Adult Literacy Advocates
26th Annual Scrabble Challenge

Rules and Tips for Play

Some players may find a 'refresher' of the Scrabble rules of play helpful,
so we've included a simplified version below. 
We've also listed some tips and strategies that we've found online
as well as a few suggested by our experienced players!
​Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're unclear about any of the rules!
​​
​Basic Instructions and Rules
(With some minor adjustments from the ‘Official Rules’ for our Scrabble Challenge!)

Start the game
  • Mix up the letters in the bag and decide which team     will play first.

Take tiles
  • Each team randomly draws seven tiles from the bag    and places them in their rack.
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Play a word
  • On the first turn, place a word on the board that's at least two letters long and touches the center star.                  (The center star counts as a double word score.)
  • Words can be played horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally. 
  • All letters in the word must touch each other and at least one letter already on the board to form a complete word. 
  • You can add letters to the beginning or end of an already played word. For example, you can add an "S" to pluralize a word or a "D" to change a verb tense.
  • No tile may be shifted or replaced after it has been played and scored.
  • A team can choose to pass at any time. They will forfeit that turn and play passes to the other team. If any team passes two times in a row, the game will end.
  • You may use a turn to exchange all, some, or none of the letters. To do this, place your discarded letter(s) face down. Draw the same number of letters from the bag, then mix your discarded letter(s) into the bag. This ends your turn.
 
Calculate your score
  • Each tile has a point value between 1 and 10, with blank tiles worth zero points. Values are listed on the playing board. Keep a running tally of your individual word scores.
  • The score for each word played is the sum of the point values of all the letters in that word. 
  • Some squares on the board also give bonus points. Bonus points count only on the turn in which they are played. (On later turns, letters added to words already played on bonus squares count at face value only.)
  • 50-point bonus - Players who use all seven of their tiles  in a single turn earn a 50-point bonus in addition to their regular score.

End your turn
  • After playing your word, end your team's turn. Then, draw new tiles from the bag to replace the ones you used, as long as there are enough left, so that you always have seven tiles.

End of round
  • The round ends when announced by the MC,
  • or when one team has used all their tiles,
  • or no one can make any more words,
  • or a team has passed twice in a row.
 
End of round scoring
  • Each team calculates their total score for the round, along with their highest scoring word’s point value, puts those figures (along with their team’s name) on the scoresheet, and submits it to the scoring table. 

​Remember to use a new scoresheet for each round. 
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​Playing Tips
(from both Amateurs and the Professionals)

  • In a timed competition, sometimes it is better to quickly play lower scoring words, instead of using time to figure out a higher scoring word.                                                          
  • Use prefixes and suffixes. You can piggyback off your opponents' scores by adding prefixes and suffixes to their words.                                                                                             
  • Use the Q letter early. Q is a high-value letter, but it can be difficult to use. Try to use it as soon as possible, especially if there's an open power spot.                                 
  • Rearrange your tiles often. Rearranging your tiles can help you see new possibilities. 
 
  • Exchange your letters. Exchanging some or all of your tiles for new ones can be a good strategy in many situations.                                                                                       
  • Use ‘hook’ letters. Hook letters are those letters added to the beginning or end of an existing word. You can use them to form new words, especially with verbs and nouns that can be made into plurals or changed tense.                   
  • Avoid using a vowel, S, D, R, or T in the center star, as it's then easy for the next player to reach the triple-word scores at the edges.                                                                       
  • Small words with high point value tiles can be strategically placed on double or triple-letter bonus squares to earn higher values.                                                   
  • Plan ahead and look for jumping-off points where you can use the bonus squares.                                                               
  • Seek out prefixes or suffixes, or simply add the letter S.       
  • Try forming words adjacent to high-value tiles.                      
  • If possible, only use the blank tiles to score the 50-point bonus for using all seven tiles.