There were seven of us at club yesterday, Sunday, May 30, and three rounds were played. Here are the results --

Steve, 2-0, +250
Andy, 2-0, +64
Eric, 2-1, -131
Margaret, 1-1, +139
Will, 1-2, -20
Jan H., 1-2, -97
Janny S., 0-3, -205

Our next club session will be Sunday, June 6. Hope to see you then.

Results from May 23 Local Club Tournament

Our first local club tournament in 2010 went really well. Six members played, and the writer of this post directed. He compliments all participants on their adherence to the rules; it was a real pleasure to direct the tourney.

Here are the results and the prize winners:

Format: Name, Win-Loss, Spread -- Old NASPA rating, New NASPA rating, Prize (if any)

---Steve Bush, 4-1, +496 -- 1461, 1457 (first place, $15)
---Andrew Wade, 4-1, +408 -- 1019, 1023 (second place, $12)
---Betty King, 3-2, +71 -- 666, 675 (third place, $10)
---Victoria Bledsoe, 2-3, -215 -- none, 642
---Andrea Carman, 1-4, -270 -- none, 500
---Janice Hatton, 1-4, -490 -- 503, 498

Jan Hatton won High Play (excluding prize finishers) for $8 for playing WINTERS for 81 points.

This was the first tournament for Victoria Bledsoe and Andrea Carman. Congratulations, ladies!

Our tournament is the first local club tournament to be rated by the Word Game Players' Organization (WGPO), and this is also the first tournament to be dually rated by both the North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) and the WGPO. The NASPA cross-table report for our tourney may be found at http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/tourneys/2010/lxt/05/030.shtml . Information on the WGPO ratings will be added to this post when that information becomes available.

Director! tournament management software was used at this tournament. This was the first time that I have used this program in running a tourney, and I could not have been more pleased. The program is easily learned and has an excellent tutorial and detailed, readily understandable help material. Director! uses a familiar drop-down menu graphical user interface; there is no extensive list of commands to learn. Hats off to Marc Levesque for authoring this fine software program and making it available to Scrabble tournament directors free of charge!

Special thanks to our club's apprentice director Steve Bush, for helping out at the tourney and for developing the wall chart printout used at the tourney and putting together a pre-tourney help document for first-time tourney players. As the final part of his apprenticeship, Steve will be the primary director for our next local club tournament.

Club members are asked to respond by e-mail to me at JMSinKY@aol.com or by blog entry comment about whether or not they would be interested in having another local club tournament on Sunday, June 27. Here is a link to the blog entry reporting the responses to holding an LCT on that date.

John Spangler, Director
Lexington Scrabble Club

Responses about Holding a LCT on Sunday, June 27

Last updated on June 5, 2010, at 7:28 p.m.

This blog entry is to report responses from club members about the possibility of holding our next local club tournament on Sunday, June 27, from 3:00 p.m. to around 9:00 p.m.

The tourney format would be the same as our LCT on May 23 -- five games with a meal break after Round 3; $12 entry fee, including $2.50 NASPA participation fee; dual rating by both NASPA and WGPO. NASPA membership ($30 for one year or $15 for six months) is required for rating by NASPA. WGPO does not require players to join to play in a WGPO-rated tourney, and there is no WGPO-rating fee imposed.

Club members may respond by e-mailing John at JMSinKY@aol.com or by leaving a comment to this blog entry. Responses will be transferred into the summary given below as they are received.

8 would attend an LCT on June 27: Andy, Betty, Cheryl, John, Margaret, Steve, Will, Victoria

2 would not be able to attend an LCT on June 27: Eric, Jan H.

0 are unsure about attending an LCT on June 27:

Responses about Attending Club on Sunday, May 30

Last Updated May 29, 2010, at 11:06 p.m.

Our next scheduled club session is on Sunday, May 30, during Memorial Day weekend. Club members are asked to indicate whether or not they plan on being at club on that day by either e-mailing John at JMSinKY@aol.com or by giving their response as a comment to this blog entry.

