SCRABBLE Strategy Al Carlson

On this August 18, 2018, I am beginning to reveal the details of my SCRABBLE strategy which is possibly among the best in the long history of the game. First let me show you how I came to this conclusion. There are 56 consonants and 42 vowels in this game. Of the 56 consonants, the five letters L, N, R, S and T account for 26 of these consonants. Each of these letters is worth only 1 point. There are 68 tiles whose letters are each worth one point. There are 30 tiles that are worth 2 to 10 points for an average of 3 points for each tile. If the two players together received only one point for each tile, that would be a total of 68 points divided between the two players. If the two players received an average of 3 points for the tiles worth 2 to 10 points, they would get a total of 90 points divided between them. Many factors like bingos can contribute to the total score but the player drawing the majority of the higher scoring tiles almost always wins, when they nearly maximize the scores produced by these tiles.

The single-point scoring tiles however will still usually account for the majority of the total points scored by both players. This is because most words will contain more of these letters than the higher-scoring ones. And when a high score is produced by a high-scoring letter, the single point letters are included. If a player plays the word HARES for example on square O1, the H would score 12 points but the A, R, E, and S would score 15 points. If the letter on O1 would be a Q, Z, J or X however, that high-scoring letter would score more points than the other letters. There are premium squares also where only the letter played on that square gets multiple scoring points. There are five arrangements of vowels and consonants that are most often the first three letters in words. In order of frequency of appearance these are… a consonant followed by a vowel and a consonant, a vowel followed by a consonant and a vowel, a consonant followed by a consonant and a vowel, a consonant followed by two vowels, a vowel followed by two consonants. In any of these letter arrangements there are many more words produced with the higher-scoring letters than with the single- point scoring letters. Assuming that the letter A is the second letter in the word, there are only five one-point scoring letters L, N, R, S and T representing the 26 tiles of these letters that can be the first letter in the word. There are all of the sixteen letters worth two to ten points representing the 30 tiles of these letters that can be the first letter. These letters are … B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, M, P, Q, V, W, X, Y and Z. While having the letter E as the second letter, all of the letters but Q can be the first letter.

Frequently in the game you will have to play a word that contains two consecutive vowels. The only really useful pairs of these consecutive vowels are AE, AI, IA and OA. If we were to place the vowels EA as the second and third letters in our word, there are only the five one point scoring vowels L, N, R, S, and T that can precede them in the word whereas there are fourteen letters worth two to ten points that may precede these letters. These letters are…. B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, M, P, V, W, Y. and Z. The following words would work…… BEAD, CEASE, DEAF, FEAR, GEAR, HEAT, JEAN, KEA, MEAN, PEAN, VEAL, WEAL, YEAN, and ZEAL. The same is true using the letters AI, IA and OA. You will find hundreds more in your SCRABBLE dictionary.

Other more useful consecutive vowels are IA, IE and EI. There are a fair number of words where the IA vowels are preceded by the letter D. Most of these consecutive vowels are found earlier in the words. There are fewer words when these letters appear later in the words. Next we have consecutive vowel letters that are the same letter. The most common are EE and OO. Some double E words are BEEN, CEE, DEED, FEEZE, GEEZ, HEEZE, JEEZE, KEEVE, MEED, PEERY, VENNA, WEEVER, YEESH and ZEE.

The consecutive vowels UI produce the words BUILT, CUIR, DUIT, GUILT, HUIC, JUICE, PUISSANT and QUIRE. How many words can you find preceding these consecutive letters with L, N, R, S, or T? Some double O words are BOOZE, COOLTH, DOOZIE, FOOZLE, GOOMBAY, HOOKAH, JOOK, KOOBOO, MOORHEN, POOKA, VOODOO, WOONERF, YOOF and ZOOIDAL.

Double consecutive consonants using the five one- point scoring letters L, N, R, S and T can appear earlier or later in the words. Once again the are much more frequently found in words that contain at least one letter from the group of thirty letters each of which is worth two to ten points. By studying the consecutive vowel and consecutive consonant combinations, the size of your vocabulary should increase immensely. You will also be more able to spot the words using these letters more readily on your tile racks.

The most common ending letters in a word are S, D, E, L T, N and H. The higher-scoring letters appear often near the ends of words. This happens mostly before E as the last letter. We have the words BIDE, CADE, DACE, FACE, GUDE, HIKE, JOKE, KOPJE, MIKE, POME, TOPE, VIDE, WIVE, YOWE, and ZYME. The letter H is a great scoring letter since it can be preceded in two-letter words by any of four vowels before or after it as in AH, EH, OH and UH before and HA, HE, HI, and HO after it. The letter Y is quite useful, since all of the following three-letter words with no vowels except when Y is considered a vowel, can be used … BYS, CRY, DRY, FRY, PLY, PRY, SHY, SLY, SPY, STY, THY, TRY, WHY and WRY. I would like to thank former world scrabble champion Joel Wapnick for suggesting that I check to see what is already written about SCRABBLE before releasing my self-published book The “Little Word Source”.

