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2006 Dallas Open Commentary: Round 9

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, Round 9, Round 10, Round 11, Round 12, Round 13, Round 14, After the Tournament.

Round 9

After the playing room cleared out last night, John Chew and I headed to a nearby hamburger joint for what was billed as a Quackle release party. Turned out that most of the attendees got involved in a 3-bag game of anagrams and the newly created game didn't get demoed until players started beginning to leave. The game, for which more info can be obtained at quackle.org, is created by John OLaughlin (Hartland, WI; 1860) and Jason Katz-Brown (Cambridge, MA; 1935). Even now, when all the bells and whistles aren't quite worked out, the software allows users to play against the computer (in a Maven-like fashion), with the brand spanking new dictionary.

John and Jason will continue to refine Quackle, which will run on pcs or macs, and we are all pretty excited at the prospect of once again having a product that permits us to play the game we love with the dictionary we use! In addition to straight game play, Quackle can be used to simulate positions and create study lists (like Lexpert). Both Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL; 1950) and Joe Edley (Coram, NY; 2007) had favorable impressions of the game, which pleased both John and Jason. My impression was that it was "pretty" on the eye. The board, which appears flat (and not tilted at some funny angle which attempts to emulate some sort of "real life" game play), has pleasing colors on the premium squares. John said that if this game is used as much as they hope, it is important to make it enjoyable on the eye. I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot more of Quackle before too long.

On this overcast and warm Sunday morning, after short announcements from Chris Cree (Dallas, TX; 1855) (which included him giving out his e-mail address to everyone in the room, asking for constructive criticism on the DO, with a specific admonition for Chris Lennon (Lake Oswego, OR; 1935) to be nice) and Bryan Pepper, the games were underway.

Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR; 1708), in the hot seat at table 1 playing Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL; 1950), is down in early game play, after having his GLOBY# (sowpods only) challenged off by Brian. Challenges at table 1 are pretty infrequent, so when they happen, we all jump to see! In short order, Travis' pain was intensified when Brian got down COUNTRy, hooking onto TUTELARy. Score now 205-58. Gulp.

Aaron Bader (Massachusetts, MA; 1657) expressed a bit a bit of dismay that he wasn't guaranteed a chance to play Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL; 1950) this morning. As it turns out, he's got his hands more than full at table 2 with Darrell Day (Richardson, TX; 1881).

Before games began, I sat down and chatted a bit with Mary Snider (Austin, TX; 849). When asked the customary question about how she was doing, she smiled and said, "I have a win! It was a bye, but a win!" Game 8 yesterday was her bye win, which means she had seven games in a row of checking off the L column. I don't want to say she didn't care, because then why would she be here, but her attitude was positive. She spoke about learning a lot in those games and I have a feeling that before long, she'll be among the 4-digit rated NSA players.

Yesterday, Mike Baron (Corrales, NM; 1741) wore two name badges: one that said Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD; 1842) and one of his own. I'm sensing some deep psychological meaning, but I'm staying away from that one....

I ascend the stairs up to table 1 to check out the fashion (Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR; 1708) is in a red shirt, bright orange pants, and even brighter shiny yellow sneakers) and get distracted by the game. Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL; 1950) slapped down APTEROUS through the T for 62. I dared not look too closely at the score, but the look on Travis' face as he shook his head kinda told it all. He was having a miserable crack at the one in first place.

At table 2, the highest-rated player in Texas eked out a 9-point win against Aaron Bader (Massachusetts, MA; 1657), 409-400. I see Aaron's sTARNOSE on the triple and Darrell pointed out Aaron's play of AZO/AT/ZA/OR for 40 that "hurt." Darrell got down SENATOR (with a new dictionary anagram of SANTERO, in addition to TREASON and ATONERS), eREPSIN, and TETANOID.

Jan Mills (Georgetown ON; 1735) and Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY; 1886) were having a barn burner at table 3. I see Joel's nonbingo but fun ZAPATEO through the P for 40 and TRAMPLED for 64. Jan's better plays at that point in the game were BEGONIa for 84 and STATURES for 66. In the end, it was Jan's win, 396-367.

Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR; 1959) had a good game against Tim Adamson (Saint Paul, MN; 1933) at table 4, winning, 496-346. I see Tim's RESOLING for 80 and Dave's TRIANGLE for 60, ENTiCES for 82, and OUTRAIsE for 71. A fun word I spot on their board: ELAPID.

Table 5's Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME; 1963) defeated Robert Quigley (New Haven, CT; 1256), 432-400. Robert got down the impressive PRESOnG/QUILLS down the triple for 92 and Joey played rADIATED for 76. Two other game bingos, not sure who played which, were AMNESIA for 75 and NOTATES for 76. In the endgame, I overheard Robert talking about how he had to play differently in order to stand a chance against a player of Joey's caliber. Clearly he accomplished that by keeping the score so close!

A quick glance at a board between Harriette Lakernick (Chicago, IL; 1687) and Robert Linn (Potomac, MD; 1767) and PROTAMIN jumps out at me. As I'm standing there, Harriet plays UNCIAL/US to the triple for 35 and Bob says "nice play."

Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA; 1907) is on fire in his game against Iffy Onyeonwu (Austin, TX; 1774), winning, 462-348. Jerry took too much pleasure in letting me try to figure out the blanks in ?EI?ING. Turns out it was pEInING. He also got down MUTILATE and CONTUSED. Iffy played SINnERY and RESONATE.

Two big smiles at table 6. Sal Piro (New York, NY; 1835) defeated Joe Edley (Coram, NY; 2007), 393-361. I see Joe's CENSURE and Sal's ANTERiOR and UNReASON. Hard to ever tell what has happened at a Joe Edley board because moments after it is done, tiles start moving here, there, and everywhere. What if this had been played? What if that had been played? Suddenly, there are piles of tiles all over and lots of analysis going on. I have a feeling it is rituals like this that lead to winning the NSC three times!

Moments after Piro/Edley ended, Mark Kenas (Madison, WI; 1803) put the nail in the coffin of his win against Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON; 1869), 386-357. I tried to glean a bit of what happened, but all I could hear was, "I had five Ns. What was I going to do with 5 Ns!?"

A game winds up between Paul Phillips (Las Vegas, NV; 1356) and Kevin Burbridge (Roseville, CA; 1456). Kevin goes instantly into a recount while Paul slides back on his chair, runs this fingers through his hair, and sighs deeply. I see Kevin's double-double, BUCKETs through the T for 56 and BEASTIAL for 70. Paul got down SPAnGLED for 78 and DINGOES for 64. After the recount, it was Paul's win, 426-422.

The round long over, John Chew scratches his head. We are missing one result slip. So, he looks around and discovers who missed the boat. He walks back and shows me the slip, which he says a self-described dork forgot to fill out: Chris Cree (Dallas, TX; 1855) vs. Alyssa Faria (Washington, DC; 1499), 519-317.