NG 481

New game 481 is now available.


Round 1: E L M R I A P D T

I had MILER ("a participant in a race over one mile, or an athlete or racehorse, specialising in such races"), PALMIER, IMPALED, TRAILED, and IMPARTED.  After time I noted another seven of PRIMATE.

The other eights are TRAMPLED and TRIPEDAL / DIPTERAL ("Architecture having two rows of columns on all sides").  If a fourth vowel had been taken the T would have become an E, allowing the nine of IMPEARLED (IMPEARL: "to form into pearl-like drops").

My selection: IMPARTED


Round 2: E C A D L O A H F

I had DACE, LACED / DECAL / CLADE ("a group of organisms which are considered to have evolved from a common ancestor"), COALED, FAECAL, CHAFED, and FACADE.

Six is the best to be done, with the others being LOAFED / FOALED and HALOED.

My selection: CHAFED


Round 3: Target 227 from 50 25 1 2 6 6

The standard method is clearly attractive, with the offset of 2 being ready-made.  I went with 227 = (6 + 1)*25 + 50 + 2 at first, then looked for other options.  I noted that the offset from 300 was 72, which was 2*6*6, and so found an alternative solution of 227 = 6*(50 - 2*6) - 1.

My selection: 227 = 6*(50 - 2*6) - 1


Round 4: E M N T S O O E K

I had STEM, STONE, and MOONSET.  I also saw TONEMES, but knew from past experience that TONEME is not in the Macquarie.

The other sevens are SOMEONE and KETONES.

My selection: MOONSET


Round 5: P A B E R N T S E

I had BEAR, BRANT, NEAREST, PARENTS, and BERATES.  After time I noted other sevens of BEATERS and EASTERN / EARNEST.

There are two eights in this mix: ABSENTER (someone who absents themselves, not "more absent") and the unusual BESPRENT ("Poetic besprinkled; bestrewed").

My selection: PARENTS
Best: ABSENTER


Round 6: Target 341 from 100 75 6 6 10 1

I recognised this target as 11*31, which was hard to go past.  Both parts are easily formable, leading to 341 = (100 - 75 + 6)*(10 + 1).

There are two other solutions to this: 341 = 6*75 - 100 - 10 + 1, and 341 = (6*10 + 1)*6 - (100 - 75).

My selection: 341 = (100 - 75 + 6)*(10 + 1)


Round 7: T D A Y A S I N O

I had DATA, STAID, STAIN, and then an episode 450 flashback got me NAYSAID.

NAYSAID is the only seven, and the best to be done.  The sixes are DAINTY, SANITY / SATINY, STADIA, SONATA, NAIADS (NAIAD: "one of a class of water-nymphs fabled to dwell in and preside over streams and springs"), DYNAST ("a ruler or potentate, especially a hereditary ruler"), and ADONIS.

My selection: NAYSAID


Round 8: Target 947 from 100 75 25 2 6 3

It's clearly tempting to make this as 950 - 3.  I took rather longer than I liked to find one way to this, but was happy to get there in the end with 947 = (25 - 6)*100/2 - 3.  An alternative which I was close to seeing but missed is 947 = 2*(6*75 + 25) - 3.

My selection: 947 = (25 - 6)*100/2 - 3


Round 9: TUBA PEDAL

The -ABLE fragment is always worth a look, and in this case it worked.

My selection: UPDATABLE (3.7s)