Here are the responses so far:

7 will be able to attend: Andy, Eric, Jan H., Margaret, Steve (possibly), Victoria (possibly), Will

3 will not be able to attend: Betty, Cheryl, John

0 are unsure about attending:

LSC Local Club Tournament, Sunday, May 23

We are very pleased to announce that our local club tournament on Sunday, May 23, will be rated by both the North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) and the Word Game Players' Organization (WGPO). This will be the first local club tournament to be rated by WGPO, which held its inaugural fully-rated open tournament at Bloomington, MN, at the beginning of this month.

A summary of club members' responses on attendance at this LCT is given below. Members may indicate their attendance response by e-mailing John at JMSinKY@aol.com or by posting a comment to this post. As additional responses are received, they will be added into the summary.

WHO WILL OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND
THE LOCAL CLUB TOURNAMENT (LCT)
ON SUNDAY, MAY 23
-----

The LCT will run from 3 p.m. until around 9 p.m.

Five games; pairing system and prize structure to be determined.

Entry fee of $12 (including NASPA-required $2.50 participation fee).

(WGPO does not charge a rating/participation fee.)

This tourney will be dually rated by NASPA and WGPO.

NASPA membership ($30/yr) is required to play at a NASPA-rated LCT.

WGPO membership (free) is not required to play at a WGPO-rated LCT.

Local club tournaments are one-third rated.
-----

7 will be able to attend: Andrea, Andy, Betty, Jan H., John, Steve, Victoria
5 will not be able to attend: Cheryl, Eric, Marc, Margaret, Will
2 are unsure about attending: Janny S. ("questionable"), Pat ("maybe")

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This local club tournament will be in place of our normal club session on May 23 and will be conducted in accordance with NASPA Official Tournament Rules.

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(Survey results updated through Friday, May 21, at 9:10 a.m.)

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Some guidelines for tournament play

With our LCT coming up this weekend, I've put together a short list of what I see are key differences between rated games and casual games at club, in hopes that this might be useful for those with no (or limited) experience with playing official rated games.

I would also encourage all players to review the complete NASPA official rules document at http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/wiki/images/a/a6/Naspa_rules_feb2010_printFinal.pdf

That said, here's the list; comments/feedback welcome:

1) If ANYTHING unusual happens during a game that either you or your opponent is unsure of how to handle (i.e., overdraws, improper exchange, etc.), neutralize your clock and call for the director. Please do not be bashful about this, it is what John and Steve are here for.

2) Players are expected to be QUIET and refrain from distracting others during tournament games. Conversation should be limited to what is necessary for gameplay (announcing scores, challenges, etc.). This is perhaps the biggest difference from casual games at club. Comments like, “Geez, this is my third straight rack with all vowels!”, while common in informal games, are not allowed in tournament games.

3) It is illegal to have any visible papers in your playing area beside your current game score sheet, your contestant tally card, challenge and blank-designation slips and blank sheets that can be used as scratch paper during the game.

4) You are expected to play the complete game, from start to finish. Resigning is almost never allowed, regardless of the score or apparent hopelessness of the game. It is also illegal to “tank” a game or deliberately play poorly.

5) Drawing tiles. Note that the bag must be held at or above eye level, and that the drawing hand should be opened before reaching into the bag.

6) Overdraws. Familiarize yourself with the procedure for overdraws, detailed in section IV.B.4 of the rules (link above). If you or your opponent have ANY doubt on how to handle this situation in a game, please call a director for assistance.

7) Exchanges. Note that tiles to be exchanged MUST be placed face down on the table prior to hitting your clock. The tiles on the table are the ones that are exchanged, REGARDLESS of the number of tiles that you announce you're exchanging.

Tourney List for 2010

I have added a post showing tournaments that Lexington Scrabble Club players have played in during calendar year 2010 and will update it throughout the year.

Our little club has a good number of its members playing -- and sometimes finishing in the prize money -- at tournaments throughout our region and beyond!

Here is a link to the blog entry. There is also a link to it in the right sidebar under the heading "Scrabble Statistics."

