MetaChat - How far is too far?

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03 December 2007

How far is too far? Playing online Scrabble. This version gives you access to the whole list of valid words and allows you to check words before you submit. Opponents are submitting insane words like "ecru" and "mibs".
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Is it cheating to write a perl script to tell me which words on the list will fit in a given space with given letters? I could just search the word list myself, and this speeds it up.

post by: agropyron at: 15:11 | 16 comments

Perl script? Pft.

grep ^chea.$ /usr/share/dict/words

posted by chrismear 03 December | 15:13

Hmm..."ecru" isn't really an insane word to me. I see it a lot in crossword puzzles.

posted by smich 03 December | 15:17

chrismear, my script is just a loop that lets me type a regex and searches it, then waits for the next regex... your way would have too much backspacing for my taste. :)

posted by agropyron 03 December | 15:22

This site lets you type in the letters and tells you what words you can make with them.

And I second smich. Nothing weird about ecru.

posted by jrossi4r 03 December | 15:25

You could use these mugs to help you along.

posted by chewatadistance 03 December | 15:28

'Ecru' is also one of the many words that marketers use to try to make off-white sound classier.

(Incidentally, agro, if someone played 'qat' or 'xi,' you probably wouldn't bat an eye. Funny world.)

posted by box 03 December | 15:31

(Also, those mugs are awesome.)

posted by box 03 December | 15:36

Or you could really cheat and find the highest-scoring possible word with this site.

There appears to be no limit to cheating in online Scrabble. But, on the other hand, nobody can knock over the board in a fit of rage. So I guess it's a wash.

posted by kyleg 03 December | 15:50

But, on the other hand, nobody can knock over the board in a fit of rage. So I guess it's a wash.

Dude -- Ctrl + W.

posted by mudpuppie 03 December | 15:57

If you search a list using your letters, it's cheating. If you look up individual words to see if they're real, it's not.

posted by eamondaly 03 December | 15:59

Unless you are using a context-dependent board searcher, a decent Scrabbler will still clean your clock (most of my best plays involved playing two or more words at one time). Even with a context-dependent board searcher, an excellent Scrabbler will destroy you.

A lot of the game is not high scoring plays but preventing your opponent from getting the triples.

posted by plinth 03 December | 16:45

That and rack control, especially as it relates to bingos.

posted by box 03 December | 16:47

Rack control is dirty pool, especially if you're wearing a sweater.

posted by ooga_booga 03 December | 19:32

My sister used to be really into playing Scrabble online, but doesn't any more since her favorite site started charging or something.

Any recommendations for the best free multiplayer online version?

posted by item 04 December | 01:58

I like Scrabulous. Haven't played there in a while, but it's free.

posted by reenum 04 December | 08:45

I used to love Internet Scrabble Club, but haven't played there for a while.

posted by box 04 December | 12:47

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