All,
I have been rather distant from the Monastery for a year or more. My daughters are growing up and other hobbies consume more and more time. During a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory, I had an opportunity to be introduced to Words With Friends. This of course made me want to write an algorithm to play optimally which in turn made me think of the monks.

I am not interested in writing yet another cheater - there are plenty of them out there. I am interested in writing a platform where two computer algorithms can duel for bragging rights. There are plenty of strategies one might consider:

• Saving high value letters for premium squares
• Avoiding moves that open up premium squares to your opponent
• Considering which tiles remain
• Intentionally opening premium squares to your oponent which will in turn open even higher premium squares to you
• Determining the best place to pass or swap tiles
• Keeping a proper balance of vowels and consonants in your rack
• etc

If I built the platform, would anyone be interested in writing a player? If so, what ideas do you have? If you are not interested in writing a player, what strategies do you think would work best (so I can steal them for my player)?

Update: I should clarify. If you are interested in writing a player, I am soliciting ideas for how game play should be done. In other words, a web interface, being able to play the same game twice (taking turns with who goes first), etc.

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