Club Session on Sunday, May 16

There were eight of us at our club yesterday, Sunday, May 16, and four rounds were played. Here are how things ended up --

• Andy, 3-1, +278
• Betty, 3-1, +200
• Steve, 2-0, +141
• John, 2-0, +132
• Jan H., 1-2, -74
• Andrea, 1-3, -154
• Victoria, 1-3, -216
• Janny S., 0-3, -307

Next week, instead of a regular club session, we will be having a local club tournament. The next regular club session will be on Sunday, May 30.

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Club on Sunday, May 16; LCT on Sunday, May 23

This post contains the survey results for the regular club session on Sunday, May 16, and for the local club tournament on Sunday, May 23. You may provide your response by e-mailing John at JMSinKY@aol.com or by posting a comment to this post. As additional responses are received, they will be added into the survey results given below.

WHO WILL OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND
CLUB ON SUNDAY, MAY 16
-----

6 will be able attend: Andrea, Andy, Janny S., John, Steve (from 4 or 5 p.m. on), Victoria
1 will not be able to attend: Will
0 is unsure about attending:

____________________________________________

WHO WILL OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND
THE LOCAL CLUB TOURNAMENT (LCT)
ON SUNDAY, MAY 23
-----

The LCT will run from 3 p.m. until around 9 p.m.

Five games; pairing system to be determined.

Entry fee of $12.

NASPA membership is required to play at a NASPA-rated LCT.

Local club tournaments are one-third rated.
-----

7 will be able to attend: Andrea, Andy, Betty, Jan H., John, Steve, Victoria
4 will not be able to attend: Cheryl, Marc, Margaret, Will
2 are unsure about attending: Janny S. ("questionable"), Pat ("maybe")

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This local club tournament will be in place of a normal club session and will be conducted in accordance with NASPA Official Tournament Rules.

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(Survey results updated through Friday, May 14, at 9:06 p.m.)

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Hey you Anonymous folks...

If you don't have a Google/Blogger ID, you can leave a comment as 'Anonymous' but if you are a club member, please sign your post with at least your first name.

2010 Tourneys of Club Members

Last Revised May 30, 2010

This is a continuing blog entry to list the tournaments attended by Lexington Scrabble Club members in 2010. Names are linked to players' Cross-Table.com pages.

List of 2010 Tournaments of Lexington Scrabble Club Members

• ANDREA CARMAN -- 1 tourney in 2010 so far -- Lexington, KY LCT, 5/23
• ANDY WADE -- 3 tourneys in 2010 so far -- Indianapolis, IN, 2/27 (2nd place, Div. 4); Charleston, WV, 5/1-2 (3rd place, Div. 3); Lexington, KY LCT, 5/23 (2nd place, Div. 1)
• BETTY KING -- 3 tourneys in 2010 so far -- Indianapolis, IN, 2/27; Charleston, WV, 5/1-2 (3rd place, Div. 4); Lexington, KY LCT, 5/23 (3rd place, Div. 1)
• CHERYL COOVERT -- 1 tourney in 2010 so far -- Charleston, WV, 5/1-2
• ERIC YODER -- 0 tourneys in 2010 so far -- future tourneys: Corapolis (Pittsburgh), PA, 6/12-13
• JANICE HATTON -- 1 tourney in 2010 so far -- Lexington, KY LCT, 5/23
• JOHN SPANGLER -- 6 tourneys in 2010 so far -- Redeye V, Bloomington, MN, 1/16-17; Redeye V latebird, Bloomington, MN, 1/18; Indianapolis, IN, 2/27; Elyria, OH, 3/13-14; WGPO Inaugural earlybird , Bloomington, MN, 4/30 (unrated team tourney); WGPO Inaugural, Bloomington, MN, 5/1-2 (WGPO-rated, 4th place, Div. 4) -- future tourneys: Coraopolis (Pittsburgh), PA, 6/12-13; Bluffton (Hilton Head), SC, 8/14-15 (WGPO-rated); Alpharetta, GA, 9/4-6; Albuquerque, NM, 9/11-12
• MARC BROERING -- 1 tourney in 2010 so far -- Indianapolis, IN, 2/27
• MARGARET YODER -- 1 tourney in 2010 so far -- Charleston, WV, 5/1-2 -- future tourneys: Coraopolis (Pittsburgh), PA, 6/12-13
• STEVE BUSH -- 2 tourneys in 2010 so far -- Indianapolis, IN, 2/27 (1st place, Div. 2); Lexington, KY LCT, 5/23 (1st place, Div. 1) -- future tourneys: Knoxville, TN, 6/19-20
• VICTORIA BLEDSOE -- 1 tourney in 2010 so far -- Lexington, KY LCT, 5/23
• WILL SCOTT -- 5 tourneys in 2010 so far -- Twin-Cities Redeye V, Bloomington, MN, 1/16-17 (2nd place, Div. 3); Indianapolis, IN, 2/27 (2nd place, Div. 1); Columbia, SC early bird, 3/26; Columbia, SC, 3/27-28; Charleston, WV, 5/1-2 -- future tourneys: Knoxville, TN, 6/19-20

