, August 27, 2006

I once again spent the morning rephotographing Starbucks, but I timed my departure for Los Gatos better and with a little more time to spare (7 minutes instead of 4).



In time at Tomato Thyme, I had time to chat with Andrea Michaels who I thought might have been Joan Mocine. I'm sure someone will find that funny. I still don't know what Joan looks like, but I now know she is Lester's wife. I hope that's not a secret.

The tournament got underway, and I saw, to my disappointment, that Hottie had not made it. Just as well, because I had bean residue on my t-shirt, and I had forgotten to pack a spare in the car. That's one of the downsides of living in a room instead of your car.

Apparently not having learned from my costly risks in Berkeley, I tried to get TANK(E)RED* past John Karris, who had opened with INFUSER. Had I just played my eventual (F)RANKED instead, I might have drawn some of the good stuff before John hogged it all.

Better tiles against Rick Wong, and a couple of lucky breaks. After Rick took the lead with the double-double GRIEV(I)nG (which surpassed my LARDIER by 30 points), I stumbled into ZONK(E)D for 75! I pulled away again over the course of two turns, but Rick came back again with BOOTEES. A few bingo lines still existed--Rick got one, with (R)EADIEST, but I just happened to luck out that fISHER played off the LAX that I had played a turn earlier. Two other bingos played, SHIR?IE(R) and (L)IvERISH, but I would not have seen either.

Great tiles against Robin Levin, but I could have blown it. First, I gave up too easily on AEEEST? with an N to play through. Then I played off an E in a most weak fashion. And finally I almost took another risk to try and draw a challenge with TWAE(N)ESs*. Thankfully I came to my senses and went with the safe bet, WEAr(I)EST instead. That second bingo, plus a lucky 54-point JUKE, ensured my victory despite suboptimal play.

I had the tiles to beat undefeated Jerry the Elermanator, but there was one little problem... he kept scoring like a fiend!!! Part of this was my fault, letting him get away with the double-double DENOTER* (he could have played ERODENT for fewer points)

The thing of it is, I think the very fact that my rating was under 1800 was hurting me. At 1833, I think I would have had the confidence to challenge, assuming that Jerry would have even dared the phony. But at barely 1700, all these 1800+ players were emboldened to beat on me like a stepchild.

After opening with AMITIES, Paula Catanese proceeded to outdraw my brains out, even more viciously than John. The worst part about the loss was the knowledge that I would not be paired with Jerry the final round, which would mean that a 3-3 record would result in a ratings drop, possibly back below 1700. No, I take that back. The worst part was really that I got beat by someone who fucking played U(L)E*! Sweet mother of Christ, ULE*???

As I played, I remember that I was thinking about thinking nasty thoughts about Paula. I wasn't actually thinking nasty thoughts. But I was thinking that my younger self would probably have been thinking nasty thoughts. Not just because my younger self was less mature, but also because my younger self would not have been expecting to analyze the game afterwards and find boocoo mistakes. Heck, I didn't have to wait until after the game. As soon as I slotted RANKS at M2, hoping that Paula wouldn't be able to hook it, I knew it was a bad play. I saw KNARS and the possibility of KARNS (unsure) right away, and of course Paula hooked it with POW. I knew I deserved the counter play, and I felt I was playing like crap, and I continue to play like crap.

On the other hand, I could be this guy.

Never have I been so pissed after winning a game than after my rematch against John Karris. I drew six power tiles, won two challenges, and scored like a fiend for 519 and a 68-point victory. But it was overkill. I would rather have spread some of that love across my other games so I could have won one more. Bah!

I left right away in kinda frustration. Later I would learn that, despite my vicious pounding, Rick had managed to win the event. Guess he had the right stuff after all.



Analysis

#1    
--    
43 lose turn  
3.7 (F)RANKED  
2.9 OCA ANO(D)IC
0 IN(D)EX  
0 TIPI  
5.1 ACUTE  
0 BREW/(AGONIZE)R  
8.4 WILD  
0 HET  
0.7 A(Z)O  
8.6 O(N)O  
16.9 M(E) desperate gamble
0 SEAGIRT  
0 Q(I)  
     
     
#2    
--    
1.9 LARDIER  
0 MUFT(I)  
0 QUOTA  
4.6 WAB  
0 ZONK(E)D  
0 TOWED  
1.2 MERER  
0 PEACI(N)G  
0 CANS StAN(Z)AIC,CA(P)tAINS
23.2 CANS  
5.3 LAX ILEX??? (opens 3x3!!!),(P)yREXIAL/(P)REaXIAL sim worse
0 fISHIER  
     
     
#3    
--    
0 OOTID  
2.4 ReWIRES  
1.5 RAX  
16.2 (D)OYEN OYE(Z)
6.7 OI OE
4 -EEOU  
14.2 E(R) TEE,AE,AE,AbSE(N)TEE,TEA,SErE(N)ATE,SElENATE
11.6 WEAr(I)EST WEAkEST,WAvE(L)ETS,TEAW(A)rES,SEAW(A)TEr
5.6 D(A)VIT  
0 JUKE  
0 TO(U)CH  
0 HONG  
7.6 (E)F trying to bingo for spread
0 G(EM)S  
0 CRE(EL)  
     
     
#4    
--    
1.8 IDOLIzE 8C DOILIEs 8D
0 ODAH  
0 URANI(D)E  
13 FAX FAUGH
1.3 HUG HUNG,ZAS
0 BRAZAS  
10.2 INFIRMS  
0 (B)LIP  
10.6 YO  
0 GLEET  
0 KI(S)T manual calc
     
     
#5    
--    
10.9 ABYE  
24 J(AT)O  
13.5 RANKS worst
10.5 B(R)EE  
0 (E)GGY  
0 (O)DA  
6.7 TA(J)  
4.2 UP  
12.8 CUT desperation
0 A(z)IDE  
9.1 H(E)RL  
     
     
     
#6    
--    
0.4 sAUTOIR fAITOUR
9.9 BLOATED LOBATED,DEA(D)BOLT
0 (t)WEET  
12.3 ZIP FIZ in same spot
8.5 ARF SNARF
0 AX(I)ONS  
0.7 DR(E)NCH  
6.7 V(A)MP  
29.2 IDS  
15 R(E)EK  
0 (J)ATO  
7 (O)VER  


Average Equity Loss Per Turn (using Quackle 0.92)

1 - 6.4 (89.3)
2 - 3.3 (36.2)
3 - 4.7 (69.8)
4 - 3.4 (36.9)
5 - 8.3
6 - 6.9 (89.7)

Avg: 5.5


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