How to Win at Scrabble

Guide Note *If you want to improve your Scrabble record, uncover methods to master the rules, generate high scoring words and strategize against your opponent, then look no further. Our guide, How to Win at Scrabble, will help you brush up your skills to build words with confidence.

Table of Contents

Winning Scrabble Tips

  1. Familiarize yourself with basic game rules before you learn advanced strategies.
  2. Learn ways to build onto, off of and through existing words on the board.
  3. Set yourself up to reach premium squares to double or triple your word or letter scores.
  4. Balance the number of vowels and consonants on your rack to give yourself opportunities for high-scoring words.
  5. Avoid challenges by only creating correctly spelled words that aren't proper nouns or those that require an apostrophe or hyphen.
  6. Boost scores by playing power tiles (like "Q" and "Z") on premium squares.
  7. Watch your word placement to keep opponents from reaching premium squares easily.
  8. Memorize lesser-known two- and three-letter words to give yourself options at the end of the game.
  9. Practice by playing online, with friends or with computer games that will help you fine-tune your skills.

Introduction

  • Scrabble, the simple game that requires players to build high-scoring words with a limited number of letter tiles, challenges people of all ages. Whether you hope to take your love of the board game to the next level by entering competitions, or simply want to triumph on family game night, here are a few key techniques to improve your winning record.

Step 1: Master Scrabble Basics

Know the Board

  1. (Creative Commons photo by Andy)
    (Creative Commons photo by Andy)
    If you go first, create a strong opening word to take advantage of the double-word score on the pink center square.3
  2. Set up your next play by positioning the opening word in a way that will give you several word-building opportunities after your opponent's turn.
  3. As the game goes on, be aware of the premium squares (double-word score, triple-word score, double-letter score and triple-letter score) so you can reach them.4
    1. Build off of a letter in an existing word, crossword puzzle style, which will align yours with a premium square.
    2. Add an "S" to the existing word. Use as part of a new word that you build perpendicularly, and you'll receive points for both.5
    3. Add letters onto an existing word (turning "champ" into "champions" or "championship," for example) so the newly formed word will reach a double- or triple-word score square.
    4. Build directly beside an existing word to receive points for every new word you form vertically and horizontally.6
  • Note: Don't become so obsessed with the premium squares that you miss other high-scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Know the Tiles

  1. Memorize the number of tiles available for each letter.
    • -While some boards feature a chart that provides the totals, many tournament boards don't.7
  2. Count the tiles on the board to assess your chances of drawing the letter you need.
    • -For example, if there are already 11 "E" tiles on the board, don't hold tiles that depend on getting that last "E" to form a word.
  3. Balance the tiles on your rack so you've always got a playable set.8
    • -Eliminate double letter tiles whenever possible. Having two or more of the same letter on your rack reduces your word-building opportunities.
    • -Aim to hold three vowels and four consonants, which will help you brainstorm better words and possibly use all seven tiles to form a bingo.9
  • Note: Don't be afraid to exchange a few tiles if you only have consonants on your rack and can't make a good play on the board.

Know the Rules

  1. Prevent challenges by staying away from proper nouns, abbreviations and words that traditionally require an apostrophe or hyphen.10
  2. Be certain of your word before placing tiles on the board. You cannot change or replace a tile once you've scored the word.
  3. State the letter a blank tile represents when you play it. Remember what the letter is if another player uses a blank, so you won't illegally use it as another letter.11

Step 2: Employ Game-winning Strategies

  • Once you've got the basics down, go beyond beginning game play strategies. Employ additional tactics that will boost your skill level...and your scores.

Play Aggressively

  1. (Creative Commons photo by Christopher)
    (Creative Commons photo by Christopher)
    Keep (rather than exchanging) power tiles like "Q," "Z" or "X" and try to play them on a premium double- or triple-letter score square.
  2. Shuffle the tiles on your rack, looking for a bingo that will use all seven. Playing one will net you 50 bonus points.12
  3. Reserve "S" tiles until you can use them to reach a premium square or build onto an existing word. Using one in the middle of a regular word is a wasted opportunity.13
  4. Similarly reserve blank tiles, using them only to create a bingo or another high-scoring word.
  5. Try to play your list number high-point tiles as soon as possible, particularly since they'll be more difficult to use as the game progresses.14

Play Defensively

  1. If the word you're creating will give your opponent access to a double- or triple-letter score square, try to position a difficult tile (like "Q" or "V") next to it instead of a vowel that will help him take advantage of the bonus.
  2. Avoid creating a word that ends one tile short of a double- or triple-word score square. It will be too easy for your opponent to add a hook onto it and rack up the points.15
  3. Opt for a lower-scoring word occasionally if it will block your opponent from a premium square or high-scoring word.16
  4. Try to form words that your opponent can't hook an "S" onto as part of a new word.

