What is Scrabble?

Scrabble is essentially a word game which can be played by 2-4 players at a given time on a board which comprises a grid of squares in a 15 X 15 format. The squares are assigned different scoring attributes. There are 100 tiles to draw from and players must draw 7 tiles initially and maintain the same number on their racks till they are exhausted. Each tile has a point value attached to it. If all 7 tiles are used in a word an additional 50 points is added to the players score. The goal is to win by scoring more than your opponent. Scrabble is now increasingly played competitively across several countries on the globe and in several languages.

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Scrabble Word Study Tools

 My colleague Ishika takes you through some useful tools for word study namely Zyzzyva, Aerolith, and Anagram Quizzer. I chip in on my favor...

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

The 100 Most Probable 8 Letter Words in Scrabble

As part of a scrabble strategy it is useful to study words by probability and playability. The below list from Zyzzyva includes the 100 most probable 8 Letter words that you encounter during scrabble games:

Front Hook
Alphagram
Word
Back Hook
Probability
Playability
ADEINORT
AROINTED
1
289
ADEINORT
DERATION
s
2
67
ADEINORT
ORDINATE
ds
3
80
ADEINORT
RATIONED
4
218
AEILNORT
ORIENTAL
s
5
44
p
AEILNORT
RELATION
s
6
56
AEILNORT
TAILERON
s
7
52
AEINORST
ANOESTRI
8
481
AEINORST
ARSONITE
s
9
1310
AEINORST
NOTAIRES
10
1072
AEINORST
NOTARIES
11
1044
AEINORST
NOTARISE
ds
12
2689
AEINORST
ROSINATE
s
13
835
AEINORST
SENORITA
s
14
444
AAEINORT
AERATION
s
15
2
AEEILORT
AEROLITE
s
16
4
AEEIORST
ETAERIOS
17
3
ADEILNOT
DELATION
s
18
39
ADEILORT
IDOLATER
s
19
147
ADEILORT
TAILORED
20
99
ADEINORS
ANEROIDS
21
393
ADEINORS
ANODISER
s
22
771
ADEINORS
DONARIES
23
1404
ADEINORU
DOUANIER
s
24
14
ADEINOST
ASTONIED
25
115
ADEINOST
SEDATION
s
26
592
ADEIORST
ASTEROID
s
27
209
t
AEILNORS
AILERONS
28
870
AEILNORS
ALERIONS
29
837
AEILNORS
ALIENORS
30
337
dgr
AEILNOST
ELATIONS
31
429
AEILNOST
INSOLATE
ds
32
321
AEILNOST
TOENAILS
33
239
AEILORST
SOTERIAL
34
232
AEIORSTU
OUTRAISE
ds
35
68
AEIORSTU
SAUTOIRE
s
36
46
ADEEINRT
DETAINER
s
37
51
ADEEINRT
RETAINED
38
74
AEEILNRT
ELATERIN
s
39
85
AEEILNRT
ENTAILER
s
40
75
AEEILNRT
TREENAIL
s
41
57
AEEINRST
ARENITES
42
662
AEEINRST
ARSENITE
s
43
968
AEEINRST
RESINATE
ds
44
674
AEEINRST
STEARINE
s
45
310
AEEINRST
TRAINEES
46
705
ADEIINOT
IDEATION
s
47
95
ADEIINOT
IODINATE
ds
48
60
ADEIINOT
TAENIOID
49
54
AEINNORT
ANOINTER
s
50
267
AEINNORT
INORNATE
51
225
AEINNORT
REANOINT
s
52
183
AEINORRT
ANTERIOR
53
11
AEINORTT
TENTORIA
l
54
22
AEEIINRT
INERTIAE
55
1
AEELNORT
REALTONE
s
56
8
AEENORST
EARSTONE
s
57
290
AEENORST
RESONATE
ds
58
224
DEEINORT
ORIENTED
59
10
EEINORST
ONERIEST
60
107
EEINORST
SEROTINE
s
61
134
ABEINORT
BARITONE
s
62
1139
ABEINORT
OBTAINER
s
63
762
p
ABEINORT
REOBTAIN
s
64
817
ABEINORT
TABORINE
s
65
539
ACEINORT
ACTIONER
s
66
655
ACEINORT
ANORETIC
s
67
347
ACEINORT
CREATION
s
68
1129
ACEINORT
REACTION
s
69
1244
AEHINORT
ANTIHERO
70
65
AEINOPRT
ATROPINE
s
71
53
ADEGINOR
ORGANDIE
s
72
89
ADEGIORT
ERGATOID
s
73
58
AEGILNOR
GERANIOL
s
74
231
AEGILNOR
REGIONAL
s
75
175
AEGILNOT
GELATION
s
76
304
AEGILNOT
LEGATION
s
77
471
AEGINORS
IGNAROES
78
1708
AEGINORS
ORGANISE
drs
79
2072
AEGINORS
ORIGANES
80
815
EEIINORT
ERIONITE
s
81
5
ADEINRST
DETRAINS
82
383
ADEINRST
RANDIEST
83
530
ADEINRST
STRAINED
84
409
ADEINRTU
DATURINE
s
85
488
ADEINRTU
INDURATE
ds
86
629
ADEINRTU
RUINATED
87
1277
ADEINRTU
URINATED
88
1442
AEILNRST
ENTRAILS
89
1239
AEILNRST
LARNIEST
90
2062
AEILNRST
LATRINES
91
4777
AEILNRST
RATLINES
92
4951
AEILNRST
REINSTAL
ls
93
1320
AEILNRST
RETINALS
94
4196
AEILNRST
SLANTIER
95
1481
AEILNRST
TRENAILS
96
1260
AEILNRTU
AUNTLIER
97
349
AEILNRTU
RETINULA
ers
98
163
AEILNRTU
TENURIAL
99
285
AEINRSTU
RUINATES
100
3233

