Frustrating Scrabble

[watervole]

I'm having one of the most frustrating Scrabble games of my life.

Owing to some bug in Scrabble Worldwide, instead of a game with megamole , it set me up with someone else.  As the other person seemed quite happy to play, I decided to continue with the game.

She's an absolutely terrible player (14% wins in 157 games), though I realised she was bad from her

Comments

You''re being aboyned!

[darth_tigger]

From The Meaning Of Liff by John Lloyd & Douglas Adams:

ABOYNE (vb.)
To beat an expert at a game of skill by playing so appallingly that none of his clever tactics or strategies are of any use to him.

Re: You''re being aboyned!

[watervole]

LOL!

Still, I think we've got her this turn. I used my precious blank a few turns ago to create a hook word, and unless she plays in that spot (and there's others more tempting to her style of play) I should finally be able to play 'entente'. But she really is teaching me the need to set up my own hooks. I'll be a better player as a result, even if it irks the heck out of me right now.

[drplokta]

If she's playing in such a way as to make it difficult for you to beat her, in what sense is she a bad player? The objective of the game is surely to beat the other player, not to run up a high score.

[watervole]

She's a bad player because she wastes her tiles. Most of her turns, I can see how she could have scored more using the tiles that she played. Ignoring the turn with the 'Z' her average score is around 10.

I'll be extremely surprised if I don't end up beating her, but I'm having to change tactics in order to do so (which is a good learning exercise for me).

The last 'bad' player I encountered, I asked if she'd like a few tips. She said 'yes', learnt very fast and is now giving me a really tough game - if that player beats me this time, I'll be pleased.

[emmzzi]

I'm not sure 'not playing the way I like to' = "terrible player!" frustrating, I'll give you...

[watervole]

I carefully defined her in terms of the game as a whole. Anyone who has lost 86% of over 150 games can safely be defined as terrible.

[emmzzi]

I don't think we'll agree on this one as I think 'bad' is subjective. So, I can cope with 'I find her a bad player', or 'I find her a frustrating player'; but not 'she is (objectively) bad.' (or absolutely terrible.) as in, I think it, therefore it is.

There may be learning problems, dyslexia, a totally different motivation to you for playing the game which make her, in her mind, wonderful; and winning, having lots of long and interesting words, whatever, may not be her motivation!

But, I'll agree to differ! And I hope your next few moves with her enable you to get enjoyment out of the game.

[watervole]

Let's say then, that I find her an unskilled player.

Now I've opened up the board, it's a whole new game. I'm 80 points in the lead and lots of space to play in.

Dyslexia isn't really an issue in Scrabble, you can use the ingame spellchecker to check a word is valid before you play it. There's an on-screen list of valid two-letter words to give you a hand.

I don't think she's stupid, some of her moves aren't bad at all. I suspect half her problem is that she puts down the first word that comes to mind without looking to see if there's a better one.

[esmeraldus_neo]

Dear lord, you strategize. You would beat me sooo badly.

I'm not as bad as your opponent, but I'm very, very bad. Terrible. God-awful, even, for someone who does what I do for a living.

[watervole]

LOL! Fancy a game?

I was a terrible player until a friend gave me a simple tip: "hang onto the letters RETAINS" If you do this, you can pretty well guarantee a seven-letter word at some point in the game, maybe two.

I'd never had a single bingo until I tried this, now I find it an odd game where I don't get at least one.

[rockwell_666]

Err, ok, so what is a "bingo"?

[watervole]

A 'bingo' is a seven letter word using up all of your tiles, carries a 50 point bonus.

[philbradley]

I see what you mean, what you say, and accept your definitions. Of course, you're right to say she's a terrible player in that respect of losing a lot of games.

However, your post cuts right to the heart of games playing. Perhaps she's having a great time, really trying, cheering to herself when she gets a few points and so on. While that may make her a bad player in one sense, on the other hand, if she's getting a lot out of the game, and enjoying it then I'd say that she's actually a good player. From what you've said, the major point that you have in playing is to win; that comes out in everything you've written here. Consequently you're getting irritated, confused and annoyed and not really enjoying yourself; it could be argued in that sense that you're not a good player.

I think the problem here is a total conflict in attitudes, approach and style. I think if I'd been you I'd have resigned ages ago. But then I don't play to win; winning is hardly even a consideration when I play - any game.

[watervole]

It depends on the type of game and who I'm playing. Some games I play almost entirely for the social aspect. If I'm playing a friend, then the social aspect will be more to the fore.

However, in this game there is no social aspect at all. I've sent her a few messages trying to open a conversation, but she isn't interested.

When you're playing an online game against a total stranger with no conversation, then playing to win is really the only aspect left.

[philbradley]

But... if you're not enjoying it, why do it?

[watervole]

Because I'm getting so annoyed with her that winning is the only way of getting rid of the irritation...

And also because it's bad manners to drop out of a game.