NG 338

New game 338 is now available.


Round 1: T W A D F O N E O

I had WAFT, TOAD, FANTOD (marked as obsolete for "a temperamental mannerism or affectation"), WAFTED, FOOTED, and WOODEN.

Six appears to be the limit -- Scrabble would allow FATWOOD or ODONATE -- with the others being DONATE / ATONED, WANTED, FAWNED, WOOFED, and WONTED.

My selection: WAFTED


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

I had a rather colloquial CERT, TACKLE, TACKLER, and CAULKER.  I wanted a final I for RETICULA (plural of RETICULUM: "a network"), but the next vowel would not have been an I in any case.

The other seven is TRUCKLE, which is apparently another term for a pulley.

My selection: TACKLER


Round 3: Target 230 from 100 25 1 10 8 10

With tens around, it is hard to go past the option of 10*23.  I couldn't, anyway, getting 230 = (25 - (10 - 8))*10.  After time I considered some less likely options and found an enjoyable scenic route of 230 = ((100 - 8)*25)/10.

My selection: 230 = (25 - (10 - 8))*10


Round 4: O N R I H F S H I

I had IRON, HORN, IRONS, and the dubious options of IRONISH, HORNISH, IRONFISH, and HORNFISH.  None of those last four were valid (nor even looked like being so), so five was my limit.

There were two sixes here, both findable: FINISH and RHINOS.  And even a seven of NOIRISH ("stylistically resembling film noir").

My selection: IRONS
Best: NOIRISH


Round 5: S D P S T A E U E

I had PASTS, PASTED, UPDATED, and DEPUTES.

Seven appears to be the limit; the others are SEDATES, SAUTÉED, PESETAS (PESETA being a former unit of currency of Spain), and PETASUS ("a low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat worn by ancient Greeks and Romans, often represented as worn by Hermes or Mercury").

My selection: UPDATES


Round 6: Target 940 from 100 75 7 9 10 10

Again a target divisible by 10 and spare 10's to use.  I started with 940 = (100 - (9 + 7 - 10))*10, then found the shorter 940 = (75 + 10 + 9)*10.  A little more thought reminded me that getting exactly to 94 before multiplying by 10 was not strictly necessary, and hence another solution of 940 = 10*(100 - 7) + 10.

My selection: 940 = 10*(100 - 7) + 10


Round 7: B A I G N R B I E

I had BANG, BRING, BARBING, BEARING, and an uncertain GABBIER (it turns out to be valid).  After time I noted RIBBING as another seven.

The remaining seven in this mix is BRIBING.

My selection: BEARING


Round 8: Target 101 from 75 25 50 2 10 4

Surely a 1 cannot be too hard to come by?  Indeed, it was findable; I went with 101 = 75 + 25 + 10/2 - 4.  Then I considered the alternative of 125 - 24 and found another solution of 101 = 75 + 50 - 2*10 - 4.

My selection: 101 = 75 + 25 + 10/2 - 4


Round 9: PITIES HAT

I forget which conundrum was almost this, but it made me think of HEPATITIS and so I chose that instead.

My selection: [N/A -- conundrum chosen explicitly]
Best: HEPATITIS