Thursday, 2 June 2016

2017 World Scrabble Championships in Kenya

It's time for Africa. The next world scrabble championship (WSC) will be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 6-12 November 2017. Here is the announcement from WESPA:

"WESPA is pleased to announce that Kenya will host the 2017 WESPA Championships (WESPAC).
All three bids (Kenya, Canada and Trinidad & Tobago) were of a high quality and, after an exhaustive process that considered all issues, the bid team from Kenya was awarded the hosting rights.

WESPAC will be held in Nairobi from 6-12 November 2017 with the Kenyan Organizing Committee making their own announcements later.  A Last Chance Qualifier will be available, as well as tournaments run alongside the Main Event.

A premier international tournament, like WESPAC, run in Africa for the first time is deserved recognition for the quality and hospitality of African Scrabble and we are looking forward to a successful event in November 2017".

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Interesting Hooks in Scrabble

Some interesting hooks from Word Buff author Derek Mckenzie via his youtube channel:

Sunday, 29 May 2016

Sherwin Wins the Bayer India National Scrabble Championship 2016

India's Long time no 1 Sherwin Rodrigues has won the 2016 edition of the Bayer India National Scrabble Championship. He dominated proceedings from the start and won with 2 rounds to spare. Charles Carneiro finished second, Sanjoy third, Ranga fourth and Varisht fifth. A note worthy performance from whiz kid Samrath who finished ninth. Here are the top 10:

Standings
Player
Win
Loss
Spread
1
Sherwin
19
6
1626
2
Charles
17
8
927
3
Sanjoy
16
9
668
4
Ranga
16
9
343
5
Varisht
15
10
958
6
Nakul
15
10
755
7
Carolann
15
10
518
8
Udayan
15
10
433
9
Samrath
15
10
105
10
Irinieu
14
11
586

Saturday, 28 May 2016

Bayer India National Scrabble Championships - Standings after Day 2

The nationals are reaching the critical stage. Sherwin is on top with Ranga close behind. Here are the top 10 after day 2:

Standings
Player
Win
Loss
Spread
1
Sherwin
14
4
1325
2
Ranga
14
4
492
3
Sanjoy
13
5
744
4
Carolann
12
6
740
5
Udayan
12
6
343
6
Irinieu
11
7
646
7
Charles
11
7
486
8
Bhushan
11
7
161
9
Eeshan
11
7
-9
10
Mohan
10
8
386

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Different Words Same Meaning

