Personal approaches: Hierarchy of Study
Posted on Tuesday, July 18 @ 11:16:51 EDT
Topic: Study Approaches
|
by Ben Withers
The question about studying 9s got me to thinking about what words are most valuable to know in terms of effectively playing Scrabble. I have given this considerable thought over the last 3-4 years, after starting a program of study intended to eventually encompass all words up to 8 letters long.
For what it's worth, here is my opinion of the hierarchy of importance of words you learn:
- All 2 letter words
- All 3 letter words
- ALL JQXZ words 4 to 6 letters in length
- All High vowel words up to 5 letters in length (3 vowel 4s and 4 vowel 5s)
- All 4 letter words
- High probability 7s and 8s, all 5 vowel 7s, all 5 vowel 8s
- 5 letter words with 1 or more mid-point tiles (I would actually recommend doing as I did and learning these in more or less reverse order of probability--knowing words like DUMKA and VAKIL and CHEVY can score big and balance an ugly rack at the same time, not knowing a low point 5 probably costs you much less over the board)
- The rest of the 5s
- Medium probability bingos (up through all words containing only letters in the word DEREGULATIONS plus one medium point tile)
- All JQXZ 7s and 8s
- All 6 letter words not previously covered (like the 5s, I have chosen to learn these in more or less reverse order of probability). Many of the 6s, especially the higher probability ones, will already be known from 7 or 8 letter inflections of a 6
letter base word.
- The rest of the 7s and 8s.
- High probability 9s which are not just an inflection of shorter words
Prior to the fall of 2001, when I decided I wanted to invest consistent effort in studying, I would say that I knew the words through step 8, and hadn't really studied anything new in a couple of years. My rating had plateaued in the low-1700 to low 1800 range
for about 5 years, and I had never won a tournament in division 1.
I am currently through step 11, and for the last 3 years my rating has ranged between the high 1700s and high 1800s during a time ratings have been deflating--and I have won 6 touraments (including
my last 2!!!!). I estimate that it will take me another 3 years to achieve good mastery of step 12. There are approximately as many new words to study in step 12 as in the first 11 steps combined, so that
makes sense.
So what's the time commitment? For the past 3 years, I have probably averaged 5 hours of pure word study per week (more prior to big events). The hardest part is the first time or two through a
new list of words--that can be very slow indeed. Once I achieve 90+% mastery, I find that I can go through lists in review mode at probably 30 words a minute, or approximately 1500 words per hour--
allowing for distraction, interruption, lack of focus, etc. My first pass through a new list is done on LeXpert, and I delete words which I know, can easily anagram, and which don't have any unusual
hooks. This is obviously quite arbitrary, but I'd say I have deleted 1/2 of the words (including all obvious plurals of a word I have elsewhere, -ed and -ing forms of obvious verbs, -ier and -iest forms of obvious adjectives, etc.). So I would guesstimate that
there are about 40,000 words (prior to upcoming additions) which I have identified for my permanent review cycle (perpetual review is necessary or words will leak away). So, once all the words are 90+%
mastered, and assuming maximum efficiency in review mode, I could cycle through all the words I need to study in under 30 hours, or the entire list every 6 weeks at my current rate of study.
I think that Jumbletime is a fantastic resource for seeing how well you know words from 4 to 8 letters in length. I play the Daily Challenges on it almost every day.
I think that some system of learning and reviewing words using analog or electonic flash carding (including hooks in the answers), which allows you to review only the steadily smaller list of words you were unable to anagram, is a key to mastery. I find that giving myself a time limit (typically 5-10 seconds) before putting words in the "missed" pile gets me through the lists faster and quickly
winnows the words which are easy to anagram. I personally use LeXpert to print out word lists in probability order, showing the alphagram and the answers and hooks. I cut these out, fold them
over and laminate them (I have an inexpensive laminator at home), and use a binder ring to put similar-themed words together (e.g., words containing C plus DEREGULATIONS letters). Then, as I go through each skinny strip of 65 alphagrams, I use a Sharpie to put a dot beside words I can't anagram, then go back and review only the words with the dots. After a few times through, when I am getting them all the words with dots, I use a solvent and paper towel, wipe off the dots and start all over again. I actually think that using strips in this fashion enables me to go through words faster than if
I used LexPert or Video Flashcards or some such.