SO WHAT’S MY STRATEGY?

In my early SCRABBLE days I was presented with certain challenges. I would look at my rack and try to find a starting letter of a word I could play. This was hard enough but something else was much harder to do. When there is a letter on the board that you want to be the last letter in your word, it was very difficult to come up with that word. I took me two years to write a book showing up to ten-letter words with a particular letter in every position in the words, listing only the less common words. The book was almost 1000 pages long. It was never published. Words with a higher scoring letter within them are listed showing that letter in all positions in that word. Then I calculate where I can play that letter to take advantage of the premium squares. These premium squares are arranged in certain patterns. In my book “The Little Word Source”, the words were listed showing the last letter in the word. When a player plays their first word it goes latterly from the center area towards the right side of the board. This way you can start with the first letter. In order for the next player to play a word latterly left of that word they must hook the last letter of the word with a letter in a word that has already played vertically. So they must think of a word that ends with that letter. The same problem arises when a vertical word is to be played from the top left side of the board down to an earlier played last letter.

I have noticed that even in games played by world-class players that the upper left –hand corner of the board is often unused. IF you are the first one to play and prefer an open board, make a play that gives you the option of playing the right or left of that word on your next play. Play a vowel as the first letter of your word between the first two premium squares. The next word you play can be a short word ending with the consonant that is played above the vowel. When playing words in the top left corner of the board at the start of the game, more areas of the board are used. More triple-word scores are played and more bingos are possible. You must not however sacrifice too many points to have this happen. Most of the higher-scoring plays are played in the other two thirds of the board. This way you can play a three- letter word that can be extended to a longer word or play the longer word. This is not as easy to do when playing a word according to the last letters in the word. Using the letter P, you will know numerous words starting with this letter. There are even a large number when this letter is the second or third letter in the word. There are fewer words ending with this letter, when the letter is the second last letter, or third last letter. The letter can be easily preceded by the vowels A, E, O or U or by the letter S. Some letters cannot follow this letter such as B, C, D, F, G etc.

The letters written above my representation of the SCRABBLE board go latterly from A to O while the numbers on the left of the board go are have three regular squares between them. To score well with a word you will try to look for situations where you can play your high scoring letter on one of these squares. If you can form two words from this square, that letter alone can register a score that is four times its single point value. If you want to record a game and want to show which player has played which higher-scoring letter, use a different colour ink for each player. By totalling the number of points scored by each player for the letters alone, you will see how well my strategy works.

On the first play of the game I may have the letters QUIREUK on my rack. I will place my Q on the square D8. I would get more points by playing QUIRK than QUIRE. However if I play QUIRE I can reserve the K to be used with the I to play KI starting on C9 which is a premium square giving me 22 points on my next turn. There is always the risk that your opponent may be able to play there but the odds are in your favour. Let’s say that you could play the word QUIZ or QUIN somewhere in the game starting on a square such as J6. You get triple value for the Q but only single value for the Z. If you play QUIN the Z can be saved to be played on another premium square on another turn. Sometimes you have a series of letters that can produce more than one word. The letters ERWID can produce the three words WIDER, WIRED and WEIRD. Playing the words WIDER or WIRED as the first play in the game places a vowel between the premium squares G7 and G9. In this example you would be better to play the word WEIRD. IF you however were to have an X and E also on your rack, you could play the word WIRED. Your opponent might play the two-letter word HI on the G7 square. Then you could play your EX placing the X on G9 giving you 32 points for the X alone. The second player might play some other letter in which case you should have a plan B. The first player may also draw another higher-scoring tile on their next play which could score a large number of points elsewhere.

The best strategic row on which to play a word

The third row from any outside row is the best strategic row on which to play a word. When playing TOPAZ on M1 you are leaving a chance for your opponent to play a triple word like TEW on M1. By playing an X on N2 you might be able to play OX and EX for two double word scores. Your first word can be played vertically or latterly in any of the four corners of the board. When an opponent plays any triple word score on any outside row, there is a triple letter square close to it as in O8 for the triple word square and N10 for the triple letter square. If your opponent plays a vowel such as an I tile on O10, you might be able to play QI on N10 and N11 starting on the triple letter square.

