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Scrabble Tips & Strategies

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Win at Scrabble

Scrabble is fun and addicting. Even more so if you are winning! (grin)

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.)

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?

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Bluff and WIN Baby!

xxginaxx says:

when i play scrabble, we cheat and use a dictionary while we are playing, so i cheat and say "yeah that's a word, i just looked it up!!" even when its not in the dictionary, and my fellow players believe me(:

lolipop says:

bluff and win
hehe they never know

scrabble:) says:

well my game wont let me but i would so bluff
i wish i could

Scrabble Lover says:

I really enjoy making up words and tricking my opponent. LOL!!!!

aaa says:

If you don't get challenged it works good. lol

It Ruins the Fun!

MobileAppMan says:

Cheaters never win and winners never cheat. Nuff' said.

linda says:

that would make the game too easy to win!

jk says:

makes sence..... you know its cheating...

ruch says:

ruins the fun

kev says:

that retarded you shouldn't be able to make up words

 
view all 38 comments

Know Your Words

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NSA Word of the Day

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Beginnings & 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.

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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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  • KayeSI Apr 9, 2012 @ 8:16 pm | delete
    Interesting lens. Thank you.
  • Dec 25, 2010 @ 1:49 am | delete
    Good Lens ! Merry Christmas
  • Michelle-DS-Fan Feb 7, 2010 @ 3:02 pm | delete
    Great lens. Very helpful. I've been playing Scrabble for a long time. Until recently, I never thought about strategy. But I'm tired of my sister bragging about winning, so I'm going to become a more serious player. Visit my Scrabble lens when you get a chance.
  • jwblackwell Jan 29, 2010 @ 4:15 pm | delete
    Nice page, i'm a bit of a scrabble addict as well! Here is my page on how you can download Scrabble for free http://www.squidoo.com/free-scrabble-download
  • find_large_folders Jan 29, 2010 @ 5:38 am | delete
    I play and like Scrabble. Interesting lens
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kcgagne

Mom, Website Consultant, Internet Marketer and Fitness Coach

Kathleen Gagne, known by her peers as "K.C.", is a work-at-home-mom of two, currently residing... more »

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