One thing I believe, at this point, is that 6s are the most understudied and underappreciated length of word, by players at all levels. Given the number of combinations within 7 letters, plus the combinations of 5 letters from your hand and 1 on the board, I think
that even low probability 6s are far far more likely to occur during play than even medium probability 7s or 8s (can any of the statistics whizzes out there approximate the frequency with which the different quartiles of 6 letter words could be played compared
to the frequency of the quartiles of 7s or 8s, or something similar?). Plus their value as out plays (out in 1 instead of 2).
|
|
Associated Topics
Preparing to Compete |
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by johnVP on Tuesday, July 18 @ 11:24:43 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.verbalobe.com | From Joey Mallick:
While Ben Withers did provide an excellent guide for word study, there are a few slight changes I would make, which I will provide first, before suggestions on aspects of the game that don't involve simply word knowledge.
Comparing Ben's notes to my own, with my comments between his guide notes:
> 1) All 2 letter words
Agreed.
> 2) All 3 letter words
Not so sure about this. I played quite some time before knowing every single one of these. URD was one of the last ones I learned, due to it not being a 2-to-make-3, and also not having any high pointers. One will probably tire of memorizing the 3's before moving on to the next step.
> 3) All JQXZ words 4 to 6 letters in length
There are a few nice 6's to learn here, but learning all of them is a rather tall task for so early on. Just the 4's and 5's are a more realistic goal.
> 4) All High vowel words up to 5 letters in length (3 vowel 4s and 4 vowel 5s)
Agreed. These may be even easier to learn than all of the above, since it's quite a low number of words.
> 5) All 4 letter words
Whoa! I haven't even done them all yet, although I'm sure I know 99% or so. Definitely learn high tile 4's, vowel-heavy 4's, and the ones with other ugly combos. The rest can be put on hold for now.
> 6) High probability 7s and 8s, all 5 vowel 7s, all 5 vowel 8s
Definitely the 5 vowel 7's, due to their rareness, and the 5 vowel 8's. These are the real godsends when your rack isn't particularly "fishable". As for the other high probability 7's and 8's, I'd prioritize the obscure ones that have no anagram (such as KERATIN)
> 7) 5 letter words with 1 or more mid-point tiles
The junky 5's get the highest priority here, such as VROUW, POYOU, etc., followed by the 5's with a medium tile on either end. Most words containing an S would be of less use here, but shouldn't be totally overlooked.
By this point you should be pretty well booked. From here on it gets tough to figure out where to go next. I'd lean toward learning more bingos first, but that's only from my experience. Review most of the above, and then do all the rest, which, as Ben mentioned, was:
> 8) The rest of the 5s
> 9) Medium probability bingos (up through all words containing only
> letters in the word DEREGULATIONS plus one medium point tile)
> 10) All JQXZ 7s and 8s
> 11) All 6 letter words not previously covered (like the 5s, I have
> chosen to learn these in more or less reverse order of
> probability). Many of the 6s, especially the higher probability
> ones, will already be known from 7 or 8 letter inflections of a 6
> letter base word.
> 12) The rest of the 7s and 8s.
> 13) High probability 9s which are not just an inflection of shorter words
Then there's all the strategy to learn. My guide here won't be nearly as long or detailed as the word knowledge guide, but here are some basics:
1) learning the combinations that work well and which ones don't, and the concept of points vs. leave. This takes forever to perfect, but not nearly as long to just get the hang of. The short words should be studied starting with those with the poor combinations, and the bingos as well, at least for the higher probability bingos.
1a) When to exchange, and when not to exchange. Most beginners do too much of the latter, and simply knowing that a rack as simple as GIKRRV? calls for an exchange will make things much simpler.
2) board openness and closedness*, based largely on the lead or deficit.
3) endgame
I'm sure there's more to be said by other and better players. Looking forward to further comments.
