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
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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.
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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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