UVSC Session Report
March 25, 2019 (Session #220)
(authored by BJ)

It was a small session this week, with just Ellen, Iliana and myself,
though it was not without its excitement.  In the final game, my opening
rack was ILNRX??.  After a bit of searching, I found a bingo, but there
was a bit of a dilemma about how to place it.  For maximum points, of
course, I wanted to put the X on the DLS.  But that would require
placing the word such that my opponent (Iliana) would have an
opportunity for a big return play.  The word was RELAXIN (a hormone
important in childbirth).  I decided to throw caution to the wind and
play it for 90 points, meaning the word ended just one space before the
TWS.  If Iliana had a G or an S, she could potentially score big.
Iliana did have a G, but she had a bingo that played elsewhere, so the
volatile spot remained open.  I drew an S, but it didn't play well there
so I passed it up for 58 points elsewhere.  Iliana also had just drawn
and S, but she found yet another bingo elsewhere, so the spot was
*still* open!  Finally I took it, playing SOJU (a Korean alcoholic
beverage) for 75.  Whew!  What a crazy start to a game -- 370 total
points were scored in the first five plays.

In an earlier game, Ellen and I were supposedly playing TWL but she
unwittingly allowed my bingo of OREADES#, and I unwittingly allowed her
bingo of AIRGUNS#.  Ellen, maybe we should just play Collins! :) (An
OREAD is a mountain nymph, and can also be pluralized as OREADS in TWL.)

Other bingo finds included UNHAIRED (to UNHAIR is to remove the hair
from), SQUARES, DEMOTING, SHOOING, PAINTED, OVERFAST, INULASE (an
enzyme), CRIPPLED, TEASELED, GOETIES# (GOETY# is black magic), DOCTRINE,
LEATHERS, EDUCATES, WAITERS, POULAINE# (a long, pointed toeshoe),
HAIRNET, REGINAL (pertaining to a queen), BEDSIDE, DEMOTING, RECITERS,
and PANDERER.

Pictured below is the (CSW) game with the crazy start described above.