My main strategy is to try to score the maximum number of points with as many of the 30 higher scoring tiles that I may draw. This strategy was learned by playing solo scrabble hundreds of times. In one game the letter Q registered a total of 70 points dived between both players. The

Q was first played on a double-letter premium square I13 to play QUAD. Then the word was elongated to produce QUADRIC for a double-word score. Finally the Q was used in a triple-word score by playing QUOD down to the triple word square I15. You should try to score at least double the tile value on each play. Sometimes you may accept a single value when the letter contributes to a high score or can be used in a later play. Let’s say that you have the opportunity to play the word QUIZ or QUIN. The Q in our example is played on a triple letter square. In most cases the fourth letter in the word will land on a square that is not a premium square. If you play the word QUIN, the Z may be saved to possible be played on another triple-letter square or on some other premium square.

The early consecutive letter knowledge will enable you to quickly recognize which higher scoring letters can be applied with these letters. In one sample game both sides together were able to score upwards of 350 points for the 30 higher scoring tiles by themselves. In solo scrabble I have registered a score of 634 for the first player and 397 for the second player. Even if you laid out all of the tiles it would be difficult to achieve this. In one game I played six bingos. I have played all of my competitive games at the North Bay SCRABBLE club in North Bay, Ontario Canada where in my early games I needed to develop more knowledge of the game as well as strategy. Gradually my win to lose ratio improved over a seven year period. The abilities, enthusiasm and competiveness shown by some of the best players at the club had inspired and challenged me, which has led to my obsession at attempting to master this game.

Closing a section of the board temporarily

Sometimes it may be worth cluttering up a spot on the board in order to make a high-scoring play. In that case you should consider how you might open up the board again. The word JAR might be better played vertically in the lower half of the board than the upper half. This way, you will not have to necessarily deal with the J which can only be followed by and O in a two-letter word. The word RAJ on the other hand would be better played in the upper half of the board. The word QI would be better played vertically in the lower half. Here are some short words which can open up your board in such situations. They are listed with one of the vowels A, I, O or U as the last letter. AA, AI, BA, BI, MA, MI, OI, BO, HO, LO, PO, WO, YO, MU, NU, ABA, AGA, ALA, AMA, ANA, AVA, AWA, BAA, BOA, ETA, GOA, KEA, KOA, LEA, MOA, OBA, OCA, ODA, OKA, ORA, OVA, PIA, PYA, QUA, RIA, RYA, SHA, SKA, TWA, UTA, WHA, YEA ZOA, AHI, AMI, ANI, CHI, DUI, GHI, KHI, KOI, LEI, PHI, POI, PSI, RAI, REI, SEI, SRI, TUI, ADO, AGO, APO, AVO, AZO, BIO, BRO, COO, DUO, EGO, FRO, GOO, HAO, LOO, MHO, MOO, NOO, OHO, ONO, OXO, RHO, TAO, THO, UDO, UPO, WOO, ZOO, AMU, CRU, EAU, ECU, EMU, FEU, FOU, GNU, JEU, LEU, PIU, SAU, SOU, TAU, ULU, VAU.

Two-letter and three-letter words containing 30 higher-scoring letters

Each player will have usually play 15 full racks during their game. You would then have an average of one of these letters per rack. Since there are 42 vowels you can expect to have two or more of these letters per rack. Although I do not advise using more that one of the higher-scoring letters on a single word unless they can score a high number of points when used on a triple word score. Here are the two- letter words …. AB, BA, BE, BI, BO, BY, AD, ED, ID, OD, DA, DO, EF, IF, OF, GI, AH, EH, OH, SH, UH, JO, KA, KI, AM, EM, HM, OM, UM, OP, PA, PE, PI, PO, QI, AW, OW, WE, WO, AX, EX, OX, XI, XU, AY, OY, YA, YE, YO, ZA,

