Stats from Board One

compiled by Peter Schwartzman

Okay folks.

I have compiled stats for NCS 2009 Table #1 (Division 1), all 31 games.
Short analysis follows stats.

Enjoy.

• Games played: 31
• Player 1's average score: 420.1
• Player 2's average score: 409.5
• Player 1's record: 15-16 (48%)
• Player getting both blanks: 8-3 (73%)
• Player getting all S's: 3-0 (100%)
• Player getting all JQXZ: 0-1 (0%)
• Player getting more than five of Key Tiles (??SSSSJQXZ): 18-6 (75%)
• Player getting seven or more Key Tiles: 8-1 (89%)
• Player bingoing first: 20-11 (65%)

Analysis:

—Going first nets a 10.6 point advantage (much lower than NSC 2008 (34.1), see below) but doesn't win more often; once again, I argue that the person going second should start the game with 10-15 points.

—Getting more Key Tiles is a BIG advantage and 7+ KT is almost insurmountable.

—Key to winning: Draw all the S's; nothing else seems invincible.

RESULTS FROM NSC 2008 (Table I, Division I)

• Games Played: 28
• Player 1's average score: 441.0
• Player 2's average score: 406.9
• Player 1's record: 18-10 (64%)
• Player getting both blanks: 12-4 (75%)
• Player getting all S's: 2-0 (100%)
• Player getting all JQXZ: 3-1 (75%)
• Player getting more than five of Key Tiles (??SSSSJQXZ): 17-5 (77%)
• Player getting seven or more Key Tiles: 10-2 (83%)
• Player bingoing first: 20-8 (71%)

Peter Schwartzman is an Environmental Studies Professor at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. He loves his two bingos, C-A-M-E-L-L-I-A (age 6) and J-U-N-I-P-E-R (age 4), future Scrabblers.