Scrabble in Victoria has traditionally been played face to face, at both club and event level. Recently, Scrabble Victoria has started offering its members an online option, reflecting the new ways people enjoy playing the game. These events (along with Duplicate Scrabble) were set up as a response to restrictions placed on venues due to COVID19 and allowed players the opportunity to play Scrabble online against, as well as keep in contact with, their fellow players.

The platform

We use the Scrabble Go app, which can be played on tablets, phones, and on Facebook and the rules have been varied to reflect the different way of playing. Competitions are offered in "sit and go" and "in one sitting" modes. There is also a rather different style, Duplicate Scrabble.

Sit and Go

Sit and Go matches, as the name suggests, are designed for people who play on the go; there is no urgency to play your move. A game may take several days. As long as games are completed within the allocated time (usually two weeks), that is what is required.

Saturday Online

Events completed in one sitting match the face to face experience as much as possible. These are run once a month on a Saturday afternoon. Each afternoon event gives you five games and usually commence around 1pm with games completed by around 5.30pm at the latest. Players who take part get an E-Rating, with the rating system developed by Barry Harridge.

Duplicate

This method of play is popular in France.

All participants go online with Google Meet
The director sets up a Scrabble board using the Quackle program, and draws seven tiles.
Players then have three minutes to come up with the highest-scoring play. They submit their plays to the director.
When all players have submitted, the highest scoring play is revealed. Each player gets the score for the play they made, if it is valid, or zero otherwise.
The board is then updated with the highest scoring play and replacement tiles are drawn by the director.
This is the new setup for all players for the next move.
The game ends when there are fewer than seven tiles left.
For each player, the sum of all scores is their total. The winner is whoever has the largest total.
As a yardstick, this can be compared with the theoretical greatest total score which the Quackle program finds.

How to get on board

The news about what is coming up and what has happened can be seen on the Victorian Online Scrabble League (VOSL) , a private group on Facebook. Entry to these events are free for Scrabble Victoria members, and available to non-members at a cost of $20pa. If you are interested in taking part, contact Nick Ivanovski via email at nicksfbemail@gmail.com

2021

Sit and Go

There is no prearranged schedule. The VOSL group on Facebook announces each new competition.

Saturday Online

Jan 9
Feb 20
Mar 6
Mar 27
May 1
June 5
July 31
Sep 4
Oct 2
Nov 2
Dec 11

Duplicate

Jan 12
Feb 9
Mar 9
Apr 13
May 11
Jun 8
Jul 13
Aug 10
Sep 14
Oct 12
Nov 9
Dec 14

May Ratings

Trevor Halsall       1863
Michael Hornung      1698
Nick Ivanovski       1682
Jane Taylor          1629
Tony Hunt            1565
Natasha Podesser     1550
Dianne Davis         1489
Norma Fisher         1477
Carol Johnsen        1433
Geoff Shepheard      1406
Angie Pearse         1319
Jenny Brysha         1315
Lainie Chojna        1281
Rob York             1241
Khwanjai Thammaping  1201
Paula Messer         1166
Michael Smitheram    1143
Glenys Dettmann      1111
Robin Steward        1106
Oscar Ivanovski      1037
Dominica Krstic      1032
Carol Mascitti       1029
Lynne Goodinson       933
Angie Winkler         932
Hilary Conway         929
Ann Goodwin           922
Shoba Kalugasalam     891
Latha Weerakkody      884
Annette Casey         851
Jackie Quin           776
Marisa Nuccitelli     761
Eileen Mills          714
Tania Millen          675
Jeanette Pearson      538

May MEMZONE

Results and online rating changes

Results and ratings: 01.05.2021 MEMBERZONE MAY
following mzmar21 on 20210327
A

       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    5  +495 Nick Ivanovski       E1656  +26 1682
  2    3  +166 Norma Fisher         E1473   +4 1477
  3    3   +18 Dianne Davis         E1486   +3 1489
  4    2   +80 Tony Hunt            A1593  -28 1565
  5    2   +28 Glenys Dettmann      E1089  +22 1111
  6    0  -787 Paula Messer         E1194  -28 1166

