NG 276

New game 276 is now available.


Round 1: T X S I S O E A T

I had SITS, EXISTS, TEXTAS, and an unsure TOASTIES which I chanced, and fortunately it was listed.

TOASTIES is the only eight; the sevens are TOASTIE and TAXITES (TAXITE: "a lava appearing to be formed from fragments, because of its parts having different colours, textures, etc.").

My selection: TOASTIES


Round 2: C O K R D A F A R

I had CORK, CROAK, FROCK, and was briefly tempted by ROADCAR but rightly avoided it.

The six in this mix is ARRACK: "any of various spirits distilled in certain Arab and Asian countries from toddy [...], rice, molasses, or other materials".  The other fives are RADAR, FARAD ("the derived SI unit of capacitance [...]"), and ARDOR.

My selection: CROAK
Best: ARRACK


Round 3: Target 138 from 75 1 3 10 4 3

For some reason my first thought was not to start with 2*75 (which would have required making a 2 but that is not overly difficult), so I then moved to 75 + 63.  That worked out, fortunately, giving me 138 = 3*3*(10 + 1 - 4) + 75.  Then I considered the factorisation 3*46, getting an alternative solution of 138 = (75 - 3*10 + 1)*3.  Finally I thought to try the 2*75 approach and found 138 = (3 - 1)*75 - 3*4.

I'll also note that the factorisation 2*69 is attainable enough: 138 = (3 - 1)*(75 - 10 + 4).

My selection: 138 = 3*3*(10 + 1 - 4) + 75


Round 4: N A D S O E T R F

I had SAND, NOSED, DONATES, FROSTED, SNORTED, and FRONTED.  FORESTAND was a little too implausible, alas.  Just after time I saw the eight of SEAFRONT.

SEAFRONT is the only eight; the other sevens are DEFROST, FONDEST, FEDORAS, STRAFED, ROASTED / TORSADE ("a twisted cord"), and FANTODS (FANTOD: "a temperamental mannerism or affectation; performance").

My selection: DONATES
Best: SEAFRONT


Round 5: S T L I C G B O U

I had LIST, BOILS, LOGICS, and was a little tempted by SUBLOGIC but not enough (fortunately).

The seven here is OCULIST.  The other sixes are BIGOTS, CUBITS / CUBIST, LOCUST / CLOUTS, GUILTS, COITUS, COULIS, and SUBITO ("(in music) suddenly; abruptly").

My selection: LOGICS
Best: OCULIST


Round 6: Target 724 from 1 2 10 7 3 6

The target is near 10*72, and 72 has a lot of helpful factors so I started by trying to use that.  I was able to get to one away with that idea via 723 = 10*6*2*(7 - 1) + 3.

The target is unreachable, and there's only one way to get to one off.

My selection: 723 = 10*6*2*(7 - 1) + 3  [1 off]


Round 7: L R P L O E D M I

I had POLL, PROLE, wondered about POLLER (not valid), POLLED, wondered about IMPELLOR (valid as a variant spelling of IMPELLER), noted that another I instead of the M (a possibility with four vowels) would have allowed PILLORIED, then IMPLODE, speculated about IMPLODER (not valid) but then saw IMPLORED as the safe anagram of it.

IMPELLOR and IMPLORED are the only eights.  The other sevens are IMPLORE, REDPOLL (a type of bird), and PRILLED (PRILL: "to make (a solid, such as an ore) into free-flowing granules or pellets").  Plus there's the question of MOLDIER, which I've mentioned before.

My selection: IMPLORED


Round 8: Target 617 from 25 75 100 50 7 5

The target is near 625, which is very reachable.  That sufficed for a one-away 618 = 5*(75 + 50) - 7, and I could not better it.

With good reason, as it's another unreachable target; this time there are a lot of ways to get one off.

My selection: 618 = 5*(75 + 50) - 7  [1 off]


Round 9: BIG MEN RIG

After pulling out the -ING fragment the remaining letters were not too promising, but I saw the possible BE- beginning to get the answer of BEGRIMING.

My selection: BEGRIMING (24.5s)