-Joey |
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by Nigel on Monday, June 04 @ 12:23:11 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | (by Nigel Peltier)
I just find it interesting how much my word knowledge has varied from most other experts with similar ratings. Being a relatively new player, I've obviously got a ways to go, but my rating is (i feel) accurate at around 1800, and my studying method is much different. Here's my order of learning words:
1. all 2-letter words
2. most 3-letter words
3. top 10 6-letter stems
4. JXQZ 4's
5. high prob 7's
6. more high prob 7's
7. all 4-letter words
8. JQXZ 5's
9. high prob 8's
10. medium prob 7's (top 5k)
11. JQXZ 6's
So that's the order of "study" i've gone through. I don't think learning the JQXZ 6's should be before the 4's OR the high probability 7's and 8's, because I would think that getting one's bingo average up to around 1.5 per game instead of below 1 per game would be more important than being able to play something like ZOUAVE or JABIRU instead of just ZOEA or JARL or something short like that. |
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by JasonV12 on Tuesday, April 01 @ 18:54:55 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.freewebs.com/jasonv12 | Now I don't know what to say.....
I've studied my 2 completely, 95% of my threes (which I used to know all of, now I'm studying them again...) Learn the SATIRE?, SATINE?, RETAIN?, ARSINE? and SENIOR? stems, Vowel dumps through 5 letters (plus I and U dumps through 4 letters) my JQXZ 2-5 letters, a lot of the high vwoel 7-8's, plenty of strategy (most time based on that), and now working on my four's and "high fives"... Am I doing it right? I am sadly only rated 869 as of now...
Am I doing it right or is there anything this 14 year old can do to learn faster or more preductively? I thought this article would help not make me more confused.. Any advice? |
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by lj1987 on Tuesday, April 06 @ 04:00:40 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) |
For wow power leveling the final question, there’s been wow power leveling some rumors going around and wow gold I wanted to clear them up. You guys have wrapped up the main aion power leveling Lich King storyline. Icecrown is out there, which you guys have said aion gold is the final major raid for this expansion. But there are some rumors that there might be another content patch of cheap wow power levelingsome sort before Cataclysm releases That is a possibility. We can’t buy wow power leveling say for sure at this point, but we are looking into warcraft gold the possibility of having a boss in the Ruby Sanctum, which is another part of Wyrmrest Temple.
|
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by ouou on Wednesday, April 14 @ 02:22:44 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Lots of people find that this wow power leveling is well worth it because it helps them progress through the game more
quickly wow power leveling and easily.
Each step needs to be followed, though, so don’t get too frustrated if you are having some problems. Stay diligent and you should be able to get the Druid Epic Flight Form.
The aion power level quest chain begins at the Duider trainer in Thunder Bluff. After that you will be sent to Cenarion
Refuge. aion powerleveling That’s where you begin. Good luck!
The Ward of Wakening
You will aion powerleveling need to gather 15 bogblossom, 10 ancient lichen, and 10 dreaming glory. You can get the bogblossom from the mushrooms in Zangarmarch. You won’t even need any herbalism skills for this.
Awake cheap aion power leveling the Sleeper
Go to Moonglade. Here you will need to use the Ward to awaken Clintar Dreamwalker from the Emerald Dream.
Not Just a wow power leveling Dream
You will need to escort Clintar Dreamwalker’s spirit as it collects the relics of Aviana.
Go Back to Morthis buy wow gold Whisperwing
After Clintar Dreamwalker has gathered the relic, you need to take it back to the Cenarion Refuge that’s in Zangamarsh.
|
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by waiter on Friday, June 25 @ 03:32:14 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) |
Train wow power leveling Expert Blacksmithing (150-225):
125-150 Heavy Grinding Stone
150-155 Golden wow power leveling Rod
155-165 Green Iron Leggings
165-185 Green Iron Bracers
185-200 Golden world of warcraft gold Scale Bracers
200-210 Solid Grinding Stone 210-215 Golden Scale Bracers
Train gold in wow Artisan Blacksmithing (225-300):215-235 Steel Plate Helm
235-250 Mithril Coif 250-260 wow power leveling Dense Sharpening Stone
260-275 Armorsmiths: Earthforged Leggings 260-275 Weaponsmiths: Light Earthforged Blade or Light Emberforged wow gold eu Hammer or Light Skyforged Axe 275-295 Imperial Plate Bracers 295-300 Imperial Plate Boots
Train Master Blacksmithing wow gold cheap (300-375):
300-305 Fel Weightstone 305-320 Fel Iron Plate Belt 320-325 Fel Iron Plate Boots
325-330 Lesser Rune wow gold uk of Warding 330-335 Fel Iron Breastplate 335-340 Adamantite Cleaver
340-345 Lesser wow cheap gold Ward of Shielding
345-350 Adamantite Rapier
|
|
|
Re: Hierarchy of Study (Score: 1)
by infi88 on Tuesday, July 13 @ 02:15:20 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | coach bags [www.discount-coach.com] was established in 1941, it is from a family-run workshop coach purses on sale [www.discount-coach.com] in a loft at on the edge of Manhattan’s article of clothing district developed to a famous brand in the US. The corporation began with just six leather workers and just made small leather goods, such as primarily wallets and billfolds, all these products are made by juicy couture outlet [www.pickjuicycouture.com]. In 1950, Miles Cahn was running the factory for its owners. juicy couture handbags [www.pickjuicycouture.com] this company continued to manufacture small profits for the small concern.
