Getting a 500 point score?

[Utah Bogglicious]

How does one get a 500 point score without cheating. The time is three minutes and the pressure is on. I have gotten many over 400 but never 500. I believe there is cheating going on. Anyone agree or disagree?:confused:

[ataraxia]

When I see that a certain player getting high scores routinely finds all the biggest and most unusual words, I suspect cheating. Sometimes I get suspicious when I see someone dramatically improve over a short period of time also. Unfortunately however, you never know.

[bionicflutist]

I don't often get over 500 but I assure you I never cheat. Sometimes a board just "clicks" for me and I'm finding more words than usual. It also helps that I type fast. And that I play a lot. Practice, practice, practice! :)

I'm not saying the cheating never happens, but a high score doesn't necessarily mean that the player cheated to get it.

[Nafets]

It's not necessarily cheating -- I've had plenty of games over 500, and even two games over 700, and I have never cheated on a boggle game. When I'm warmed up, I can usually top 500 on a board with more than 100 common words. And when I get a board that "clicks", like bionicflutist said, I can get even more. The key is practice (and a fast enough typing speed -- I can do 80wpm sometimes). I'd played a lot of word games for a while before finding this site, but when I started I didn't believe some people's scores either. I remember getting my first game over 400 and being really happy ;) . I have improved a LOT since then, and believe me, you will too. Just learn lots of words that can show up a lot together (like steen(s), tene(s), teene(s), nete(s), sten(s), snee(s), sene, enes, etc.) and give a good look at the lists of words found for the boards you play, because that's the best way to improve. You'll get a 500-point game before too long.
As for cheating, I'm certain some goes on. I think most cheaters just try to get a couple really high scores and then get bored, so they're not a very permanent problem. Also, some people use boggle-solving as a programming exercise, which is how crazy 1000-point plus games happen. The admin has a tool to remove them from the monthly competitions, but I think they have to pm him first.
And sorry for rambling :o

[NoahWebster]

Exactly what is considered cheating? Is there a set of rules posted somewhere that everyone is expected to follow? Since the game is run by a computer, I would think the only real rules are those enforced by the game itself, and the only cheating would be to attempt to bypass or work around this enforcement. For example, I have seen posts complaining about players cherry picking the games with the most and/or best words, however this is only possible because this information is given for every game by the software, and it allows players to skip games once they know this information. If this were cheating, it would be simple for the software to disallow it.

[wraptor347]

I think the more aggregious form of cheating would be people using programs to solve the boggle boards for them. If people are scoring 2000 points on a board, and getting their scores with really long and difficult words, than cheating is probably evident.
As for cherry-picking games, the game stats are all posted before you select start, so I don't know if I'd consider it cheating. To prevent this, the admin could either hide the stats or scale all the boards to the same value. So scoring 600 on a 1200 point board would be the same as scoring 200 points on a 400 point board.
As for getting over 500 points. It's possible once you get your typing speed up, you play long enough that you recognize patterns quickly and remember enough words. Also, try to keep typing no matter what. If you can't find words just try making up words. Seriously, that's probably where I get a quarter to third of my points. You'll be surprised by what is actually a word (or at least a Boggle defined word).

[Crovax]

I can't really explain it in words, so how about a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp2XigvMWb0)?

That's 4x4 too, probably more challenging to score high there. 5x5 is a lot different though, it's less fast typing and more deciphering the puzzle finding words. On a good 4x4 board you can be punching the keys nonstop and still have a couple of wordchains on the board you haven't even looked at when time expires. 5x5 I think you have to move around the map more. I don't play it too often so I can't say.

Regarding unusual words... alone it's not a reason to suspect cheating. If you see someone play nine letters of alphabet soup that by some miracle actually means something, your first thought might be "I can't believe someone would know that word". Mine is to remember that word :) I've had plenty of accusations of cheating in scrabble thrown my way for using brilliant words someone else has found, legitimately or not, in wordtwist.

[NoahWebster]

I think the more aggregious form of cheating would be people using programs to solve the boggle boards for them.

Why is using a program cheating? I'm not arguing that it isn't, but what rule is it breaking? It may just seem like common sense, but is it also cheating to look at a list/book of valid words while solving a puzzle? Are there rules that cover these issues? If not, isn't it just variations on how someone wants to play? Most players may like to play with no aids, but that doesn't mean it's cheating to use aids. Some players may enjoy the challenge of (or want to practice) typing quickly more than the challenge of searching for words. Or using a program will help them learn new words that they can remember later when they play the real game with their friends (with real rules :) ).

If people are scoring 2000 points on a board, and getting their scores with really long and difficult words, than cheating is probably evident.

I've seen similar comments about 500, or even 300, point scorers :) If it's possible to average 2000 points, is someone scoring 700 points a bad cheater or a great player?

[wraptor347]

I see what you're saying. So I guess technically the "rules" are unwritten ones and technically speaking nobody is cheating, and yes people ought to be able to use the game as they see fit. Using a program skews the high scores though; which some people might like to use as a measuring stick and bragging point.
As for scoring 2000 points... Well, I didn't say it was impossible, only highly improbable considering that 2000 points is over 11 points a second... I may be wrong, but it seems pretty ridiculous. I've scored over 700 a handful of times, and my hands are pretty tired afterwards. They were just good boards with lots of 'ers' or 'ing' or 'ed'.

[Nafets]

Perhaps we ought to put rules in place, formal or informal ...
Thoughts?

[bionicflutist]

Why is using a program cheating?

I think using a program to get a higher score is cheating. The game is to see how many words we can find on our own in the time allotted. I sure wouldn't want to play Boggle with someone "in person" who uses a solver program to find more words. Naturally I would consider that cheating. I don't see how it could be any fun to do that anyway, just to get a higher score and ranking. Maybe someone who actually uses one of those programs could explain.

