A tale of two tournaments

[porosus]

I was playing well and in great shape after two days at the Arden Cup, and then the wheels came off. 
With three rounds to go I had to win one game to clinch division C.  I lost all 3 through a mix of bad luck and bad play and finished third.  I attribute part of the problem to a bout of insomnia the night before.  After wkaing up to a thunderstorm

Comments

[aibretty]

Game 2 was just painful. Once you got those orphans, you just lost your mind. Believe me I understand, but you have to think that you don't need a bingo to win this game, and with both blanks unseen, you really should get some turnover and score as much as you can. Also, on this board ENRST is not a great leave because your lines have to end in E or play through a G in the middle of the word. Even if you draw a bingo, chances are it won't play with that kind of leave.

I sort of like CENTRE/ERAS (not knowing CENTRUM) for 20 leaving S when you play C(E)E for 11. I also would consider RUMENS (not knowing CERUMENS) for 24 leaving CERT. There's enough goodies left that you can outgun him in the endgame. Even if he bingoes, you stand an OK chance of getting back in it with plays on line 14 and at J10.

These are of course considering not knowing the words that are the star plays.

It's too bad ERUCTION* isn't good cause you could just fish for TRISTE(ZA). Just kidding.

Anybody else have a better play? I'm obviously just talking out loud here.