Three-letter words listed according to the second letter These words contain one or more letters worth two to ten points. AAH, BAA, BAD, BAG, BAH, BAL, BAN, BAP, BAR, BAS, BAT, BAY, CAB, CAD, CAF, CAL, CAM, CAN, CAP, CAR, CAT, CAW, CAY, DAB, DAD, DAG, DAH, DAK, DAL, DAM, DAN, DAP, DAS, DAW, DAY, FAB, FAD, FAG, FAH, FAN, FAR, FAS, FAT, FAX, FAY, GAB, GAD, GAE, GAG, GAL, GAM, GAN, GAP, GAR, GAT, GAY, HAD, HAE, HAG, HAH, HAJ, HAM, HAO, HAP, HAS, HAT, HAW, HAY, JAB, JAG, JAM, JAR, JAW, JAY, KAB, KAE, KAF, KAS, KAT, KAY, LAB, LAC, LAD, LAG, LAH, LAM, LAP, LAX, LAY, MAC, MAD, MAE, MAG, MAM, MAN, MAP, MAR, MAS, MAT, MAW, MAY, NAB, NAG, NAH, NAM, NAP, NAV, NAW, NAY, OAF, OAK, PAC, PAD, PAH, PAK, PAL, PAM, PAN, PAP, PAR, PAS, PAT, PAW, PAX, PAY, RAD, RAG, RAH, RAJ, RAM, RAP, RAY, SAB, SAD, SAG, SAP, SAW, SAX, SAY, TAB, TAD, TAG, TAJ, TAM TAP, TAV, TAW, TAX, VAC, VAN, VAR, VAS, VAT, VAU, VAV, VAW, WAB, WAD, WAE, WAG, WAN, WAP, WAR, WAS, WAT, WAY, YAG, YAH, YAK, YAM, YAP, YAR, YAS, YAW, YAY, ZAG, ZAP, ZAS, ZAX, ABA, ABO, ABS, ABY, EBB, ACE, ACT, ECO, ECU, ICE, ICH, ICY, OCA, ADD, ADO, ADS, ADZ, EDH, EDS, BED, BEE, BEG, BEL, BEN, BES, BET, BEY, CEE, CEL, CEP, DEB, DEE, DEF, DEL, DEN, DEP, DES, DEV, DEW, DEX, DEY, EEK, EEW, FED, FEH, FEM, FEN, FER, FES, FET, FEU, FEZ, GED, GEE, GEL, GEM, GEN, HEH, HEM, HEN, HEP, HER, HES, HET, HEX, HEY, JEE, JET, JEU, KEA, KEF, KEG, KEN, KEP, KEX, KEY, LED, LEG, LEK, LEV, LEY, MED, MEG, MEH, MEL, MEM, MEN, MES, MET, MEW, PEA, PED, PEE, PEG, PEN, PEP, PER, PES, PET, PEW, RED, REG, REM, REP, REZ, SEG, SEX, YEA, YEH, YEN, YEP, YER, YES, XED, YET, YEW, YEZ, ZED, ZEE, ZEK, AFF, AFT, EFS, EFT, IFF, OFF, OFT, AGA, AGE, AGO, AGS, EGG, EGO, AHA, AHI, KHI, MHO, OHO, PHI, PHO, RHO, SHH, THO, WHA, WHO, WHY, AID, BIB, BID, BIG, BIS, BIT, CIS, DIB, DID, DIE, DIF, DIG, DIM, DIN, DIS, DIT, FIB, FID, FIE, FIG, FIL, FIN, FIR, FIT, FIZ, GIB, GID, GIE, GIF, GIG, GIN, GIP, GIS, GIT, HIC, HID, HIE, HIM, HIN, HIP, HIS, HIT, JIB, JIG, KID, KIF, KIN, KIP, KIR, KIS, KIT, LIB, LID, LIP, MIB, MID, MIL, NIB, NIM, NIP, OIK, PIA, PIC, PIE, PIG, PIM, PIN, PIP, PIS, PIT, PIU, PIX, RIB, RID, RIF, RIG, RIM, SIB, SIC, SIG, SIM, SIP, TIP, TIX, VIA, VID, VIE, VIG, VIM, VIN, VIS, WIG, WIN, WIS, WIT, WIZ, YID, YIN, YIP, ZIG, ZIN, ZIP, ZIT, AJI, EKE, OKA, OKE, ALB, ALP, ELD, ELK, OLD, AMA, AMI, AMP, AMU, EME, EMO, EMS, MMM, BOA, BOB, BOD, BOO, BOS, BOT, BOW, BOX, BOY, COB, COD, COG, COL, CON, COO, COP, COR, COS, COT, COW, COX, COY, COZ, DOC, DOG, DOH, DOL, DOM, DON, DOO, DOR, DOS, DOT, DOW, FOB, FOE, FOG, FOH, FON, FOO, FOP, FOR, FOU, FOX, FOY, GOA, GOB, GOD, GON, GOR, GOS, GOT, GOX, HOB, HOD, HOE, HOG, HOM, HON, HOO, HOP, HOT, HOW, HOY, JOB, JOE, JOG, JOT, JOW, JOY, KOA, KOB, KOI, KOP, KOR, KOS, LOB, LOG, LOP, MOA, MOB, MOC, MOD, MOG, MOI, MOL, MOM, MON, MOO, MOP, MOR, MOS, MOT, MOW, NOB, NOD, NOG, NOH, NOM, NOW, OOF, POD, POH, POI, POL, POM, POO, POP, POS, POT, POW, POX, SOC, SOD, SOH, SOM, SOP, SOW, SOY, TOD, TOG, TOM, TOP, VOE, VOG, VOW, VOX, WOE, WOK, WON, WOO, WOP, WOS, WOT, YOB, YOD, YOM, YON, YOW, VOE, VOG, ZOA, APP, APE, APO, SPY, ARB, ARC, ARF, ARM, BRA, BRO, BRR, CRU, CRY, DRY, ERG, GRR, ORB, ORC, ORG, ASH, ASP, PSI, ETH, NTH, BUB, BUD, BUG, BUM BUN, BUR, BUS, BUT, BUY, CUB, CUD, CUE, CUP, CUR, CUT, CUZ, DUB, DUD, DUE, DUG, DUH, DUI, DUM, DUN, DUO, DUP, FUB, FUD, FUG, FUN, FUR, GUL, GUM, GUN, GUT, GUY, HUB, HUG, HUH, HUM, HUN, HUP, HUT, JUG, JUN, JUS, JUT, KUE, LUD, LUG, LUM, MUG, MUN, MUS, MUT, MUX, NUB, NUG, OUD, PUB, PUD, PUG, PUL, PUN, PUP, PUR, PUS, PUT, RUM, SUM, SUP, TUM, VUG, VUM, WUD, YUK, YUM, YUP, ZUZ, AVA, AVE, AVO, EVE, AWA, AWE, AWL, CWM, EWE, OWN, OWT, TWA, TWO, AXE, OXO, OXY, AYE, AYS, BYE, BYS, DYE, EYE, GYM, HYP, KYE, LYE, MYC, PYA, PYE, PYX, RYA, SYN, TYE, WYE, WYN, AZO.

