In 1933, during the height of the Great Depression, one architect named Alfred Mosher Butts who was out-of-work invented a game that would bring joy to millions all over the world.
Fast forward to today, and scrabble continues to delight millions of people all over the world and is even featured in global completions. This same game stretches your vocabulary.
Here is a list of tips and tricks players of all skill levels can use the next time they play this iconic game.
Memorize two-letter and three-letter words so you can rack up points:
They might be difficult to pull off at the start, but knowing two-letter and three-letter words can be the kiss of death for your opponents if you place them on bonus spaces.
Know your prefixes and suffixes:
By knowing words with prefixes and suffixes, you’ll be able to give a setback to your opponents’ scores. Common suffixes could be “S, -ED, -ER, -ING, -NESS, -CY, -AL, -TION, -LY, -ENT, -IEST, -FUL, -ITY, -ITE in addition to prefixes such as MIS-, NON-,TRI-, PRE-, and EX-. Here’s an example; if your opponent plays the word “VERBAL,” you can add the prefix “NON” to make “NONVERBAL” and rack up points. You could also add the suffix “ER” to “JUMP,” to make the word “JUMPER.” Great tip right?
Place letters around bonus tiles:
If you don’t utilize the double letter, triple letter, double word, and/or triple word spaces, you won’t fare very well in Scrabble. Even if you aren’t able to get a high-scoring word, use these spots. It will cut off your opponents and prevent them from running up their score.
Keep your eyes on these eight magic letters: A, E, I, L, N, R, S, and T:
The above letters are some of the most commonly used letters in the English alphabet. If you’re having a rough time coming up with words, having one or more of these letters on your deck can help you greatly.
Use ‘Q’ sooner rather than later:
Seeing that letter Q on your rack looks funny right? Well, scrabble pros agree that Q is perhaps the toughest letter to use during a game because there aren’t many words that use the letter. Your best bet when getting a Q on your letters deck is to use it at the first opportunity you get. Also, if there’s a power spot open, placing your Q there can give you the edge over your opponents.
Learn words that use Q but don’t need a U:
You might be saving that Q because you’re missing a U in your rack — don’t! There are 33 words in the Scrabble dictionary, from Faqir to Tranqs that use a Q but no U. So, don’t always think “quote, queue, queen and the likes.
Save letters J, X, or Z for double or triple points:
Another way to get big points on the board is with the letters J, X, and/or Z. If you use them in the right spaces especially with the double letter, double word, triple letter, and triple words, you can rack up double or possibly even triple digit points in a single round.
Read the dictionary or subscribe to a word of the day:
Just try to remember and have another experience of the days of sitting for an English test. You can subscribe to a Word of the Day newsletter or the dictionary. This will in no doubt improve your vocabulary, which will make you a more formidable Scrabble opponent.
Try to find opportunities for “hooks“:
A “hook” in scrabble is when you alter an opponent’s word with a letter of your own and build a whole new word in the opposite direction. It not only allows you to get the points from your new word, but also that of your opponent’s word, too. So much extra from one letter right? The picture above poses one good example.
If times get tough, trade in your letters:
Swapping tiles on your letters deck during tough times can turn out to be helpful and can give you chances of scoring the next time around.
Be on the lookout for Scrabble “bingos”:
Scrabble pros agree that there’s no greater feeling in the game than being able to use your entire deck for a word in a single turn. Genius! Commonly known as a Scrabble “bingo,” this can help you add 50 points on top of what the word would normally score. So keep your eyes open! A move like this could decide the winner.
Hey! It’s just a game:
It’s painful to lose any game but don’t take it beyond it being just a game even if you’re the winner. You can get another chance to win. You could also sit on the losers corner another day. So, chill.
With these tips, you can now call up your friends and schedule a game night because you’ll want to put these 12 Scrabble hacks into action.
What game have you mastered and won at almost all the time? Please share your tips with us in the comment section.