Club on Mother's Day; Local Club Tourney, May 23

BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSES RECEIVED,

THERE WILL BE NO CLUB SESSION ON MOTHER'S DAY,

SUNDAY, MAY 9.

To cut down on unnecessary e-mails, I am going to try using our club blog to show responses on surveys about club attendance. When I send out an e-mail reminder, I will ask that you either respond to me individually or leave a comment on a blog post here. I will take the responses and update the post to reflect your feedback. This blog entry is my first attempt at doing it in this manner. We'll see how it works.

I checked with the manager at Perkins, and we will be able to have a club session on this coming Sunday, May 9, Mother's Day, but because of business on that day and the longer time needed to clean up the large dining room that we use, he asked that, if we have club, we begin at 4 p.m. for that day, instead of our usual 3 p.m. start time.

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WHO WILL OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND

CLUB ON MOTHER'S DAY, SUNDAY, MAY 9

(Club, if held, will begin at 4 p.m.)

-----

0 will be able attend:
9 will not be able to attend: Andrea, Andy, Betty, Jan, Janet, John, Pat, Steve, Victoria
1 is unsure about attending: Will

----------------------------------

We hope to hold a local club tournament on Sunday, May 23, at our regular meeting place, Perkins Family Restaurant in Lexington. This would be a five-round tourney, one-third rated by NASPA. It will give people who are unable to travel the opportunity to establish a NASPA rating and play in a tournament environment. We're still working on specifics, but I am anticipating the registration fee to be $12. Under NASPA rules, a player must be a current member of NASPA to play in a tournament sanctioned by NASPA. (Steve and I have no control over this. This is not the case in the new Word Game Players' Organization; anyone can play at a WGPO tourney. I encourage all our club members to join the WGPO. There are currently no annual membership dues for WGPO, and if any are ever established, they will not be inflated like NASPA's are.)

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If this local club tournament works well, we may well try to do them on bimonthly or even monthly basis.

---

WHO WILL OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND

A LOCAL CLUB TOURNAMENT

ON SUNDAY, MAY 23

(The LCT would run from 3 p.m. until around 9 p.m.)

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(RESULTS TRANSFERRED TO POST FOR SUNDAY, MAY 16)

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You can either let me know about your attendance at those two events by e-mailing me at JMSinKY@aol.com or by posting a comment here on our club blog. Thanks!

John Spangler, Director
Lexington Scrabble Club

(Survey results updated through May 9 at 2:53 p.m. EDT)

Here's what happens to folks who don't study;

I was seeded fifth in the annual Charleston WV tournament, bottom division, finished fifth after playing the 6th seed in the last three rounds. That's 3-9, -604, high game 402.
Most of the rest of the Lexington club attendees did better. Betty King reported she was 7-5, same division, +507, for third place. Andy Wade finished third in Division C with 7-5, +349 point spread.

Will Scott played up to Division A, which was light on entries for this tournament. He was seeded sixth and placed fifth. He won High Play with TIGHTWAD (98 points).