…with Gary Moss

At the time when I entered the world of competitive scrabble, Jean Carol was one of the highest ranking women players in the NSA. Myself, with a much lower rating, I rarely, if ever, had an opportunity to play against Jean in a sanctioned game.

But that doesn’t mean that she and I were strangers to each other. Jean was a people person. Her circle was open to all and that set her apart from many of the other experts who didn’t give the time of day to players rated under 1600.

Jean always had a warm greeting and conversation to share when we’d cross paths at tournaments in Cleves or Dayton or Gatlinburg. She also attended a few of the tournaments which I directed in Michigan, in the early 1990s.

The only time when I was able to beat Jean Carol was in the early 1990s. I produced and directed a two day scrabble tournament at a campground at Proud Lake, in Walled Lake, Michigan. Players came from near and far. Jean came along with the contingency from southern Ohio.

In order to provide a break in the grueling scrabble competition and get people up and about, I scheduled time off, after lunch on Saturday as free time. Some people went hiking and smelled the roses; some folks went back to their scrabble boards for a pick-up game or two; and a group of us ventured out of the park to a nearby bowling alley as a diversion.

Who’d have thought that Jean Carol was an avid bowler? Jean, Paul Epstein and I, along with a few others abandoned our lexicons in favor of splits and spares and strikes. When the game was over, I had scored 194, a higher score than Jean’s 189.

For a while thereafter I shared that truth with others. But all I divulged was that I had beaten Jean Carol. I never told them that I had beaten her at bowling.

Miss you Jean.

Tis the season to play SCRABBLE. But as far as I’m concerned, it is always the right time to play some scrabble.

Consider this as your personal invitation to join in on the fun. You will need to come to Orange County, California, the location of the event will be at Laguna Woods Village in Laguna Woods, on Sunday, December 18, beginning at 9:30AM.

Oh yeah, I have room for only 50 players, so if you are serious about attending you must RSVP soon.

For all the detail about event, CLICK HERE.

There are ‘scrabble teachers’ and then there are ‘SCRABBLE TEACHERS’. There are ‘students of scrabble’ and there are ‘STUDENTS OF SCRABBLE’. As a past president once put it so clearly, “It all depends on what ‘IS’ is.”

Some teachers are bold and authoritarian. They push their students’ noses to the grindstone and demand that all students follow their syllabus (‘the RIGHT WAY’).

I use to be that kind of teacher. I used those methods when I shared the joys of scrabble with my children. (None of my children have much to do with scrabble these days.)

I have come to learn that people do things for their own reasons, not mine. Furthermore, I now understand our intention determines our successes, be it with playing scrabble, balancing our check book, or dressing for success.

When a prospective scrabble student approaches me as says, “I want to ‘TRY’ to learn the legal 2-Letter-Words,” I already know that there is a slim chance that he/she will reach that goal.

The word ‘TRY’ is a sellout, it is an escape hatch, it is an excuse. The word ‘TRY’ tells me that the person lacks commitment.

Success usually occurs when a person says, “I want to learn how to play winning scrabble. Where do I begin?”

This player has an ‘I CAN’ attitude and is open to taking direction.

As a teacher, I have learned that every person has their own style of learning. Therefore, a teacher who is sensitive to the pupil’s style will be able to help students find success. These teachers use velvet hammers and padded crowbars when forcing issues. These teachers only tell enough to set the pupil on the road to discovery. People learn things the best when it is a result of their own revelations.

If you are an ‘I CAN’ person and want to become an even better scrabble player. . . If you are an ‘I CAN’ person and want to improve your memory skills. . . Then dive into SCRABBLE 101. CLICK HERE

DO IT WITH COMMITMENT. . . YOU’LL LIKE IT!

The only time when I was not early was on the day I was born. Ever since that day I’ve possessed a trait that is one from my mom’s gene pool (a Freedman thing), being early, the first one to arrive, the one waiting for the doors to be unlocked in order to enter.

Better early than late, right?

We early people spend a lot of time waiting. We receive regularly scheduled lessons in patience vs. impatience. Early people are great at counting; we count the minutes remaining until the events begin; we count the chairs in the auditorium, the tiles on the floor, and the number of parking spaces in the parking lot. Some early people are more prepared than others. They anticipate. They are always schlepping along a bag of things to occupy themselves during long waiting periods. They carry books, writing journals, iPads, laptops, and sudoku puzzles. They carry along snacks not limited to gum and candy; I’ve witnessed more than one early bird who always has a spare meal in their satchel. Some early birds are exceptionally thoughtful and carry enough food so they can share with an army.

Early birds who happen to be scrabble mavins will usually carry a Franklin or a copy of Zyzzyva on a handheld device. Others will sit wherever, quietly, and work at hooking visible signs around the room. (‘express’ to ‘expresso’) Some will find a word of seven or more letters long and fashion a complete list of sub-anagrams from that word.

Most early birds are very creative people.