Three-letter words according to third letter These words contain one or more letters worth two to ten points.

ABA, AGA, AHA, AMA, AVA, AWA, BAA, BOA, BRA, GOA, KEA, KOA, MOA, OBA, OCA, ODA, OKA, OMA, OPA, OVA, PEA, PIA, PYA, QUA, RYA, SHA, SKA, TWA, WHA, VIA, YEA, ZOA, ALB, ARB, BIB, BOB, BUB, CAB, COB, CUB, DAB, DEB, DIB, DUB, FAB, FIB, FOB, FUB, GAB, GIB, GOB, HOB, HUB, JAB, JIB, JOB, KAB, KOB, LAB, LIB, LOB, MIB, MOB, NAB, NIB, NOB, NUB, ORB, PUB, RIB, ROB, RUB, SAB, SIB, SOB, SUB, TAB, TUB, WAB, WEB, YOB, ARC, DOC, HIC, LAC, MAC, MIC, MOC, MYC, ORC, PAC, PEC, PIC, REC, ROC, SAC, SEC, SIC, TIC, VAC, ADD, AND, BAD, BID, BOD, BUD, CAD, COD, CUD, DAD, DID, DUD, ELD, FAD, FED, FID, FUD, GAD, GED, GID, GOD, HAD, HID, HOD, LAD, LED, LID, LUD, MAD, MID, MOD, MUD, OUD, PAD, PED, PUD, RAD, RED, RID, ROD, SAD, SOD, TAD, TED, TOD, VID, WAD, WED, WUD, XED, YID, YOD, ZED, ACE, AGE, APE, AVE, AWE, AXE, AYE, BEE, BYE, CEE, CUE, DEE, DIE, DOE, DUE, EME, EVE, EWE, EYE, FIE, FOE, GAE, GEE, GIE, HAE, HIE, HOE, ICE, JEE, JOE, KAE, KUE, MAE, OKE, OPE, OWE, PEE, PIE, PYE, SHE, THE, TYE, UKE, VEE, VIE, VOE, WAE, WEE, WOE, WYE, ZEE, AFF, ARF, CAF, DEF, DIF, EFF, GIF, IFF, KAF, KEF, KIF, OAF, OFF, OOF, REF, RIF, EGG, ERG, FAG, FIG, FOG, FUG, HOG, HUG, IGG, JAG, JIG, JOG, JUG, LAG, LEG, LOG, LUG, MAG, MEG, MIG, MOG, MUG, NAG, NEG, NOG, NUG, ORG, PEG, PIG, PUG, SAG, SEG, SIG, TAG, TAG, TOG, TUG, VIG, VUG, WAG, WIG, VEG, VIG, VUG, YAG, YAG, ZAG, AAH, BAH, DAH, DOH, DUH, EDH, ETH, FAH, FEH, FOH, HAH, HEH, HUH, ICH, NAH, NOH, NTH, OOH, PAH, PEH, POH, RAH, SHH, SOH, UGH, YAH, YEH, AHI, AMI, CHI, DUI, GHI, KHI, MOI, PHI, POI, PSI, HAJ, RAJ, TAJ, DAK, OIK, SUK, TSK, WOK, YAK, YOK, YUK, ZEK, AWL, BEL, CEL, COL, DAL, DEL, DOL, FIL, GEL, GUL, MEL, MIL, MOL, POL, PUL, CAM, CUM, CWM, DOM, FEM, GAM GEM, GUM, GYM, HAM, HEM, HIM, HOM, HUM, ISM, LAM, LUM, MEM, MIM, MMM, MOM, MUM, NAM, NIM, NOM, PAM, POM, RAM, REM, RIM, ROM, SIM, SOM, SUM, UMM, VIM, VUM, YAM, YOM, YUM, AWN, BAN, BEN BIN, BUN, DAN, DEN, DIN, DON, DUN, FAN, FEN, FIN, FON, FUN, GAN, GEN, GIN, GUN, HEN, HIN, HON, HUN, JIN, JUN, KEN, KIN, MAN, MEN, MON, MUN, OWN, PAN, PEN, PIN, PUN, SYN, VAN, WAN, WEN, WIN, WON, WYN, YEN, YIN, YON, ZIN, ADO, AGO, APO, AVO, AZO, BIO, BOO, BRO, COO, EGO, EMO, FOO, HOO, OHO, APP, BAP, BOP, CAP, CEP, COP, CUP, DEP, DIP, DUP, PAP, PEP, PIP, POP, PUP, ZAP, ZIP, BAR, BRR, BUR, FER, FIR, FOR, FUR, GRR, PAR, PER, ABS, ADS, AGS, AYS, DIS, DOS, FAS, FES, HAS, HES, HIS, JUS, KAS, KIS, KOS, MAS, YOK, YUK, MIS, MOS, MUS, PAS, PES, POS, PUS, QIS, VAS, VIS, WAS, WIS, YAS, YES, ZAS, BET, BIT, BOT, BUT, GET, GIT, GOT, GUT, HAT, HET, HIT, HOT, HUT, JET, JOT, JUT, MAT, MET, MOT, OFT, MUT, PHT, CRU, ECU, FEU, FOU, DEV, LEV, LUV, REV, SEV, TAV, DAW, DEW, DOW, GOX, HEX, KEX, LAX, LEX, LOX, LUX, MAX, MIX, MUX, PAX, PIX, POX, PYX, RAX, REX, SAX, SEX, SIX, SOX, TAX, TUX, VEX, VOX, ZAX, ABY, BAY, BEY, BOY, BUY, CAY, COY, DEY, GUY, HAY, HEY, HOY, JAY, JOY, KAY, KEY, LAY, LEY, NAY, OXY, PAY, PLY, SAY, SOY, YAY, ADZ, BIZ, COZ, CUZ, WIZ , YEZ, ZUZ, ZZZ.

