When the Scrabble move that looks worst is actually best...

[@nimbletim]

All you had to do, was draw that final "S", CJ!😂

[@bro91wn]

I am wondering if there will be a more general video in the future about counterintuitive pre-endgames, connecting plays like this, (JOGGLE)R, and other similar plays.

[@mackmeller]

Maybe, though it's super hard to generalize since all these positions are so different and every little detail matters -- that's what makes them so hard and cool, but also what makes overall pre-endgame advice very challenging to give!

[@humbertocruz6214]

Such instructive and engrossing analysis. IZAR arguably easier to spot and play in a setting where spread is not a factor.

[@mackmeller]

For sure!

[@ValkyRiver]

To Z, or not to Z? That is the QI.

[@eighthcoda]

Thanks for some fun games, Mack! Back to competitive Candy Land for me. 🙂

[@kb27787]

Me (who usually plays Collins): "zila" hooking "ana" on top left for 46 pts...

[@heritage1834]

Me (who plays Collins): CAZ on D14 for 34

[@heritage1834]

Me (who plays Collins): CAZ on D14 for 34

[@craiglarimer1173]

My head is still spinning from the bot’s joggler play earlier this week.

[@glowstonelovepad9294]

If Carl played off the I and the R on the first turn, his leave would be AL-TTZ.

[@avinashbalaji2927]

Mack, why are your videos addictive??

[@mackmeller]

Haha I'm not sure but I'll take it, thanks!!

[@choco1101]

The editing makes me question if Mack is developing A. I. Mack 🤣. Maybe off of disappointment on BestBot's preendgame skills playing JOGGLER.

[@leefisher6366]

7:40 - I'm sure you'll appreciate the idea of counterfactuals, Mack. If he had played ZA, there's no guarantee he would draw the same two tiles he did draw in the true game. He wouldn't definitely have won.

[@mikechappell5849]

At this point there are only two tiles in the bag, E and S. He will draw them whatever he plays

[@mackmeller]

That's fair, but in this case I don't think it applies, since Carl is emptying the bag. If he were drawing 2 tiles out of, say, 5 in the bag, then sure. But in this case the 2 tiles in the bag were the 2 tiles in the bag, period (which so happened to be ES), so regardless of what 2+ tile play Carl made he was going to get those same 2 tiles.

[@leefisher6366]

@@mackmeller Ah, I misunderstood the situation; a lot of potential endgames were under analysis here and I got confused.

[@leefisher6366]

@@mikechappell5849 Yeah, I got confused. I saw Mack's own reply then realised you had answered too.

[@iwersonsch5131]

Still probably takes skill to beat if he draws SH, right?

[@iwersonsch5131]

oh yeah it does

[@linuslucke3838]

What if he exchanges the Z, trying to draw a bingo, leaving you with incomplete info, and also potentially getting you z stuck and collecting 20 from that

[@trevorswope3263]

there must be at least seven tiles in the bag to exchange!

[@linuslucke3838]

@@trevorswope3263 oh, I didn't know that rule, thanks

[@mackmeller]

That would be a great idea except for the fact that you can't exchange with fewer than 7 tiles left in the bag!