This morning I went to work, showing up and opening a good 20 minutes early, as per my usual. Twenty minutes later a co-worker showed up to open and informed me that today was my day off. I was an entire day early.

But the worst for me was the time I showed up for a wedding of a friend and found some workers painting the benches in the garden where the wedding was scheduled to take place. (I was an entire week early.)

As you might imagine, I have created an unending stack of scrabble-related-materials to amuse myself and sharpen my scrabble skills as I wait and wait and wait. Many of these study aids are for sale at my online store, WORD GIFTS. CLICK HERE

Has anyone every told you that you have the ability to do anything that you choose to do? Has anyone every told you that you have the ability to become anything that you choose to become?

Well, it may be true. But, our hopes and dreams for our outcomes is usually dependent upon more than just wishing and praying. Normally there is a lot of doing and planning and learning that takes place along the way.

Even becoming the best tire changer in the world doesn’t just happen. Did you know that different model cars store the tire changing apparatus in different locations within the car? Did you know that there are some tools that loosen the lug nuts requiring less strength than others? Do you know what a lug nut is? Most people simply call AAA and never get their hands dirty.

The overconfident, casual player, frequently believes that they know more than enough to play a good game of scrabble.

Meanwhile the MAVIN understands the complexity of the game. Each one of those knobs, dials and buttons represents a different skill that is used to win the game. (One is for ‘hooks’ and one is for ‘extensions’; another is for tracking and one is for anagrams; yet another is for hot spots while one is for vowel dumps.) The mavin is always thinking about the possibilities for the next play, while playing this play.

The Casual Player is merely playing the words that are obvious. (Like the politicians who make popular choices without regard for long term consequences.)

Doing anything well requires forethought, dedication, and commitment. Or one can simply find happiness strumming every song in the Key of C.

To learn how to play scrabble comparable to playing a symphony, CLICK HERE.

I like it when other people like me and approve of me. I probably learned that way back while growing up. And I experience a twang of pain or guilt when people strike out at me with their words or actions. Something as benign as “get real” can set me aback.

The truth is simply that 1) that person thinks differently, 2) that person lacks the basic knowledge on the subject, or 3) that person feels threatened using put downs to bolster themselves.

It happens all the time when playing scrabble.

Those opponents are usually newbies or are casual players online. They are well-spoken individuals who have mastered ‘every-day-speak’. Generally they don’t give a hoot about the OWL2 (Official Word List). If I play some word that is not used in common daily conversation, like ‘usufruct’, they immediately suspect that I am sitting with a dictionary at hand, and accuse me of being a cheater.

usufruct |ˈyoōzəˌfrəkt; -sə-|
noun Roman Law
the right to enjoy the use and advantages of another’s property short of the destruction or waste of its substance.

Let me tell you, it is not easy to learn and remember a word like like ‘usufruct’. It was played against me by Pat Yarnell in a club game, which I lost. But maybe that is why I remember it so well. And if and when I ever have the ability to play it against an opponent, I want some RESPECT, not some disgruntled person telling me to “Get Real”.

There are reasons that scrabble clubs are relatively small in size. Most people don’t want to tax their brains to remember words like ‘usufruct’. Instead, most players who love the game are satisfied playing off words like: happy, jump, and bitch.

That kind of play might be satisfying for some. It can wile away the hours. But my response to playing that way as a competition is “GET REAL”.

Most people go through this life like it’s ‘just a game’. But even the pastimes that we call ‘games’ have their rules and consequences.

A community of friends and strangers had been meeting weekly to play scrabble at a local bookstore. The leader of club had affiliated with a well known national association which provided the standards for uniformity via rules and word lists.

In all competitive arenas, one of the most important factors is a level playing field, for fairness and equal opportunity. Sometimes an errant official gets a call wrong and upsets fairness; sometimes a greedy participant does something sneaky to steal an advantage.

In a perfect world all players would play fairly; in a perfect world all officials would get the call ‘RIGHT’. Whose job is it to know all the rules?

It was June, the end of the school year and the end of an entire year’s play. The club director thought it would be fun to sponsor an official club tournament, crowning a club champion and awarding a championship trophy. (The trophy would pass each year from champion to champion with the names of all champs engraved.)

The field of players included all the players who had played in the club over the year. Some were seasoned players who had played in other tournaments in the past; some players were relatively new to the club scene and this would be their first tournament ever.

Tournament rules and word lists were made available to all the participants and the 8 game format was spelled out by the director.

(During play, every player has the option to neutralize the time clock and call “Director”, to clarify a rule or a challenge. Otherwise, a director MUST stand neutral and uninvolved until summonsed.)

Three of the seasoned players were in hot contention for the title and trophy throughout the tournament. By luck of the draw, one of those three players, who I’ll call player X, was assigned to play a newbie during round #7.