Hooks with two-letter and three-letter words

With copies of mock-ups of the board, I have produced some sample solo games. There are also 800 two-letter and three-letter combinations with words containing one letter that is worth 2 to 10 points. In the sample games, the plays made by player one are written in red while the plays made by player two are written in black.

Now where is that bingo?

How does one remember all those words and retrieve them from that scramble of tiles on your tile rack? Most of it has to do with learning how vowels and consonants combine to form most words. What I have found most useful comes under the category of “Broken three-letter word and three-letter non-word book ends”. While studying longer words, take note of the letters that are the first, second and last letters in the words or the first and last two letters in them. This is very useful when trying to retrieve words that end with one of the four vowels A, I, O or U. Knowing lots of these words comes in handy when you have many vowels on your rack because these three-letter arrangements may contain two or more vowels. Play them in combination with a high- scoring letter on the board if possible when you don’t have one of these letters on your rack.

Words with triple consecutive consonants or with Y.

Sometimes you will draw higher scoring tiles much later in the game. You can combine them with a single exposed letter S or some other letter on the board. The following words may offer you this opportunity… ANKH, BYRE, CYMA, DYNE, EDDY, HYMN, ANCHO, BYWAY, CYBER, EARTH, GLYPHS, HYDRA, IDYL, etc.

Consecutive High- scoring triple consonant Words with Y as a vowel

Some may be combined with an S or other letter. They all contain higher- scoring letters, BURGH, CYMOL, DYNEL, EARTH, GYLPH, HYSON, IDYLL,, etc. When you have a rack containing high- scoring and single point scoring tiles you may be able to score a sufficient number of points with the single point tiles. Then you can save the high scoring tile for later.