|
|
|
Re: Word power and making choices (Score: 1)
by cheng1314 on Thursday, July 22 @ 04:41:56 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | According to the Minister of Industry and Steel Pipe [www.pipe2002.com"] Information technologyeLi Yizhong, China, as the largest producer worldes steel, closed 16.9 million tons of obsolete capacity Steel Tube [www.pipe2002.com"] this year in an effort to reduce domestic Stainless Steel Pipe [www.pipe2002.com] oversupply. Nation shutters 21 million tons of pig iron production capacity of 800,000 tons ERW steel pipe [www.pipe2002.com] of aluminum and 74 million tonnes of cement capacity, Li said at a conference today in comments broadcast on the Internet . The figures beat the purposes of the Department of ERW pipe [www.pipe2002.com] Environmental Protection earlier this year.China, worldes largest producer of iron, cement and aluminum, is the master plan study of the ability of states feasiblei steel more , address Stainless Steel Tube [www.pipe2002.com"] Lies Ministry said on Dec. the percentage has decreased from China in the black industry is spitting in the Stainless Steel Pipe [www.pipe2002.com] ocean, I am Michelle Applebaum, a steel company research Highland Park, Ill., wrote e-mail works. Many run the carbon steel pipe [www.pipe2002.com] country the high cost and pollution, older plants in the province continues to work instead of profitability, I said analyst Stainless Steel Tube [www.pipe2002.com"] Michelle Applebaum Research.Steel capacity in China reached 700 million tonnes or Moreover, Xiong Bilin, deputy director of the carbon steel pipe [www.pipe2002.com] National Reform and Development of Industry, carbon steel tube [www.pipe2002.com] said in December, a large number of obsolete capacity should needle valve [www.pipe2002.com] be provided closed.iChina was 6 million tons welded steel pipe [www.pipe2002.com] of steel capacity and 10 million tons of steel capacity this year, closed the Department of Environment, said in January, the welded steel tube [www.pipe2002.com] Ministry of Environment, said in November that the government is considering measures for ERW carbon steel pipe [www.pipe2002.com] investments in steel, aluminum, coke, ERW steel pipe [www.pipe2002.com] cement, close, ERW pipe [www.pipe2002.com] paper plug valve [www.pipe2002.com] and utilities.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
widely known forms of thermoplastic first Read the rest of this comment... |
|
|
replica watches (Score: 1)
by replica on Wednesday, July 28 @ 23:20:08 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) |
To thinks highly of your new bottega veneta handbags, obtained your nail to draw one kind of bright color! Anything does not match you look like the patent leather bally handbags the arm candy pale light magnificent nail. Your loewe replica handbags and the replica dooney and bourke possibly help the creation magnificent fashion full circle look. The turquoise eye shadow paste, the fendi handbags pink lip and the metal false eyelash will create by the warm applause interruption performance color full influence.
