SCRABBLE Features
How To: Answer to Scrabble Challenge #20
It's sad to say, but I will no longer be writing up anymore Scrabble Challenges. Frankly, I just don't have the time to make them now. And though they are incredibly fun and "challenging" to conjure up, I'm not sure that people are finding them as useful as I had hoped. But really, it all comes down to time. So, unless I have a future craving for puzzle-making, last week's Scrabble Challenge #20 was the last one.
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: GRAMARYE
GRAMARYE n pl. -S occult learning; magic 64 points (14 points without the bingo)
Choose Your Scrabble Typeface: A-1 Designer Edition Coming Soon?
Designer Andrew Clifford Capener has made an alternative to the classic Scrabble board that celebrates the expression of typeface. It isn't in production yet, but Capener's set would offer tiles in a variety of different fonts:
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: SHAITAN
SHAITAN n pl. -S an evil spirit 60 points (10 points without the bingo)
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: ZEPHYRS
ZEPHYRS n sing. ZEPHYR gentle breezes 74 points (24 points without the bingo)
Scrabble Challenge #5: Put Your 2-Letter Word Skills to the Test
Two-letter words are one of the most important parts of playing Scrabble. If you don't know all of the small ones, then you're missing out on one of the easiest ways to score big. Check out How to Score Big with 2-Letter Words in Scrabble and memorize all that you can. Definitions are optional, but you won't need them for this challenge.
How To: Get an Official SCRABBLE Rating to Play in Tournaments
Many new players wonder how one actually gets a rating in SCRABBLE. Now, we're talking about an official rating, not one you would get on SCRABBLE Beta or with the ISC WordBiz player — I mean an "Official SCRABBLE Rating". A rating that allows you to play in the National SCRABBLE Championship (NSC), which is held once every year (sometimes two).
Scrabble Challenge #11: Would You Pass Up the Opening Move?
In these weekly Scrabble Challenges, so far we've covered two-letter words, double bingos, high scoring moves, triple-triples, last moves, parallel plays, phoneys and opening moves. For this week's puzzle, we're revisiting the strategy for opening moves.
News: Winning with 3-Letter Words
If you think you're a Scrabble genius because you have all the two-letter words memorized, you're sorely wrong. To be a Scrabble genius, you have to know practically "every" word acceptable in Scrabble, so I'm guessing there's not too many Scrabble geniuses out there, because it's an impossible feat.
Scrabble Challenge #7: Can You Solve This Bingo Parallel Play for 150+ Points?
If you haven't noticed yet, I've started dishing out some "Scrabble Bingo of the Day" articles that showcase interesting and somewhat unusual seven-letter words (or longer) that could give you an extra 50-point bonus on the board, as long as you empty your rack. So, for this week's Scrabble Challenge you'll have to get your brain in gear, because it's a tough one based of high-scoring bingo plays.
Death Sentence for SCRABBLE: The Racism Debate Continues...
In a previous post, I wrote about how controversy changed SCRABBLE, about how the SCRABBLE Dictionary evolved thanks to Judith Grad and her crusade to rid the world of derogatory and racist words. She won, at least in some manner, but the fact still remains, racist or not—words are words, and they're here to stay.
News: 2,000 FREE Scrabble Apps (iOS) from EA on Facebook & Twitter — ENDS TODAY!
Everybody loves Oprah Winfrey. Maybe it's because of her philanthropy. Maybe it's her onscreen personality. Maybe it's the fact that it was a rags to riches story. Or maybe it's because she likes SCRABBLE...
Scrabble Challenge #19: Would You Rather Play a Phoney or a Phoney-Looking Word?
Bluffing is one of the key components of poker. You may have a horrible hand, but if you can play it cool and raise the bet, you might just be able to convince your opponents otherwise and induce a few folds. But if you can't handle a little subterfuge, then you shouldn't be playing the game. Even the slightest tell could give you away. You have to maintain a poker face, no matter what.
New Game by Hasbro: Electronic SCRABBLE Flash
Nope, this isn't a flash game version of SCRABBLE. There's already one of those (and a multitude of imitations) for the Apple iPhone, iPod, and Facebook. This is an electronic game, and it's not a "handheld" game like the SCRABBLE Pocket Pogo Touch Screen Game (pictured right). It's an entirely new way to play everybody's favorite word game, and it's called SCRABBLE Flash (BOGGLE Flash outside of the U.S. and Canada).
News: Winning with 2-Letter Words
When your opponent throws down "AA", you tell them no abbreviations, but alas... it's not. They build "ZA" on the board for 64 points, and you say it's slang, but it's in the dictionary. Next is "EF", and you let them know that spelling out letters is not allowed and ridiculous... but it's totally legit.
Scrabble Challenge #15: What Would Be Your First Move in Words with Friends?
The concept of Scrabble and Words with Friends is the same—play words, score points, win. But the games require different strategy in terms of letter placement, premium squares, tile point values and word choices. Here's the main differences between the two games.
News: Complete List of SCRABBLE Commercials (VIDEO)
The SCRABBLE Brand trademark has been around since 1948, but video advertisements for the popular board game didn't appear until the start of this millennium. Although there may be a few SCRABBLE video spots out there that predate 2000, I haven't come across them.
Scrabble Challenge #18: Can You Win at Scrabble Rack Attack?
As touched upon in the past, knowing all of the possible words you can play is key to being a better Scrabble player. If you don't have the vocabulary, then you can't compete against the best of the best, and you'll never even get the chance to spar against professionals such as Nigel Richards, Joe Edley, Andrew Fisher, and Wayne Kelly.
