Scrabble Strategy

Strategy in Scrabble, Hotspots and Literati is similar, though as Scrabble is the most well known game this guide focuses on Scrabble strategy.

Scrabble strategy is covered in more detail in various books - the following are highly recommended:

• Scrabble Bonus Word Techniques (Volume 1 and 2) by Trevor Johnson
• Chambers Top Scrabble Tips by Allan Simmons
• How To Win At Scrabble by Andrew Fisher and David Webb
• Everything Scrabble by Joe Edley

Tile Management and Leave

When considering a move, there are two basic considerations: the number of points scored and the letters left on your rack known as leave. A good leave increases the chances of a player being able to use all their letters in one go, a feat which scores an extra 50 points in Scrabble.

Generally, having the letters in the word RETAIN makes a rack more amenable to gaining these bonus scores. Based on the international Scrabble dictionary used at the World Championships, RETAIN + 1 more letter makes 67 valid words. Another powerful rack is TISANE, yielding 89 words when combined with another letter. RETAIN and TISANE also appear in 242 and 304 eight letter words in various combinations, respectively.

Management of the letter S is a special case. S appears four times in Scrabble and is highly valued by players for it's ability to hook onto many words. Many top players hold onto this letter until a higher score can be made, usually at least 8 points higher than the next highest scoring move. A blank in Scrabble is even more highly valued and is worth at least 25 points due to it's flexibility and usefulness in making words. A move which scores 20 points that does not use the blank would be strategically superior to a 44 point move using the blank.

High value tiles

Many people think letters with a high face value, such as JQXZ are great to have on your rack. The truth is these letters should be played off as soon as possible for a score of 20 points or more. Only a limited number of 7 and 8 letter words appear which use these letters and skilful players will not create many openings for the short high scoring plays. A Q without a U is often a disaster to a Scrabble player as it may force them to change their letters and miss a turn. The valid Scrabble words QI, QAT, QADI and QAID are probably some of the most played words in competitive Scrabble.

Staying ahead and catching up

When significantly in the lead (about the value of a bonus word) it is advisable to avoid creating space for additional bonus word scores. It may be wiser to close scoring opportunities down with words that seek to block premium squares or those that do not create easy hooks. A hook is where you place a letter on the board that extends an existing word, such as placing B before RED to form BRED or E after BAR to form BARE.

When playing human opponents and substantially in the lead, it is often straightforward to remove the more obvious opportunities for making high scoring plays in the interests of defense. The approach may be a little different when the opponent is a computer player with a perfect vocabulary that knows all possible plays. A computer player may find high scoring plays using common words which often go unnoticed by human players. However, a computer will often overlook board position as a consideration, even when it is clear that this has become critically important. People often outsmart the Scrabble programs, especially in the end game, when brute force algorithms are no longer enough and strategic thinking is required.

A common ploy in Scrabble is to sacrifice the scoring of points in the interests of preventing your opponent scoring well the next turn. This strategy occasionally works but can be self-defeating, as it is likely to block your next move as well. A rule of thumb is if the letters you have are poor, blocking is probably best. If you are massively behind in points with a set of letters that are promising, then blocking is a poor strategy. If your opponent is particulary strong, blocking is a must, but weaker players should be deliberately led into a more open board enabling their weaker vocabulary to be exposed.

Be wary of playing overly positive though even against weak oppostion, as the results of a single high scoring move can be devastating. The nuances of balancing these competing concerns makes Scrabble games fascinating tactical battles.

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