by Gretchen Lorraine Hillcrest

Created on: January 29, 2008   Last Updated: May 22, 2010

Tips for Playing Scrabble

The first tip that comes to mind is to not play against my Mother. If you are laughing now, chances are you have played against a walking dictionary a time or two as well and are more than ready to arm yourself before the next battle. Here are some strategies to put into action for your next game that are sure to boost your score-power.

1. Get yourself a scrabble dictionary.

Don't try to start from the letter "A" and memorize the entire dictionary. Focus on small words that are assigned higher point values first, for example X'. The letter X' buys you eight points all by itself. In your scrabble dictionary you will see the words, XI and XU. All you need is the proper vowel to go with it and your chances of having both of those available to play are very good.

Next, concentrate on words made using only vowels AI, AE. These words will bail you out when all you seem to draw are vowels and/or when only vowels are open for building upon on a difficult board.

2. Be selective in your word choices (arrange and rearrange often).

It can be very tempting when you draw letters in a certain order and a word is nearly spelled out for you on your rack. Keep that word in mind, but always rearrange your letters to see what other words you can form. Arrange and rearrange the letters on your rack often. Don't get one word stuck in your mind and waste turns drawing for that one letter you need to make it work. Once in a while that might be worthwhile, if you are holding out for a seven-letter word that is going down on a triple word score, and your word contains several high scoring tiles. However, most of the time, the dinky words you are making while holding out for the one letter you need will actually hurt your overall score because the three turns you wasted waiting for that one letter might have added up to nearly or more than the 50-point bonus you are aiming for; and your opponent is busy racking up points and taking advantage of your predicament.

3. Be selective in your word play.

Placement on the board is essential. Certainly, the squares that double and triple your letters and words are the most desirable. But there are other ways to double your letters and words when those squares are not available. Play as much of your word against a word already on the board as you can, touching as many letters of both words as possible. That doubles every letter in your word, or at least as many tiles as you are able to line up. In the example

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