News: Joel Sherman Breaks Scrabble Record with 803-Point Game
What's your highest scoring game of Scrabble? Since starting this Scrabble World, I've been able to break 500 points on a regular basis. This year I've even managed to break the 600-point barrier a couple times. If you ask me, that's a pretty hefty sum to score in one game, but I'm not on par with the professionals yet.
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: EURYOKY
EURYOKY 67 points (17 points without the bingo) Definition: the ability of an organism to live under variable conditions [n]
Word Nerds Unite: Planning a SCRABBLE-Themed Wedding
Wedding themes are no rarity, but a SCRABBLE wedding? I never would have guessed, until I came across "10 Ways to Incorporate Scrabble Into Your Wedding" at CasaSugar. Now, I'm one of the biggest SCRABBLE nerds out there, but I could never see myself getting hitched amongst SCRABBLE tiles and SCRABBLE cakes and SCRABBLE cuff links. I'd also be afraid that none of my guests would actually come if they knew SCRABBLE was the theme. Hell, it's hard enough to get any of my friends to play a simple...
Scrabble Challenge #16: Finding 6-Letter Words in 7-Letter Words
Being able to spell a seven-letter word on the board is one of the most enjoyable things about playing Scrabble. It's even better when those seven letters are all from your rack, giving you a bingo—those 50 bonus points in addition to your regular score.
Scrabble Challenge #3: Can You Find the Game Killing Triple-Triple?
There are two types of Scrabble players in the world—those who enjoy it and those who love it. I definitely fall into the latter category. Unfortunately, most of my friends don't. I'm lucky to have a few who simply enjoy it from time to time—some are even standing on the edge of Scrabble geekdom, afraid to take that last step. Maybe someday.
SCRABBLE Evolution: From Boards & Brew to Pockets & Programs to Cheats & Cheating
SCRABBLE. I miss it.
News: Craftsters Resuscitate Old SCRABBLE Boards Back to Life
Who could resist a retro SCRABBLE board game for two bucks? Suereal definitely couldn't, especially with the challenge of totally revamping a board game into something genuine and creative. Craftster's Craft Challenge #51 last June was meant to bring life back to an old board game with the following expectations:
SCRABBLE the Christmas Tree: Joyful DIY Scrabble Tile Ornaments
'Tis the season for Christmas tree decorations and everybody's favorite board game— SCRABBLE! Okay, that was too ebullient on my part.
Scrabble Challenge #12: Can You Unscramble the Derivative Words?
Last week's challenge brought up a good question (thanks Lisa) regarding the functionality of the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 4th Edition, both online and in print form. The word TACTICAL was the answer to the first puzzle in that challenge, but when you search for the word directly in the print version, it can't be found. Likewise, when you search the online dictionary on Hasbro's site, you won't find it either. Go ahead, try it. You won't find it looking for TACTICAL specifically.
News: W.E.L.D.E.R. Blends Bejeweled, Boggle and Scrabble into Word-Building Addiction
There are tons of mobile apps out there for the gaming logophile, but there's a new word building game taking over iPhones and iPads, and it not only wants you to have fun, it wants you to fight back in the "war against words". It's the Word Examination Laboratory for Dynamic Extraction and Reassessment. But you can just call it W.E.L.D.E.R. Since its release earlier this month, W.E.L.D.E.R. has developed quite a following with its addicting mesh of Bejeweled, Boggle and Scrabble gameplay. It...
News: Ogilvy & Mather SCRABBLE Video Ads: Syphilis... Constipation?!?
Do you have AMNESIA? How about SYPHILIS? Or have you gotten SODOMIZED? Well, the people pictured below do, and I don't feel sorry for them, not at all——those words would kill on the SCRABBLE board!
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: GEOPHAGY
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: GEOPHAGY [n]
News: $(r4BBL3 = SCRABBLE in L33tsp34k
JUAREZ. PH33R. SUX0R. If you know what these mean, then you probably spend way too much time on the internet. If you're as bewildered as I was, these words actually mean something in leetspeak.
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: DIAPSID
DIAPSID 61 points (11 points without the bingo) Definition: a reptile with two pairs of temporal openings in the skull [n]
The Beautiful Word: A Beastly Closeup on Scrabble Art from Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather are no amateurs when it comes to Scrabble. They may not play the game, but they sure know how to promote it. The prestigious advertising and marketing agency has created several video commercials for Mattel, not to mention over 60 amazing print adverts that are funny, hip and sometimes salaciously naughty.
News: Convicted Pervert Back in Jail for Internet Luring in SCRABBLE Chat Room
Who knew playing SCRABBLE could lead to something like this?!? Nearly four years after he was convicted of seven counts of Internet luring, a Winnipeg man's online activities have landed him back in court.
"Pi" meets SCRABBLE: A Metaphysical Religious Journey of Words & Numbers (CRAZIEST)
For as long as I've loved SCRABBLE, I can't believe I've never come across this before. "CRAZIEST" - A short story by Liz Dubelman about words
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: PHONEYS
PHONEYS 64 points (14 points without the bingo) Definition: to phony, i.e. alters so as to make appear genuine [v]
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: HOOSGOW
HOOSGOW 64 points (14 points without the bingo) Definition: a jail [n]
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: FINNESKO
Scrabble Bingo of the Day: * FINNESKO [n/pl.] A finnesko is a boot made of tanned reindeer skin, with the reindeer's fur on the outside. It's an especially good, warm boot for subarctic regions. These boots originate from the Sami, indigenous people from the cultural region of Sápmi, located across four countries in the Arctic Circle; Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. This area is also referred to as Fennoscandia.
News: $10,000 First Prize for the Upcoming 2010 National SCRABBLE Championship in August
Yes. That's right. The 2010 National SCRABBLE Championship (NSC) is almost here. In fact, it starts in less than 2 weeks! And if you were lucky enough to register for the competitions, you could win a first place prize of $10,000!