High game: Tony Hunt 668 
High word: Dianne Davis TELEXING 101 


B

       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    5  +551 Oscar Ivanovski      E1001  +36 1037
  2    3  +151 Dominica Krstic      E1038   -6 1032
  3    3   -45&Shoba Kalugasalam   ( 870)    ( 891)
  4    2  -170 Annette Casey        E 852   -1  851

       4 games
  1    2   -92 Ann Goodwin          E 922   +0  922
  2    1  -210&Jeanette Pearson    ( 519)    ( 538)
  3    0  -202 Marisa Nuccitelli    E 798  -37  761

       2 games
  1    1   +17 Lynne Goodinson      E 935   -2  933

High game: Annette Casey 439 

Shoba Kalugasalam is still provisional (20 games)
Jeanette Pearson is still provisional (24 games)

Almost April MEMZONE

Results and online rating changes

Results and ratings: 27.03.2021 MEMZONE MAR21 
following memzonma on 20210306
A

       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    5  +489 Nick Ivanovski       E1629  +27 1656
  2    3  -266 Dianne Davis         E1485   +1 1486
  3    2  +273 Carol Johnsen        E1448  -15 1433
  4    2   +41 Norma Fisher         E1492  -19 1473
  5    2  -189 Paula Messer         E1183  +11 1194
  6    1  -348 Michael Smitheram    E1148   -5 1143

High game: Carol Johnsen 556 


B

       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    4  +106 Glenys Dettmann      E1079  +10 1089
  2  3.5  +466 Oscar Ivanovski      E1002   -1 1001
  3    3  +283 Dominica Krstic      E1049  -11 1038
  4  2.5  -230 Marisa Nuccitelli    E 781  +17  798
  5    2   +63 Ann Goodwin          E 933  -11  922
  6    2   +52 Annette Casey        E 867  -15  852
  7    2  -119&Tania Millen        ( 658)    ( 675)
  8    1  -621&Jeanette Pearson    ( 500)    ( 519)

High game: Dominica Krstic 500 


Jeanette Pearson is still provisional (20 games)
Tania Millen is still provisional (29 games)

Duplicate

Our latest DUPLICATE night has just completed and it was the HIGHEST scoring on record 🤩 Trevor’s 844 was the highest score tonight with the perfect game being a massive 981! What a fascinating night of Scrabble.

Racks and Perfect plays

Rack    Play    Score
martena ramenta  74
almtwy? tramway  44
dddilox doxed    28
deehilt lethied  65
efgiip? flip     49
abegipu abune    38
aghiopr idiograph 94
enstwyz zest     86
ajownny jo       35
iswanny yawnings 73
aeiqrrv rait     26
beeqruv queer    35
abglnuv vau      27
bgglkno joke     25
bfgglno forb     24
ceggiln leggin   32
ccoittv coif     27
victort victrola 42
elnrstu lecturns 74
diloons oodlins  83

March MEMZONE

Results and online rating changes

       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    4  +531 Nick Ivanovski       E1636   -7 1629
  2    4  +263 Dianne Davis         E1494   -9 1485
  3    3  +215 Norma Fisher         E1515  -23 1492
  4    3  +144 Paula Messer         E1176   +7 1183
  5    3   -21 Glenys Dettmann      E1061  +18 1079
  6    3   -37 Oscar Ivanovski      E 967  +35 1002
  7    2   -72 Annette Casey        E 867   +0  867
  8    2  -270&Tania Millen        ( 604)    ( 658)
  9    1  -187 Lynne Goodinson      E 952  -17  935
 10    0  -566&Jeanette Pearson    ( 500)    ( 500)

High game: Nick Ivanovski 512 


Jeanette Pearson is still provisional (15 games)
Tania Millen is still provisional (24 games)