[mamalu]

In order to play competitively, all those in competition must know the rules. It's only fair that all players are playing by those rules. For an extreme example, it would not be fair if 99% of the players used only their brains to decipher the boards and their fingers to type what their brains dictated, while 1% of the players in that same competition used a program that deciphers the boards and plugs in the words.

If exceptions like that are allowed, I'd prefer to be in one category or the other, not playing fair when others take unfair advantage.

It's been very discouraging these past few months. Whether my brain is too fried or the competition has become fiercer, I just don't know. But it used to be more fun than maddening; unfortunately, the reverse is now true.

I would not object to someone using the SOWPODS dictionary at their fingertips, because looking things up takes time I don't object to someone pounding away all kinds of crazy combinations just in case they're really words, because that takes time too. And as long as we're using the same time table, it strikes a fair balance because my time spent deliberating over this suffix or that prefix is a reasonable offset to those other methods.

However I do STRONGLY object to being in the same competition with someone who uses a program to decipher the board. Either share the program with the rest of us, stop using it, or take yourself out of the competition.

If it gives you a thrill to beat someone by cheating in Boggle without letting on, or worse, not believing that cheating is what you're doing, I contend that you have a serious character fault which requires professional help. If you do not agree with me, ask any psychiatrist.

Meanwhile, as frustrating as it is to deal with the level of cheating that I feel is going on, I will continue to play until I find a better version of the game online. BTW, that means instead of playing as frequently as I've been playing on this site, I'll be busy looking elsewhere. All I want to do is play fairly with other people who want to play fairly.

[NoahWebster]

In order to play competitively, all those in competition must know the rules. It's only fair that all players are playing by those rules. For an extreme example, it would not be fair if 99% of the players used only their brains to decipher the boards and their fingers to type what their brains dictated, while 1% of the players in that same competition used a program that deciphers the boards and plugs in the words.

That sounds reasonable enough. How do I get to "know the rules"? Where are they documented?

If exceptions like that are allowed, I'd prefer to be in one category or the other, not playing fair when others take unfair advantage.

Exactly what is the rule to which the exception would apply?

I would not object to someone using the SOWPODS dictionary at their fingertips, because looking things up takes time I don't object to someone pounding away all kinds of crazy combinations just in case they're really words, because that takes time too. And as long as we're using the same time table, it strikes a fair balance because my time spent deliberating over this suffix or that prefix is a reasonable offset to those other methods.

However I do STRONGLY object to being in the same competition with someone who uses a program to decipher the board. Either share the program with the rest of us, stop using it, or take yourself out of the competition.

I think I understand. The rule, apparently, is "No actions objectionable to mamalu". Is this documented on the site somewhere? It's better than no rule, but it's still a little ambiguous (well, maybe not to you).

If it gives you a thrill to beat someone by cheating in Boggle without letting on, or worse, not believing that cheating is what you're doing, I contend that you have a serious character fault which requires professional help. If you do not agree with me, ask any psychiatrist.

I'm confident anyone who reads your message will be shamed into desistence. I also expect you've had your share of experience with psychiatrists. I hope that's going well for you.

Meanwhile, as frustrating as it is to deal with the level of cheating that I feel is going on, I will continue to play until I find a better version of the game online. BTW, that means instead of playing as frequently as I've been playing on this site, I'll be busy looking elsewhere. All I want to do is play fairly with other people who want to play fairly.

Good luck with all that. I'm sure a boggle utopia is in your future.

Seriously, I think you're expecting a little too much, it's just a game, a frikkin' online anonymous game at that. Lighten up, have fun with it. There's no reason to get frustrated with the other players.

[mamalu]

Ah, yes. A response like this reminds me why I don't usually bother posting in such a forum. I tend to forget that the site is open to all ages, not just adults.

[Crovax]

There's really not a lot of cheating going on. I can't even remember the last time I've seen a board where someone's clearly cheated.

And how is what's cheating and what's not really a debate? Any kind of autonomous help is cheating. You have a brain and fingers, use them and have fun :D

[AdamsMuse]

After I saw your video Crovax I never thought about who is cheating anymore. You rule! If anyone watches that video they will see how it's done fairly from the brain and fingers...I didn't see any dictionary either. I can't type or think fast enough to consult a dictionary and get any words at all in 2 minutes!! Like you said, have fun..

[mamalu]

Crovax, I meant to mention earlier how cool it was to see that video. Simply excellent! It was enlightening and encouraging - visible proof that it can be done and done well. You have set a standard with that... Brain and fingers!Way to go!

[Joesgirl]

I saw the video too and wish that everybody could see it. Man, those words are popping up there so fast! I started playing on this site because my grandson is a computer whiz at 6 and doesn't like to do "normal" school work. He HATED word find type of puzzles so I went online looking for somthing to help him. We found this site and he now calls the school word finds "baby work". I showed him your video and he was really impressed like the rest of us. Keep boggling!

[simulant]

It's all about being able to type fast. Typing speed is the real bottleneck with this game. You could have the best boggle mind in the world, but if you can't type fast you're screwed. That's why I can't wait for the Brain-Computer interfaces to come out! Then the game will truly be based on brain power. It's closer than you think!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-computer_interface

[Caydie777]

I must be honest, my best score was only possible because the timer kept freezing up. It would stop for a couple seconds after each word I typed. So if I typed ten words it would freeze for 20 seconds, giving me a huge advantage. But I have scored over 1000 points many times without this happening. And there for I would call no one a cheater, because I would not appreciate being named one.