Word Game #66

gurthbruins · 2010-05-09 19:48:14

In this game, there is a hidden rule which defines valid and invalid words.
Examples of valid words: rover, ears, lank.
Examples of invalid words: eyes, long.

To play this game, post a list of ten words every day. (Doesn't matter if you miss out some days).
All valid words in your lists will be added to the list of valid words which I will update at noon GMT every day.

Every valid word posted scores one point.
The first player to post a list of ten valid words is the winner.

To resolve doubtful words I will use my 1985 Pocket Oxford Dictionary, so better not post very recently coined words.

Have fun!

ZHero · 2010-05-09 20:07:22

what's the

rule?

gurthbruins · 2010-05-09 20:31:49

I am glad you asked, ZHero, the hidden rule is what you are supposed to deduce from the examples given.

You need to guess what property is shared by the valid words (they all have something in common!) and yet not possessed by the invalid words. By submitting lists you can try out your hunches, and also stumble on some more valid words by chance or intelligence, in which case the list of valid words will get longer and more suggestive.

ZHero · 2010-05-09 21:14:03

its a pleasure gurth!!

i have simply put 10 random words above (behind the "hidden" tab.. click on it to see them )
i guess i must now take some time uncovering the rule first...

ummmm... can i have some more clues ?

gurthbruins · 2010-05-10 00:23:22

Time to update as promised: ZHero has submitted a list already, but it contains no valid words so the list remains
( rover ears lank ) and there is no score so far.

Last edited by gurthbruins (2010-05-10 00:24:21)

mathsyperson · 2010-05-10 04:28:54

gurthbruins · 2010-05-10 07:11:17

Mathsyperson's list does reveal that the rule does not allow a word to score more than once.

Also I will reveal that inflections such as formed by adding or removing s, d, ing, er etc will probably not be accepted as valid. (e.g. rove or rovers).
Such efforts may be seen as subversive moves to defeat the ends of justice
Other rules may also be changed if it appears necessary. You must rely on my fairness, I have no favourites as I am not a contestant.

ZHero · 2010-05-10 17:13:05

gurthbruins · 2010-05-10 19:43:42

ZHero, you will be pleased to hear that you have found a valid word! I won't say which, before noon, because that would be giving other contestants an unfair advantage. (reaping the benefits of your work prematurely)

Every word added to the list of valids will make this problem easier. But I don't look too kindly on the idea that others let you do the spadework and then capitalise on it by pouncing in for the kill.

I am introducing rules to protect the rights of the workers!
But I have encouraged this slacking I suppose by saying that daily entries were not compulsory.

From noon tomorrow, when everybody will have had a whole day in which to see this warning, those players who submit more lists than others will be given a compensatory advantage. You have been warned!

Here is a hint: life may be complex, but this game isn't.
By complex I mean rules involving "and" or "or"
Examples:
Simple rule: "valid words must contain x"
Complex rules: "valid words must contain x or z", "valid words must contain s and c".
This is a simple game: complex rules are undesirable in this type of game.

ZHero: As special reward for activity, and so you do not lose out today because of this hint being given after your entry, you may submit another list today if you like.

Last edited by gurthbruins (2010-05-11 05:41:10)

ZHero · 2010-05-10 20:11:57

gurthbruins wrote:

ZHero, you will be pleased to hear that you have found a valid word!

Ha Ha

but Only ONE??

gurthbruins · 2010-05-10 20:34:09

"Only one" is a feat that has never yet been bettered, and equalled only a few times. Finding the first matches is not easy! Luck is inspiration...

ZHero · 2010-05-10 20:45:26

agreed!

ok.. tell me..
is "the rule" pre-defined?

or you can/will change it at times?

how and when does "the rule change"?

gurthbruins · 2010-05-10 20:58:48

Good questions. There is the single, simple rule for valid words that never changes and is pre-defined. Ideally, I should have deposited that rule with an impartial judge. But the game is not serious enough for that.