February MEMZONE

Results and online rating changes

A
       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    5  +619 Nick Ivanovski       E1603  +33 1636
  2    2   -69 Dianne Davis         E1512  -18 1494
  3    2   -75 Carol Johnsen        E1461  -13 1448
  4    2   -81 Angie Pearse         E1318   +1 1319
  5    2   -94 Norma Fisher         E1535  -20 1515
  6    2  -300 Paula Messer         E1159  +17 1176

High game: Carol Johnsen 508 

B

       5 games
       W     M                       Old  Chg  New
  1    4  +382 Lynne Goodinson      E 930  +22  952
  2    4  +351 Oscar Ivanovski      E 936  +31  967
  3    4  +257 Glenys Dettmann      E1049  +12 1061
  4    2  +143 Annette Casey        E 867   +0  867
  5    2   +94 Dominica Krstic      E1077  -28 1049
  6    2   -25 Ann Goodwin          E 956  -23  933
  7    2  -438 Marisa Nuccitelli    E 783   -2  781
  8    0  -764&Jeanette Pearson    ( 521)    ( 500)

High game: Annette Casey 485 


Jeanette Pearson is still provisional (10 games)

Duplicate

Our second night of DUPLICATE for 2021 and it’s safe to say our tiles were a little better this time around. The perfect game was 852 - congratulations to Trevor (826) with a 2 pt win from Naween! Thank you to the 8 players who took part tonight!

Racks and Perfect plays

FAINGCO FACING 32
AAELNOO ALOOF 16
AEKMNTW MAWK 40
AENSTU? UNFASTEN 74
AADEEHV HEVEA 33
AABDLNR BANDH 39
AEILRTY INTERLAY 76
EEIILNR EINE 21
IILRRRT TIRR 25
ILLMORT MOL 28
ILRTUUV RAV 13
ILOTUUW OW 24
EEILTUU RUTILE 18
DEGORTU DROGUET 75
AIIJNPS JASP 42
IINOPRX POX 42
EHIINRZ ZITE 69
AHINOQR QUINO 32
ABEHRSS BASHERS 86
CDEFINO SECOND 36
DEFIIU? IDEES 31

Duplicate ratings

Nick has devised a rating system for Duplicate Scrabble.
Here are the Duplicate ratings as at 12 Jan 2021.

Player           Rating
David Eldar      991
Naween Fernando  959
Andrew Fisher    936
Trevor Halsall   911
Natasha Podesser 910
Michael Hornung  837
Carol Johnsen    772
Chris Scholten   758
Oscar Ivanovski  752
Angie Pearse     723
Liz McKean       685
Marj Miller      683
Paula Messer     631
Jackie Quin      588
Glenys Dettmann  570
Annette Casey    392
Latha Weerakkody 390

Duplicate

Introduction to 2021 of the monthly Duplicate with 6 players taking part with the perfect score being a lower than normal 740. Congratulations to Trevor (711) for winning the night, Angie in 2nd and Oscar came 3rd.

Racks and Perfect plays

ELUOSVW VOWELS 32
EFHHOSU HOHS 38
BDEFUUZ DEF 32
BITTUUZ BUTUT 27
ACARIZE BRAIZE 37
AMUCKAN AMUCK 50
CLANGER CLANGER 24
CLNOQTU QUOTE 34
ACINILY YA 32
CIIILNS NILS 29
CEIINJW JUICE 28
IILNORW LOIR 28
TOWNITE WOON 25
DEIMTTV DEMIT 26
DORTV?? TAVERT 33
ABEGOOD BADGER 32
AEOORRX OXER 39
OARFINE FEARE 31
AIINOOP NAP 29
EIIOONP PI 25
AEEINOO NO 18
AIYEEIO AIYEE 17
DGIINOS INDIGOES 74