Challenge a Word

  1. Challenge your opponent's play when you believe he spelled a word incorrectly or fabricated it.17
  2. If you don't know your opponent (as opposed to playing a friend who's notorious for making up words), use challenges sparingly since you will lose a turn if the word is correct.
  3. When playing Scrabble against a computer opponent, avoid challenging completely since you can be fairly certain that it won't create an illegal word.

Step 3: Increase your Scrabble Vocabulary

  • Once you're comfortable with game play strategies, go in for the kill with more ways to use the tiles on your rack.
  1. Review the Official Scrabble Dictionary to brush up on words you don't know.18
  2. Learn the two- and three-letter words that you can use to finish tiles toward the end of the game or play alongside existing words to score big.19
  3. Memorize the legal "Q" words (like "Qat," "Qanat" and "Faqir") that you can create without a "U."20
  4. Remember additional short words that you can use with power tiles if you're running short of options.21
  5. Learn legal "vowel dumps," words to help you use up excess vowel tiles on your rack.22
  6. Study completed boards from previous championship games to discover new words and positioning strategies.23

Step 4: Practice to Hone Your Skills

  • Put your research to the test and refine your skills by playing the game on a regular basis. Practice against others or play an automated opponent from the comfort of your own home.
  1. Experiment with building words through an online Scrabble program that let's you play both sides.24
  2. (Creative Commons photo by Bev Sykes)
    (Creative Commons photo by Bev Sykes)
    Practice forming words with an online game like Scrabble Blast.25
  3. Purchase a Scrabble video game, or handheld unit, to play against a computer opponent with the difficulty level of your choice.26
  4. Buy a travel edition board that will enable you to challenge your friends and family to a game of Scrabble no matter where you are.27
  5. Sign up with a Scrabble club to discover upcoming events in your area. You'll also be able to socialize and practice with other players.28
  6. Join an Internet Scrabble club to play the game with other players from around the world.29

Conclusion

  • Winning consistently at Scrabble takes more than a lot of words and a bit of luck. But with some studying and plenty of practice, you'll soon be putting your friends and family to shame. You may want to challenge yourself by entering a scrabble tournament to test your skills against other aficionados.30

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References for How to Win at Scrabble

  1. ↑ Hasbro: Game Rules
  2. ↑ National Scrabble Association: Official Tournament Rules
  3. ↑ Scrabble Australia: The Opening Move
  4. ↑ Herald Tribune: Premium Squares of Scrabble (September 11, 2007)  WARNING: Ad-Heavy
  5. ↑ Hasbro: Forming New Words
  6. ↑ ClevelandSeniors.com: Parallel Two-by-Twos
  7. ↑ AskOxford.com: Number of Letters
  8. ↑ Scrabble Australia: Rack Management
  9. ↑ BBC: How to Get a Bingo in Scrabble (January 24, 2008)
  10. ↑ Expert Village: Challenging a Play in Scrabble (Time: 2:02)  WARNING: Pop-ups
  11. ↑ Expert Village: Using the Blank Tile (Time: 2:31)
  12. ↑ Cyberonic.com: Looking for a Bingo
  13. ↑ Specialist Online Dictionary: When to Play the "S" Tile  WARNING: Ad-Heavy
  14. ↑ Scrabble Australia: Rule #5, Retaining Tiles
  15. ↑ National Scrabble Association: What is a Hook?
  16. ↑ Hasbro: What is Blocking?
  17. ↑ Hasbro: When Can I Challenge?
  18. ↑ Amazon.com: Official Scrabble Players Dictionary
  19. ↑ Phrontistery: Two- and Three-letter Scrabble Words
  20. ↑ Hasbro: Q Words Without U
  21. ↑ Mental Floss: Ten Words to Help You Win at Scrabble (August 28, 2008)  WARNING: Pop-ups
  22. ↑ Sanjeev.net: Vowel Dumps
  23. ↑ Slate: Record Setting Board (October 26, 2006)
  24. ↑ TheManInBlue.com: Online Scrabble Game
  25. ↑ Games.com: Scrabble Blast
  26. ↑ Amazon.com: Scrabble Video Games
  27. ↑ Barnes&Noble: Scrabble Travel Edition
  28. ↑ ScrabbleClub.com: Scrabble Club  Registration Required
  29. ↑ Internet Scrabble Club: Internet Club
  30. ↑ National Scrabble Association: Tournament Calendar


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