Then there are also the other rules, which must change in accordance with the needs of the time: for instance the rules about how many words can be submitted, whether inflections and repetitions are valid, how points are scored, and so on.

It is impossible to foresee the dodges or stratagems that players may adopt in order to amuse themselves or to cause trouble, so these other rules cannot be pre-defined.

gurthbruins · 2010-05-11 00:55:38

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 2

Valid words: (rover ears lank)

ZHero, I swear I thought one of the words in your last list was valid, but on checking my dictionary I found I was mistaken!
Sorry about that!

mathsyperson · 2010-05-11 04:48:37

ZHero · 2010-05-11 23:43:09

gurthbruins wrote:

ZHero, I swear I thought one of the words in your last list was valid, but on checking my dictionary I found I was mistaken!
Sorry about that!

ok.. i'll give it another try.........

gurthbruins · 2010-05-12 00:01:36

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 3

Valid words: (rover ears lank end)

POINTS:
ZHero........................ 2 (end)
Mathsyperson........... 0

I was feeling very uncomfortable about disallowing ZHero's word "end". I thought the POD was being downright absurd. I checked in the NEW OXFORD DICTIONARY of 1998 and found it equally absurd.
But I have decided to overrule these stupid dictionaries. SOWPODS (most dear to Scrabble players) allows it and so does even TWL98, the much more conservative American Scrabble dictionary.

So there!

SPECIAL NOTE: From now on players score 2 points for each valid word, plus 1 point for each list they submit. (But remember, only one list per player per day please.)

gurthbruins · 2010-05-13 00:09:00

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 4

Valid words: (rover ears lank end)

POINTS:
ZHero........................ 2 (end)
mathsyperson........... 0

mathsyperson · 2010-05-13 04:46:17

gurthbruins · 2010-05-14 00:09:25

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 5

Valid words: (rover ears lank end)

POINTS:
ZHero........................ 2 (end)
mathsyperson........... 1

ZHero · 2010-05-14 00:47:13

gurthbruins · 2010-05-15 00:41:02

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 6

Valid words: (rover ears lank rice end)

POINTS:
ZHero........................ 3 (end)
mathsyperson........... 1

Note: I've added another word to the list of valid words, as an extra clue.

JaneFairfax · 2010-05-15 02:40:09

Last edited by JaneFairfax (2010-05-15 02:40:27)

gurthbruins · 2010-05-16 00:07:07

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 7

Valid words: (rover ears lank rice end)

POINTS:
ZHero........................ 3 (end)
mathsyperson........... 1
JaneFairfax............... 1

gurthbruins · 2010-05-17 00:23:21

POSITION AT END OF ROUND 8

Valid words: (rover ears lank rice lucky end)

POINTS:
ZHero........................ 3 (end)
mathsyperson........... 1
JaneFairfax............... 1

As everybody seems to have given up on this one, I have added another clue. Maybe now somebody will get lucky.
To encourage triers, I just want to say that the rule you are looking for is extremely simple, it just requires a small leap of the imagination - call it a bit of lateral thinking. An infinitesimal bit of thinking.

The last time I offered a similar game, I started by giving ten example words, but I thought there would be more intelligence on this forum so I reduced the sample to 3. If there is no sign of life by tomorrow, I will increase the list to ten words.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2010-05-09 19:48:14

Word Game #66

#2 2010-05-09 20:07:22

Re: Word Game #66

#3 2010-05-09 20:31:49

Re: Word Game #66

#4 2010-05-09 21:14:03

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#5 2010-05-10 00:23:22

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#6 2010-05-10 04:28:54

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#7 2010-05-10 07:11:17

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#8 2010-05-10 17:13:05

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#9 2010-05-10 19:43:42

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#10 2010-05-10 20:11:57

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#11 2010-05-10 20:34:09

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#13 2010-05-10 20:58:48

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#14 2010-05-11 00:55:38

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