Thomas Reinke Ruins More Dreams Than Usual

1st Thomas Reinke cruised to an undefeated night, going 4-0 +477. His first rack of the night, containing two blanks, was a good omen, as he used that early advantage to beat Lynda 481-340. In that game, he played what is seeming to be one of his favorite bingos, GOETHITE (n. an ore of iron, named after noted renaissance man Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), a word he has now played three times. He didn't draw both blanks right away against Bryan, but did draw THERIAC, which he then supplemented with REALIGNS and the phony disconnected-nine GEMCUTTER* (n. one who cuts gems, except apparently not). Bryan got down INTRUDE, but fell 314-495. Gotta play more phony nines if you want to win against a guy who has no shame! Thomas then performed the notable feat of holding Charles bingoless in his 418-376 win. Charles made it close considering his lack of rack-clearers, but this club doesn't keep track of moral victories. In the final game, the decisive contest for ultimate club supremacy, Thomas beat Michael 440-327 despite a missed triple-triple. Passing up triple-triples is usually not the correct strategy, but it seemed to work out for him on this night. These experts just operate on a different level than the rest of us.

2nd Charles Reinke went 3-1 +275, his bingoless game against Thomas denying him his usual undefeated glory. His first rack of the night, containing two blanks, was a good omen (sound familiar?). It took him a while, but after a few turns of awkward racks (including the saddest orphan bingo ever, KOLKHOZ), he got down BLINTZES for 104 on his way to a 455-359 win against Richard. Charles was outbingoed 2-3 against Gail, but still earned the win, 470-387. Gail got down FAULTIER, BLINDERS, and REALISES versus Charles' DAUTIES and SHARPIE. After staring at a whole game's worth of non-bingo racks against Thomas, he turned his attention to Lynda, against whom he resumed his bingoing ways. He played TAILGATE, RATTENED, and CLEANERS in that 495-357 win.

3rd Bryan Benwitz was the second of three players who went three-and-Thomas (the other being Michael), going 3-1 +268. I don't know if he drew both blanks on his first rack, he probably didn't, but he still won 466-301 against Helen, playing FLOWAGES, ROOTAGES, and CARRIONS. His night got off track a little bit in his game against Thomas, but Bryan got it right back on track again against Gail, scoring 509. He got down ERGOTIC, INSOLATE (v. to expose to sunlight), and ORIENTED. In the final game, against Richard, he won 459-341 with the help of SOIGNEE and DARKEST. Richard played FOOTLIKE (n. a monetary unit of... never mind) and SALUTING, but it was not enough. No, not nearly enough.

Dave played the word-of-the-week UNCINATE (adj. bent at the end like a hook). It doesn't take an S or D at the end, but it does take an R at the front, making RUNCINATE (adj. pinnately cut with the lobes pointing downward, apparently how dandelion leaves are shaped).