Citolas, Citoles, Cithrens, Citherns, Cithers, Citterns - A Guitar
Waivode, Waiwode, Woiwode, Voivode - An army leader
Cagouls, Cagoules, Kagouls, Kagoules, Kagools - An anorak
Eulachan, Eulachon, Oulachon, Oulakan, Oolakan, Ulikon - A candlefish
Kiester, Keister, Hurdies, Patootie - The Buttocks
Didakei, didakai, Diddicoy, Didicoi, Didicoy - A Tinker
Cabala, Cabbala, Kabala, Kabbala, Kabbalah, Qabala, Qabalah - a Jewish doctrine
Yoghurt, Yaourt, Yogurt, Yoghourt - A type of curd
Narwal, Narwhal, Narwhale - An Arctic aquatic mammal
Lekythus, Lecythus, Lekythos - An ancient oil Jar
Germen, Germain, Germaine, Germin - Something that serves as an origin
Filemot, Philomot, Philamot - A dull brown shade
keblah, Kibla, Kiblah, Qibla - The direction muslims face while praying
Litchi, Lichi, Lychee, Lichee - A fruit
Poursue, Pursue, Persue, Poursew Pursew - To follow
Pummelo, Shaddock, Pompelo - A citrus fruit
Repreeve, Reprive, Repryve - To delay
Baklava, Baklawa, Baclava - A middle eastern desert
Nilgai, Nilgau, Nilghai, Nilghau, Nylghai, Nylghau - a large antelope
Cassina, Cassene, Cassine, Cassena - an evergreen tree
Narghile, Narghily, Nargile, Nargileh, Nargily - a hookah
Dirdam, Dirdum, Durdum - uproar
Shechita, Shehitah, Shehita - krosher killing of animals
Mezuzot, Mezuzoth, Mezuzah, Mezuza - a Jewish scroll

Combo Words of Two Words that are Good Both Ways

Bedrail - Railbed
Dovering - Ringdove
Hangover - Overhang
Turnover - Overturn
Runover - Overrun
Roadside - Sideroad
Outburn - Burnout
Woodworm - Wormwood
Linecut - Cutline
Outpass - Passout
Outspeak - Speakout
Comedown - Downcome
Upclose - Closeup
Outback - Backout
Pinhead - Headpin
Mateship - Shipmate
Cutover - Overcut
Upstart - Startup
Outshoot - Shootout
Overwing - Wingover
Fantail - Tailfan

Common Words with Not so common Anagrams

Tailors - Oralist, Rialtos, Sliotar
Almonds - Dolmans
Mustard - Durmast
Stadium - Dumaist
Romance - Cremona
Cauldron - Crunodal
Acolyte - Cotylae
Cilantro - Contrail
Decagon - Congaed
Ethical - Alethic
Strongly - Strongyl
Ungrazed - Gazunder
Expires - Prexies
Detangle - Danegelt
Teardown - Danewort
Erasions - Sensoria
Innovate - Venation
Inundate - Antidune
Invocate - Conative
Antidote - Tetanoid
Liaises - Silesia
Coalise - Celosia
Isotherm - Moithers
Heroism - Moreish
Sedation - Astonied
Marries - Simarre
Tsunami - Manitus, Santimu
Cheerio - Echoier


Those Handy Pyramid Words!

Pyramid words are words which start at 2 letters but can be extended to 7 letters and beyond. For example take the word loofahs, we start with lo, next we get to loo, followed by loof, loofa, loofah and loofahs. Thus by knowing loofahs we get to know a total of 6 words. Other examples include:
Abasers, Amenders, Amusers, Barbers, Bingers, Chained,
Chiasmal, Daledhs, Divests, Erasers, Fasties, Godsons, Hookahs, Jambees, Jamboks, Kaingas, Kinases, Lapsers, Maliced, Mentors, Nursery, Parkiest, Poleyns, Reeders, Reposes, Singers, Skaters,Tapetis, Teasers, Ureases, and Woosells.

There are some reverse pyramid words too. Take the word drooped for example, we start with ed, then ped, then oped, then ooped, rooped and finally drooped.Other examples include:
Aemules, Afeared, Borates, Cleared, Demures, Escapes, Glaired, Hamates, Lemures, Mananas, Penates, Retapes, Scraped, Testates, Upreach, Vacates, Whooped, Yslaked and Zananas.