Smush · Sep 13
1076 pts · PERFECT 
· 9-day streak
Smush · Sep 14
419 pts · ★★ pangram first · frik! 
· no hints · 9-day streak
messed up at the end
Smush · Sep 14
1064 pts · PERFECT
Smush · Sep 14
1200 pts · PERFECT · 10-day streak
Smush · Sep 15
792 pts · PERFECT · 10-day streak
Smush · Sep 15
844 pts · PERFECT · 2-day streak
Smush · Sep 15
413 pts · ★ pangram · clean plate · 11-day streak
Smush · Sep 16
980 pts · PERFECT · 11-day streak
Smush · Sep 16
438 pts · ★★ pangram first · frik! · no hints · 3-day streak
Smush · Sep 16
521 pts · ★ pangram · clean plate · 12-day streak
Smush · Sep 17
1028 pts · PERFECT
Smush · Sep 17
900 pts · PERFECT · 12-day streak
Smush · Sep 17
500 pts · ★ pangram · clean plate · 13-day streak
Smush · Sep 18
1078 pts · PERFECT · 5-day streak
Smush · Sep 18
1094 pts · PERFECT · 13-day streak
I still haven’t quite figured out a scoring strategy 
I did get 40 points for NOOKIE tho 
After the panagram, I use the shortest words possible, using the middle letter as often as possible.
I think there are extra points for completing multiple letters in one word. I also don’t bother using multiple of the Bonus Letter, unless it is worth points on its own
Then again, what do I know, you beat me
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There is one extra multiple for completing a letter, any time. So if you complete one letter in a word, that adds one to your overall multiple for that word (which is likely 2 anyway, provided you are using the spicy letter). If you complete 2 letters, it adds two to your multiple (hence, likely making it 4, if you have used the spicy letter.)
Don’t follow your comment about the Bonus Letter, since every letter is worth points. Do you mean the Spicy Letter? In that case, it is desirable to use it two or more times in a word, as it then adds to your multiple for the word, making the multiple 3 if you are not completing any letters.
I think I understand the scoring pretty well, except for occasional confusion about why I do or do not get points for beating the average and for being in the top 30%. Alas, you and Serena are doing far better than I am at getting the Pangram first, and that is critical to getting a high score.
One consequence of the scoring, that won’t affect you or Serena while you continue to get the Pangram first: if you don’t get the Pangram first, almost always best to get it last. That way you get all those “completed letter” multiples applying to a large “letter total” score. Almost certainly optimal, but conceivably not. E.g., might be better to make it your penultimate word, if your other word is something like WOW, with O the center letter, and W is not spicy as penultimate. If you wait, you will still get almost as many completed letter bonuses for the pangram, and you’ll get two Spicy W’s.
Alas, so far I have not spotted the pangram today, and will just start entering other guesses soon.
I’ve wondered about panagram first vs last
I’ve been playing the archives and just finished the 8/14 puzzle.
I got a bonus for only doing 6 words and, related, for my words being longer than average.
The scoring would be much more legitimate if they published how you can get points and what you need to do to qualify. E.g., you got points for using only 6 words. Would you have gotten points for 7? 8? Points for longer than average word length: 7.8 vs 5.4. But how much less than 7.8 would have been good enough? I never knew there were any points available for either of those.
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Smush · Sep 18
586 pts · ★ pangram · clean plate · 14-day streak