The newbie was playing very well. He had outdrawn player X throughout the game. Player X had very little time to make a comeback. The director stood nearby, close enough to watch yet far enough not to annoy the players. Player X found a playable bingo on his rack that would assure him of a win. He hurriedly placed the tiles onto the board, called his score, and hit the clock to end his turn. As the newbie turned the board player X yelled, “Oh expletive”! Player X turned the board back, picked up 3 tiles that he had played in the wrong order, replace the tiles, and turned the board back to the newbie. The director just stood there and watched in horror, waiting for the newbie to call for a ruling. The newbie simply sat in silence. Player X had just stolen a WIN and went on to win the tournament.

Player X was a seasoned player who new better . . . BUT. The newbie’s ignorance to the rules cost some other player a victory.

Sure, it is just a game. But it is so much more than that. It is about all of those misdeeds and unseen actions that people take advantage of when they think no one is looking or they can simply get away with things. And the real consequences do effect others.

MURDER CHILD ABUSE ADULTERY ARSON EMBEZZLEMENT

Are you your brother’s keeper? You betcha!

Or maybe my problem is that I get it all too well.

I began my working career as a teacher. Back in 1964, and still today, the degree of teaching (the imparting of information and knowledge) is, to a very high degree, related to the motivation of the student. This I know!
(An unmotivated me flunked out of Highland Park Junior College in 1960 before being motivated by a girl. Then VOILA! I earned all A’s at DIT (Detroit Institute of Technology, transferred to Wayne State University where I earned both a BS and and MA in Education.)

Motivation can be magical.

I find it sad when individual teachers and districts are held accountable for the test results of their students. Those students cannot achieve anything with motivation. It doesn’t matter one iota how good a teacher is at solving equations if he/she cannot motivate his/her students. How does any kid from a neighborhood with drive-by shootings find motivation to study? How does anyone who watches TV, seeing whoring politicians, thieving city managers, and drunk and high celebrities find the motivation to study?

Sometimes it feels like the majority are bankrupt and have given up.

What does this have to do with scrabble? Nothing and Everything.

The computer and its search engines have enabled people to play scrabble anonymously with others. The computer and its search engines have enabled people to give the impression to others and themselves that they are talented mavins. Those who win online with a Franklin by their side never come to sanctioned clubs where they would be exposed and lose.

The computer and its search engines have enabled people. Now many no longer see the value to studying and putting that knowledge in their own heads. (As long as I know how to manipulate the computer, that’s all I need to know.)

I was at a fast food store when the computer went down. Most of the employees could not do the basic math to make correct change.

And then I remember that there was a time when I was not motivated either.

THE ANSWER:

Stay MOTIVATED and motivate as many others as you are able.

Growing your vocabulary begins with a decision. It is completely your own choice. Sure, you’ll pick up a small number of new words by just being out there in the world. BUT, did you know that most people communicate with the same set of about 5,000 words. Use a word like verbosity in most circles and you will be dismissed as an egghead or a braggart. Use the word verbosity among scrabble players and you will be admired.

Remember back to your school days, when your teacher gave an assignment that wasn’t remotely connected to anything that interested you? Recall how difficult it was to learn that material? Remember that during that same period of growing up you may have known the lyrics to many a song? Remember how the jocks knew all players of every team?

We learn and remember things for our own reasons, not the reasons of others.

Remember those kids who had the goal to get into medical school? Their attitudes about study were different. Remember the kids who were into the drama club? They managed to commit line after line into their memories.

They were not smarter or more talented than the rest. They had simply made a decision and a commitment, in alignment with their passions.

The road to verbosity begins with a decision. After that, one step after another will get you there. You can also choose your path to getting there. If you choose to take the journey I can show you a number of shortcuts. If you are passionate about growing your vocabulary the entire journey will be so much fun that your won’t even mind the amount of time it will take. SCRABBLE 101

One way my friends, Amnon, learns words by compiling category lists. Have a look at one of his creations. CLICK HERE

If you want to play scrabble, you’ll find our sanctioned clubs waiting with open arms to embrace you into their fold. The regulars are always willing to strut their stuff and where better than in a game with some newbie who walks in claiming to be the best player in their family or the best on their block.

Newbies generally have no idea about the things that they DON’T KNOW. Newbies generally think that they are ‘hot stuff’ because they always win at the kitchen table. After a few turns, many Newbies have been heard to ask their opponents, “Are those real words?”

I remember the very first time when I observed a competitive scrabble game. I asked another observer if the players were using foreign words. The answer was: “Any word found in the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary is a legaL word.” That answer still holds true today.

Competitive players work hard to learn and memorize huge chunks of the OWL2 and the OSPD4.

Words alone however will not make you a Winner. Club players know that there are more than 10 skills needed, in order to put your word knowledge to good use.

Some of the smartest and brightest people I know are not particularly good scrabble players.

Some ‘fresh meat’, after being humbled, decide to learn how to really play the game. Others sort of drift away and continue to settle for beating up on the players at their kitchen table.

What is your greatest scrabble strength?

What is your greatest scrabble weakness?