NG 277

New game 277 is now available.


Round 1: A A S N O S S L E

Huh, we had an almost identical mix in round 1 of NG 275.  I had SANS, SALONS, and SEASONAL; I contemplated SEASONALS for a moment but it was too implausible.  I also noted LESSONS and LASSOES as some sevens here.

SEASONAL is the only eight; the other seven is SEASONS.

My selection: SEASONAL


Round 2: E A T U D D L C R

I had DATE, DATED, DEDUCT, wondered about CUDDLER (not valid), CLADDER (also not valid, although that surprised me), TRADUCE, and TRADUCED.  After time I checked up on ADDUCER and found it was valid (agent noun derived from ADDUCE: "to bring forward in argument; cite as pertinent or conclusive").

TRADUCED is the only eight; the other sevens are CURDLED, CRADLED, and CURATED.

My selection: TRADUCED


Round 3: Target 189 from 50 1 3 8 4 3

I recognised the target as 9*21, and was able to make that work in the small numbers alone: 189 = (8 + 1)*3*(4 + 3).  Then I noted the more prosaic option of 189 = 4*50 - 8 - 3.

My selection: 189 = (8 + 1)*3*(4 + 3)


Round 4: G I N E N M H E I

I had NINE, MINGE, HINGE, wondered if GEMINI had a lowercase sense (it does not), and ENGINE.  I also amused myself with the idea of a MINIGENE and a MINIHENGE, but not plausibly.

The other sixes are MINING, HIEING, and HEINIE.

My selection: ENGINE


Round 5: F R R K A T T I E

I had FARK (I thought I was being facetious in a reference to the infamous incident which led to Graham Kennedy being banned from live broadcasting, but it has been enshrined in the Macquarie and is valid), RAFT, contemplated FARTIER (not valid), RAFTER, FATTIER, and FRITTER.

The other sevens are RATTIER / TARTIER.

My selection: FRITTER


Round 6: Target 170 from 75 3 4 6 10 2

I tweaked my way up from 150 with 170 = (75 + 10)*2, and left it at that.

My selection: 170 = (75 + 10)*2


Round 7: L R D C I E N I B

I had RELIC, CINDER, and BLINDER / BRINDLE.  For a moment I thought that INCREDIBLE was there, but that would require a tenth letter.

Those appear to be the only sevens, and the best to be done.

My selection: BLINDER


Round 8: Target 150 from 75 10 4 8 6 10

Many ways to proceed; I started with 150 = (8/4)*75 and then managed to do it in small numbers alone with 150 = (8 + 6)*10 + 10.

My selection: 150 = (8/4)*75


Round 9: WINS ABASH

Trying to use that W got me to WASH, and thence to WASHBASIN.

My selection: WASHBASIN (2.7s)