Make Nothing said that you have the style, when your clothing juicy Couture replica handbags. When wears suitably, it said that “designer handbags I represents the primitive fashion now, when it first time in style”. Don't lets your mother's 70 styles go to the bally handbags! Polishes these brown leather hermes replica handbags and the orange hot prada replica handbags. Please do not look grandly, wears the versace replica handbags wine is a real proposition, sometimes is old the fashion is old. The classical look never exits the style. Small With this season's big and bright style, its doesn't adopts issues a small balenciaga replica handbags. Wears a giant purple gem type ring, the loud decadent black japan leather shoes or Dolce & Gabbana replica will increase has a dibbling color to yours fendi replica handbags, and issues a big statement. christian dior handbags and the big this season's style truly looks like the gypsy support which walks. Discovered that giant aperture and wears it in yours d&g handbags, your new wallet or in yours hair. Maintains these glass loud and greatly in yours face. Affixes the imperial seal the stone cramp replace in a yours closet's all skinny conveyer belt serious oversized purple leopard the conveyer belt which skins. The big hair, the big gucci replica handbags and the formal coach handbags make this season for the big style. Dolce & Gabbana replica handbags is the new big your big designer.No matter your life is how lowly, you must face it to live, do not avoid it Dooney & Bourke handbags, do not curse it with the malicious talk. It does not look like you to be such bad. You most are rich, looked but actually resembles poorly. Loves the human who looks for the discount dior handbags is to the heaven in can also fi
Read the rest of this comment... |
|
|
replica watches (Score: 1)
by replica on Thursday, July 29 @ 00:53:48 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) |
In the 19th century, the label of the original root wrist tudor replica a company created the complex mechanism of clocks. Before it, recycling glory to dispatch industry outstanding brand position and beautiful, two tables. First in 1845 to watch brand labels, produces a happy clock in the world. replica Glashutte, a.Lange & Sohne replica, U-boat replica, tag Heuer replica, replica croum ,replica Cartier ,replica U-boat,tag Heuer replica, the original label is saved German scheduling industrial old tradition. This unusual 3/4 board, charming German silver with a moving parts of raw materials, the gold jewelry chatons keep happy, replica movado luxuriant swan's neck managers and noble thought the sole factory all parts, need not outsourcer assistance. With the old tradition and modern machines, merger, Graham replica the German virtue label wrist, no doubt, the sale is created. "Pano date edition" focus on one of the rockets Pano deceleration graphics (" ") - 2001 and seconds function and three world redundant echo first mechanical chronographreplica Piaget. Glashutte replica the original complicated blancpain replica the label "collection, senator in contrast to the reduction in their" clear "and" set in 1845, they "movement" series of carving plane geometry method, including the possibility of COINS, edge Angle rococo classic French design teuton explanation. But the silver dial plate and white dial collection plate look like in the nearby universal except black dial-up military MEDALS, unless they use red tags, the most primitive Longines replica is wrist provide steel.
We duplicate copy label design of wrist, parents scores. Copy table production process is very carefully. This material is the best. replica Rado price tag, in your ability.
|
|
|
mbt shoes (Score: 1)
by yun on Tuesday, August 24 @ 23:36:45 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | MBT [www.mbtstore.org] is a revolution of an innovative training method. MBT shoes clearance [www.mbtstore.org] gap affects the entire body and provides a unique and interesting design, reduce the harmful effects. The unique design unique MBT shoes [www.mbtstore.org], and appropriate training, to achieve a more active walking posture and health. Casual fashion MBT kisumu [www.mbtstore.org] sandals, elegant and simple look for movement of the MBT Kimondo [www.mbtstore.org] shoes, or fitness for more comfortable MBT Baridi [www.mbtstore.org] shoes, will be your best choice, in our site. When you wear stylish Moncler [www.discount-monclerjacket.com], you would like to let your personality show a significant act anything, moncler jackets [www.discount-monclerjacket.com] unique style, so that you fully shown women sophisticated side. moncler coats [www.discount-monclerjacket.com] without breaking the rigid personality coat, kind of all themselves. moncler jacket [www.discount-monclerjacket.com] coating used on the inside of hairy help maintain a normal body temperature, very warm people can enjoy. I believe we are no strangers to the timberland boots [www.cheap-timberlandboots.net"], this brand can be said in public is gourmet, there is no critical timberland boots uk [www.cheap-timberlandboots.net"], not only look beautiful to attract a lot of people like the warmth of shoes is to win a lot of human heart. In our website, timberland boots sale [www.cheap-timberlandboots.net"] has been most beneficial to provide to the people most worthy of preferential treatment. |
|
|
| |
Article Rating | Average Score: 4.8
Votes: 5
|
|