Starting the game

The common strategy for most players on the first turn is to play a word long enough to be able to place a high-scoring letter on square D8 or K8. Sometimes this may cause a vowel to be placed between premium squares G7 and G9 or I7 and I9 Most scoring can be more easily accomplished with two-letter words. When high-scoring letters are involved, both sides must calculate the possibilities that may exist for your opponent to score points after you have made your play. There are 15 tiles that are worth 4 to 10 points. If you have one of these tiles, there are only 14 others so therefore your opponent will need to have one of these tiles plus a vowel that can be played with that letter. If you play a vowel between squares G7 and G9 you can still come out ahead if your opponent plays a higher-scoring tile on G7 preceded by a vowel, there is a triple-letter scoring square at F6 which you can access. Your opponent can limit the number of points you can score by playing the higher-scoring letter on the premium square before the vowel. On the right-hand side of the center square, playing a vowel before the high- scoring letter, does not give player two access to the triple-letter scoring premium square unless the two-letter word can be extended. Letter combinations of vowels and consonants on the right of the centre square will have to be considered differently than the ones on the left of the centre square.

It is therefore essential to know which vowels can precede or follow certain consonants that score 4 to 10 points in two-letter words. The letter H can be preceded by the vowels A, E, O, or U and followed by A, E, H, or O. The letter F can be preceded by the letters E, I and O and followed by A and E. The letter V cannot be used for a two-letter word. The letter W can be preceded by A and O and followed by E and O. The letter Y can be preceded by A and O and followed by A, E and O. The vowels must follow K and these letters are A or I. The letter Q can only be followed by the letter I. The letter J can only be followed by the letter O. The letter X can be preceded by the letters A, E and O and followed by I and U. The letter Z can only be followed by the letter A.

Some high-scoring tiles such as Q, or J may only take one letter after them in two-letter words. If you have this letter, the odds are in your favour, whereas your opponent may or may not. Let’s say that you have the letters QUIREKI on your tile rack. You would score more points with QUIRK than QUIRE but by saving the K and I, you could possibly play one of these tiles later to play KI at square C9, which is a double-letter scoring premium square. In cases like this your opponent might take this spot but you already have the letters required and are gambling that the opponent does not. When the situation demands, you can sometimes employ orthodox strategy. If you do not have a high-scoring letter on your rack, play a short word which will not give the second player access to rows where they can play a double word score. A longer word also gives your opponent more letters to work with when trying to play a bingo. Sometimes you cannot avoid placing a vowel between one of the two premium squares. The safest letter is E since your opponent can only score a maximum of four points or double that number of points by playing a vertical and lateral word on that square. There are five letters each having two tile that score this number of points F, H, W, W and Y.

If you have one of these letters on your rack plus several single-point scoring tiles play a short two-letter or three-letter word starting on the square G8 for example. If your letter is H and you have the letters A, T and O, play the word AT on G8. On your next turn you may be able to play HA scoring 16 points for the H alone. When you have to play a vowel between either of these premium squares, play one between both squares. This gives you an alternate place to play your word. If your opponent plays a word that is parallel above or below your word, this gives you a chance to play a triple word scoring play left or right of the centre square.. If your opponent has the letter W, they would not be able to play a two-letter word on the premium square. The letter combinations for your two-letter word played on the square I8 would use a similar strategy as previously described for the word played on G8 except that the second letter in your word will be placed between the premium squares.

There are two tiles that are worth 8 points (J and X) and two tiles that are worth 10 points (Q and Z). Unless you can play a five-letter word to score on a premium square, you can employ a similar strategy used for the H letter. The J can only take an O after it in a two-letter word. Play a word in which the second letter cannot be combined with that letter. A three –letter word would make it even harder for your opponent, if you play the right letter combination. You must be able to compute which letter combination your opponent might be successful playing for a high score. The other letter represented by a single tile is the K letter which is worth 5 points. The letters worth 3 points are represented by 8 tiles. These letters are B, C, M and P. You should also be aware of words having two consonants which your opponent might be able to play on a premium square. Some of these words are… BY, HM, MM, MY, SH etc.

Sometimes your rack may allow you to play a three-letter word placing a letter C or V on the centre square to start the game. Since no two- letter word can be played with either of these letters, your opponent cannot play a word across your three-letter word. If you have a high- scoring letter and several vowels, you could play words which have a vowel letter on either side. Try one of the words ACE, ECU, ICE, OCA, AVA, AVE, AVO or OVA. If your opponent plays a high-scoring letter on either of the upper center premium squares plus a vowel, this will give you access to either of the triple-letter scoring squares.

