How To: Play Scrabble

Everyone loves Scrabble, but not everyone knows how to play the game properly. Yes, there is a set up rules that come with each game, but who actually wants to read them? Isn't it better to learn from a more visual approach? This video will teach you the basics of gameplay.

In Scrabble, players earn points by constructing words with letter tiles and placing them on a grid. Each letter has a different point value, there are 100 letter tiles, and only one letter tile can fit in a grid space.

Draw seven letter tiles:
Have each player remove one tile out of the tile bag. The player that gets the letter closest to the letter "A" goes first. Each player then draws seven tiles from the tile bag.

Score each word:
Tally each word score by adding point values for each letter in the word. Point values range from 0 points for a blank tile to 10 points for the letters "Q" and "Z." Use a paper and a pen to keep track of the word scores for each player.

Continue play:
Continue playing in a counterclockwise direction around the board. During each turn, a player can decide to place a word on the board, exchange tiles, or pass.

Choose new tiles:
After placing a word on the board, draw an equal number of new tiles from the tile bag so that each player always has seven tiles.

Keep going:
All letters played must touch at least one letter that is already on the board to form at least one complete word. When one player has used all of their tiles or no one can make any more words, the game ends.

Challenge words:
Consult a dictionary when challenging. If the word isn't in the dictionary, the player loses their turn. If the word is allowed, the challenger loses their turn.

Calculate the scores:
Calculate each player's final score by adding up the points from all of their word scores. Then, subtract the sum of their unplayed letters. If one player has used up all of their letters, add the sum of everyone else's unplayed letters to their score. The player with the highest score wins.