Win at Scrabble
This lens includes a few Scrabble tips and strategies that I've picked up over the years of my addiction. I hope they help you win at Scrabble too.
Ready? Let's play! (Yes, that really was a challenge.)
Contents at a Glance
Scrabble Dictionaries
Before beginning play, it's a good idea to make sure you know which Scrabble dictionary you are using. Some words may be legal in one dictionary or online game site, but not another.OSPD - Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, derived from the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and four other college dictionaries.
OSW - Official Scrabble Words which is derived from the Chambers Dictionary.
SOWPODS - Used in tournaments in all English-speaking countries except USA, Canada, Thailand and Israel. This word list was originally derived from the OSPD and the OSW.
TWL - The official tournament word list used in USA, Canada, Thailand and Isreal. This word list is based on the OSPD with some modifications and has fewer words than SOWPODS.
Two Letter Words
One of the most important things in winning at Scrabble in knowing your two letter words. They are the building blocks for making parallel words and taking advantage of bonus squares.This two letter word list is from the TWL.
AA AB AD AE AG AH AI AL AM AN AR AS AT AW AX AY
BA BE BI BO BY
DE DO
ED EF EH EL EM EN ER ES ET EX
FA
GO
HA HE HI HM HO
ID IF IN IT
JO
KA KI
LA LI LO
MA ME MM MO MU MY
NA NE NO NU
OD OE OF OH OM ON OP OR OS OW OX OY
PA PE PI
QI
RE
SH SI SO
TA TO
UH UM UN UP US UT
WE WO
XI XU
YA YE YO
ZA
More Scrabble Word Lists
The Hook
A hook is when you a form a new word by adding one letter to a word already on the board. When you do this, you gets points for BOTH words; the new word you placed AND the new word you created by adding on to the existing one.For example, if "AX" is on the board and you have a "F" in your tray, try creating a new word and place it so "AX" becomes "FAX". In this example, you get points for the word "WAFER" and points for the word "FAX".
Always look for opportunities to score with one than one word per turn.
Parallel Words
Placing a new word parallel to an existing word can also dramatically increase your score. This is where knowing your two and three letter words really comes in handy!"WAY" would have only scored 9 points on its own, but placed parallel to "TEAR" and "TRIO", you would get 9 points for "WAY", 2 for "AT", and 6 for "YET" plus any bonus squares.
Keep building this way or place larger words, and the points really add up.
Bonus Squares
Be on the lookout for those colored squares. Placing high point letters on them can really boost your score! This may sound obvious, but if you look for them first, combine them with a hook or a parallel words, even two letter words can add up to more than a six letter word. Place a J, Q, X or Z on a bonus square and watch your score multipy!
An example: Look for a triple letter score to the left of an "I". Place the word "QI" parallel to it... and your "Q" just counted six times for a minumum score of 60!Want to see some CRAZY points? Although rare, it can happen. Three spaces outside of the center, there are opportunities to make a seven letter word reach from one double word score to another double word score. This multiplies your word times FOUR and you get your 50 point bonus for a bingo.
Try to use these squares whenever possible and avoid lining your opponent up to use them.
Phoney Words?
Is it okay to make up words when playing Scrabble?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byBluff and WIN Baby!
dfghjkl says:
yeah tootally
Posted July 06, 2009
Pablo says:
druves
Posted March 18, 2009
AshevilleDiscJockey says:
Bluffing is definitely part of the game. The real trick is knowing some odd ball words. That way they think twice before challenging you again.
Posted August 04, 2008
It Ruins the Fun!
Leo says:
coog
Posted May 31, 2009
brooke says:
wets
Posted January 23, 2009
mulberry says:
I don't play it enough to be to savvy, so I say NO, keep it simple and by the book.
Posted August 07, 2008
Know Your Words
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/13/2009) 
The Merriam-Webster Official Scrabble Players Dictionary Illustrated E dition
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 07/13/2009)
The Scrabble Word-Building Book: Updated Edition
Amazon Price: $8.50 (as of 07/13/2009)
NSA Word of the Day
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBeginnings & Endings
Do you have any combination of these letters in your rack? AGE, EST, FUL, IEST, IER, URE, ABLE, S, ED, or ING? Put them at the far right of your letters. What about UN, IN, or RE? Put them at the far left of your letters.Can you use these prefixes and suffixes to form a bingo with your other letters?
Look at the existing words on the board and see if adding to them will hit a bonus square.
Play Scrabble Online
Scrabulous
Play scrabulous, the world's favorite online word more...1 point
The Pixie Pit
The best place to play Scrabble online. Super Scra more...0 points
Play Scrabble on the Board
Deluxe Turntable Scrabble
Amazon Price: $129.88 (as of 07/13/2009)
Scrabble Crossword Game
Amazon Price: $19.34 (as of 07/13/2009)
Super Scrabble Deluxe Edition
Amazon Price: $41.29 (as of 07/13/2009)
Scrabble Game Folio
Amazon Price: $17.48 (as of 07/13/2009)
Scrabble: Junior Edition
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Scrabble Babble
Got a tip to share? What's your favorite Scrabble word?
Don't forget to rate my lens, add to favorites and/or lensroll!
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Pambie36 wrote...
I play Scrabble a lot online and one of my pet peeves has to be the player who knows only ONE strategy - and that is stacking. Nothing like playing someone like that and ending up with a board that is merely blocked and unplayable. I tend to use a variety of strategies myself and, in a good game will score 2-4 bingos. Aside from scoring me an extra 50 points, bingos open up the board for play. Some players, however, are so "strategically" inclined that I swear that they would not play a bingo rather than risk YOU having the triple! My mom is a Scrabble champ and one of the most valuable lessons she taught me was to skip and swap - if my tiles are bad, I'll do it often - it increases my chances of scoring a bingo! Lastly, MAN do I miss Scrabulous/Lexulous! It was the best place to play online!
Posted January 16, 2009
triathlontraining wrote...
QAT - That's my favorite Q word. Great job on your lens!
Posted September 23, 2008
seedplanter wrote...
I've been playing Scrabble since I was a kid. It's the next-best thing to crosswords. Scrabble is a popular brain-game in some nursing homes, too. Keeps 'em young!
I've linked to your lens on my Wordaholics Anonymous lens: http://www.squidoo.com/wordaholics-anonymous
Thanks!
Posted August 09, 2008
kellilvn wrote...
I love to play scrabble too! I even downloaded scrabble onto my cell phone to play when I have to wait somewhere..like the Dr's office. Great lens!
Posted August 07, 2008
AshevilleDiscJockey wrote...
I play scrabble a lot and this page hits on the right points. Very informative and great explaination on scoring.
Posted August 04, 2008
by kcgagne
Kathleen Gagne, known by her peers as "K.C.", is a work at home mom of two young chil... (more)
