Archive for January, 2012
SCRABBLE: Begin Where You Are
Actually, when you think about it, how could anyone begin anything in a place other than where they are.
And yet, many impatient ‘wannabe champions’ come to me and want me to tell them everything at once so they can sign up for and win their first tournament a few weeks from today. I’d be wrong to take their money on that basis.
For the last year I have encountered one up and coming scrabble competitor and repeatedly told her that in order to become a better player she would do better by studying more, and not count the time playing as her study time. She resisted that advice. She played endless games at clubs and online. She either couldn’t or wouldn’t acknowledge my coaching. Last week I met her again at a tournament. She began the tournament with 3 consecutive wins against some highly ranked opponents. During the lunch break I ask her what she was doing differently. She admitted, “I’ve finally see the value of study over just playing a lot.” I guess that she had to discover the difference for herself. I expect that if she keeps it up she will become an awesome player.
Another player who recently began playing at clubs had noticed that the seasoned players own the skills to play bingos during most games. He want to jump right to playing bingos and bypass the somewhat boring task of memorizing the 2s and the 3s. He doesn’t get how the 2s in particular permit seasoned players from getting their bingos down on the board by using those useful and necessary ‘hooks’, in order to fit. Until he ‘gets it’ he will struggle and be frustrated.
One can rarely do calculus if they have not mastered algebra. Politicians who are not students of history will tend to make the same mistakes of the past over and over and over again.
These two scrabble lessons are also useful life lessons. A steeple is less than impressive without the church. Frosting is nothing without a cake. Without a strong foundation a mighty skyscraper will tumble.
Begin Where You Are. Choose a good teacher. Create a strong plan. Utilized tested tools and materials. Invest your time wisely and efficiently. Keep an alert eye on your goals. Measure your steady progress. Celebrate your incremental achievements.
Become a better scrabble player in 2012. CLICK