IF you have a blank and several letters that might produce a bingo, you might exchange your tiles to try to play a bingo with single point scoring letters. There are three times as many bingos that contain one letter that is worth at least two points than bingos having only one-point scoring letters. Single point bingos can also occupy premium squares making them unavailable for higher scoring letters reducing your chances to score more points in the long run. There are 60 premium squares. Try to make as many of them available as possible during the game. You must watch that your V, Q and C letters do not clutter up the board. My strategy works best with an open board. Here are some of the short words employing the letter C …. ARC, CAY, COL, CEP, CHI, CIG, CIS, COL, COR, COS, COZ, CRU, CUM, CWM, LAC, REC, TEC, VAC, ALEC, BANC, BLOC, CHIC, CROC, DISC, EMIC, EPIC, ETIC, FISC, FLIC, FLOC, HUIC, LAIC, MARC, MERC, NARC, ODIC, OTIC, OXIC, PERC, PYIC, SPEC, SYNC, TALC, URIC, ZINC and ZOIC. Some short Q words are… AQUA, CINQ, QAID, QAT, QI, QOPH, QUA, QUAD, QUAG, QUAI, QUAY, QUEY, QUIP, QUIT, and QUIZ. Some short V words are… DEV, GUV, LEV, LUV, ERUV, PERV, SHIV and SPIV. Letters containing the letter U can also be difficult to play. Here are some of them …. AMU, CRU, EAU, ECU, UMU, FEU, FOU, GNU, JEU, LEU, PIU, SAU, SOU, TAU, ULU, VAU, BABU, BEAU, BEDU, BUBU, ECRU, FUGU, GENU, GURU, HABU, HAKU, IGLU, JEHU, JUJU, JUKU, KAGU, KUDU, KURU, LATU, LEKU, LIEU, LITU, LUAU, LULU, MENU, MEOU, MUMU, PRAU, PUPU, RAKU, SULU, TABU, THOU, THRU, TOFU, TOLU, TUTU, UNAU, VATU and XEBU.

Bingos are always welcome but you can run up a high score with higher-scoring letters more easily. Playing words along other words on the board is fine when these words are short and have letters in them that can give access to other words.

Reducing the bad luck factor

The worst thing in the game is do have a rack that is all vowels or all consonants. This happens usually in two ways. You might draw of these on your first draw or after playing a bingo. In other situations this may be avoided. Even if you have to sacrifice a few points on your play, try to leave one vowel and one consonant on your rack for the next play. This will not be necessary if a number of exposed vowels are already on the board. Since there are 42 vowels and only 26 one- point consonants, it is better to have available vowels on the board. There are certain things you can do in this situation. You could exchange six of the tiles. Since there are more vowels than single-point consonants, it would be better to retain a consonant. It is better to have all consonants than vowels on your rack. There are only the five two- letter vowel words AA, AE, AI, OE and OI. I cannot think of any longer words containing only vowels. There are many more words containing only consonants such as BRR, CRWTH, CWM, GRR, GRRRL, NTH, WYNN, XYST, MUZZY, MYRRH, MYTHY etc. You might experience drawing similar tiles to the ones that you already had. On your next draw try choosing tiles from another spot in the bag. When exchanging tiles to get a bingo which may only have letters that are each worth only one point, you may leave a vowel adjacent to a premium square risking giving your opponent the opportunity to use a high- scoring letter in that spot. The odds for drawing a bingo increase when certain vowels on your rack raise the possibility that a number of words might produce a bingo.

You may have the intention of scoring lots of points on a particular square on the board which your opponent has their eyes on also. Always check to see if there might be an alternate square that offers slightly fewer points as an alternative plan. When there is an available triple-word score but your tiles would not give you many points, try to open up another spot that might give you a chance to play a triple-word score. When an opponent plays one, you may be able to play one with the new tiles that you will draw.

Plays that produce an open or closed board.

Most often my strategy demands an open board but when you are leading in the game you may want to shut down your opponent. A play that is going to be at right angles to the earlier played word, leads to an open board. Plays that are placed parallel to an existing word tend to close down the board. When you have a higher- scoring tile on your rack on the first play of the game it is better to play the lower- scoring tiles and place one between one of the two premium squares. Then you can play a five letter word placing this letter on the premium square. This would be a parallel play which usually produces a higher score. Let’s say that a word starts with a letter that is one square from the left outer row A1 to A15. For an open board, play a word that can be made longer by playing a letter that will produce the longer word. This will give access to that outer row. For a closed board, play a word that cannot be extended in this manner. The access to this row can be produced by playing a word that is runs vertically across the first letter of that word. Different kinds of plays will be made depending on which outer row is involved.

TILE TRACKING

For tile tracking I write one example of the following tiles on my scoreboard. B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, M, P, Q, S, V, W, X, Y, Z and one blank. Except for the S and the two blanks, the tiles are worth two to ten points. After the full complement of a particular tile letter is played, I will circle that letter. If time permits, you can put dots over certain letters that are represented by two to four tiles to indicate how many of those letters have been played. You don’t have to worry about the one- point scoring tiles in the early part of the game. You should however be aware of a certain letter turning up often. Near the later part of the game you can list how many of these one point scoring tiles have not been played.