NG 416

New game 416 is now available.


Round 1: E A P M O A C R T

I had MOPE / POEM, POMACE, and CAMPER.  After time I noted CARPET as another six.

I'd considered COMPART within time (legal in Scrabble, but not listed in the Macquarie), yet somehow overlooked the option of COMPARE.  The other seven is MARCATO, a musical direction.

My selection: POMACE
Best: COMPARE


Round 2: E D F A T O S N E

I had DEAF, FATED, FASTED, FANTODS, DONATES, FASTENED, and SOFTENED.

The other eight is ENDOSTEA (plural of ENDOSTEUM: "the vascular membrane lining the medullary cavity of a bone").  The other sevens are DENOTES, FEASTED / DEFEATS / DEAFEST, DEAFENS, and FONDEST.

My selection: FASTENED


Round 3: Target 137 from 25 75 5 6 10 10

The difference from 75 is 62, and I ended up spotting two ways to make the 62 and thus two solutions: 137 = 75 + 6*10 + 10/5 and 137 = (25 + 6)*10/5 + 75.

My selection: 137 = 75 + 6*10 +10/5


Round 4: I E R A C S O N E

I had CARE, SCARE, CARIES, CARNIES, and wondered about CANOERS (not valid -- the appropriate word would be CANOEIST(S)).  After time I noted some other sevens of SCORIAE, CRONIES, COARSEN, and ARSENIC, and finally the eight of SCENARIO.

The other eight is INCREASE.  There are a fair few other sevens.

My selection: CARNIES
Best: SCENARIO


Round 5: I G O O I C H W D

Ergh, horrible mix.  I had CHOW, HOOD, and WOOD.  After time I considered CHIGO, but checking reveals that the word I was thinking of is spelled CHIGOE (a type of flea).

There is a single five to be found here: IODIC.

My selection: WOOD
Best: IODIC


Round 6: Target 893 from 100 50 4 9 2 1

The standard method yields an easy 893 = 9*100 - 4 - 2 - 1, but I saved a number with 893 = 9*(100 - 1) + 2.

My selection: 893 = 9*(100 - 1) + 2


Round 7: Z T R O A E M O T

I had TARO, ORATE, ROTATE, MATTER, and TEAROOM.

The other seven is MOZETTA (variant spelling of MOZZETTA: "a short cape which covers the shoulders and can be buttoned over the breast, and to which a hood is attached, worn by the pope and by cardinals, bishops, abbots, and other dignitaries").

But there is an eight to be found here: AMORETTO.

My selection: TEAROOM
Best: AMORETTO


Round 8: Target 413 from 50 3 1 2 9 2

The offset from 9*50 is 37, and a quick tweak gave 413 = 9*(50 - 2 - 2) - 1.  Working up from 400 instead gave a solution of 413 = (9 - 1)*(50 + 2) - 3.

My selection: 413 = 9*(50 - 2 - 2) - 1


Round 9: NUMBER PAL

I was not able to solve this within time, getting too hung up on the -ABLE fragment.

My selection: [no answer]
Best: PENUMBRAL