January MEMZONE

A
Results from round 5
1   Norma Fisher      4       +326
2   Michael Smitheram 4       +138
3   Angie Pearse      2(+0.5) +143(+0)
4   Jenny Brysha      2        +23
5   Nick Ivanovski    1(+0)   +112(+0)
6   Carol Johnsen     1      -338
7   Paula Messer      1      -404
Bye treatment explained in brackets

High game:  Angie Pearse  541
B
Results from round 5
1   Oscar Ivanovski   4(+0) +209(+0)
2   Angie Winkler     3     +217
3   Ann Goodwin       3     +150
4   Glenys Dettmann   3     -55
5   Marisa Nuccitelli 2      -5
6   Annette Casey     2    -189
7   Lynne Goodinson   1(+0)-118(+0)
8   Carol Mascitti    1    -209
Bye treatment explained in brackets

High game:  Ann Goodwin 474

January Ratings (after MEMZONE 6)

Trevor Halsall       1863
Michael Hornung      1698
Jane Taylor          1629
Nick Ivanovski       1603
Natasha Podesser     1550
Norma Fisher         1535
Dianne Davis         1512
Carol Johnsen        1461
Geoff Shepheard      1406
Angie Pearse         1318
Jenny Brysha         1315
Lainie Chojna        1281
Rob York             1241
Khwanjai Thammaping  1201
Paula Messer         1159
Michael Smitheram    1148
Robin Steward        1106
Dominica Krstic      1077
Glenys Dettmann      1049
Carol Mascitti       1029
Ann Goodwin           956
Oscar Ivanovski       936
Angie Winkler         932
Lynne Goodinson       930
Hilary Conway         929
Latha Weerakkody      884
Shoba Kalugasalam     870
Annette Casey         867
Marisa Nuccitelli     783
Jackie Quin           776
Eileen Mills          714
Tania Millen          604
Jeanette Pearson      521

2020

Ratings

Trevor Halsall       1863
Michael Hornung      1698
Jane Taylor          1629
Nick Ivanovski       1612
Natasha Podesser     1550
Norma Fisher         1520
Dianne Davis         1512
Carol Johnsen        1510
Geoff Shepheard      1406
Jenny Brysha         1325
Angie Pearse         1308
Lainie Chojna        1281
Rob York             1241
Khwanjai Thammaping  1201
Paula Messer         1169
Robin Steward        1106
Michael Smitheram    1095
Dominica Krstic      1077
Carol Mascitti       1072
Glenys Dettmann      1051
Ann Goodwin           952
Lynne Goodinson       947
Hilary Conway         929
Angie Winkler         923
Oscar Ivanovski       889
Latha Weerakkody      884
Annette Casey         872
Shoba Kalugasalam     870
Marisa Nuccitelli     776
Jackie Quin           776
Eileen Mills          714
Tania Millen          604
Jeanette Pearson      521

Duplicate

Our final night of Duplicate in 2020 was a very tight affair for the 8 players taking part with the perfect score being a lower than normal 656. Congratulations to Naween for winning the night, scoring 654, from David in 2nd and Andrew in 3rd.

Duplicate

Andrew Fisher played a near perfect game in our Duplicate match, scoring 811 of a perfect 819. Naween finished close behind with Carol coming in 3rd.

Racks and Perfect plays

ACDINR? CARDING 74
AGINUVV VICUGNA 26
BESTVAX VAXES 40
BDKNSTT TSK 28
BANDITJ AJI 32
BANDART ABRADANT 61
HALFNUM FULHAM 56
SONOMIA AMOTIONS 83
OREWOOD EXODOI 32
ALTHROW THROW 46
RULLIYA ALIYA 36
LNPRRUZ LUZ 32
LLNPRRW EXCH 7 0
CEENGPU PUNGENCE 76
BORTIFY FORBY 35
LETTITE EE 25
TOLLITT TOTTY 16
ILLREND DRILLER 18
EEGIINQ QIN 28
EEGIISW STEWER 30
EIIGOR? VUG 23
EEIIOPR OPE 22