NG 468

New game 468 is now available.


Round 1: C N O J R P E U O

I had CORN, PRONE, CONJURE, and POUNCER.  Later checking confirmed, as expected, that there was no such word as COUPONER.

CONJURE and POUNCER are the only sevens, and the best to be done.

My selection: CONJURE


Round 2: T B B S F O G A I

I had BOBS, BOATS, BIGOTS, and BIOGAS.

Six is the best on offer, with the others being ABBOTS, BIOGAS, and FAGOTS (FAGOT being a variant spelling of FAGGOT).

My selection: BIGOTS


Round 3: Target 907 from 50 7 7 6 2 5

It's hard to go past an approach of 900 + 7; I went with 907 = 6*(5 - 2)*50 + 7 at first, then noted the alternative 907 = (7 + 6 + 5)*50 + 7.

My selection: 907 = 6*(5 - 2)*50 + 7


Round 4: E E M S L T O U N

I had SEEM, MELTS, MOUNTS, LOMENTS (LOMENT: "a legume which is contracted in the spaces between the seeds, and breaks at maturity into one-seeded indehiscent joints"), and TOLUENES.  After time I noted the variant spelling OMELETS as another seven.

TOLUENES appears to be the only eight.  The other sevens are TOLUENE, OUTSEEN, ELUENTS (ELUENT: "a solvent used in eluting"), and MELTONS (MELTON: "a smooth heavy woollen cloth, used for coats, hunting jackets, etc.").

My selection: TOLUENES


Round 5: S N E A R S I K A

I had SANE, SNARE, and SNARES.  After time I finally found a seven of SNAKIER.

The other sevens are SINKERS, KAISERS (KAISER: "an emperor"), KINASES (KINASE being a type of enzyme), and ARSINES (ARSINE being a type of chemical).  I'm a bit surprised that SARNIE (UK slang for a sandwich) is not listed.

My selection: SNARES
Best: SNAKIER


Round 6: Target 258 from 100 25 2 5 1 4

The offset for the standard method is 8, which is 2*4.  I tweaked that to a solution of 258 = (100 + 25 + 4)*2, and then noted an untweaked version of 258 = (5 + 1)*25 + 100 + 2*4.  Seen while writing this up is 258 = 2*(5*25 + 4).

My selection: 258 = (100 + 25 + 4)*2


Round 7: A U H A E T R O S

I had HEAT, OUTER, AUTHOR, and AUTHORS.  I wondered about OUTSHARE, and noted OUTHEARS but knew from previous experience that OUTHEAR is not listed.

The tempting eight is ARTHOUSE, but the Macquarie requires that it be two words as a noun, or hyphenated as an adjective.  There is an eight, though -- the similar RATHOUSE (colloquial for "a psychiatric hospital").

The other sevens are SHOUTER / SOUTHER and EARSHOT*.

My selection: AUTHORS
Best: RATHOUSE


Round 8: Target 311 from 50 75 2 3 1 7

The offset from 7*50 is 39, which is close to 75/2.  A little adjustment gives a solution of 311 = 7*50 - (75 + 3)/2.  Switching tacks, I considered the option of 236 + 75, finding an alternative solution of (50 + 7 + 2)*(3 + 1) + 75.

My selection: 311 = 7*50 - (75 + 3)/2


Round 9: PAPAL AIRS

I was skipping through potential conundrums a bit too fast at this point, but may well not have solved this in any case.

My selection: [no answer]
Best: APPRAISAL