Scrabble is a difficult game, and losing often may be quite annoying. Many tactics are there that you can use to increase the frequency of winning Scrabble. Of course, playing it often makes you improve your gaming skills, but there are also some important tips to follow to help you achieve this goal.
Middle square letter
Get off to a solid start with your first word. As long as the word contains the central star tile, you are free to place any word up to five letters on the initial move. You have the opportunity to plan ahead of time. The number of bonus squares that your opponent may access right away is determined by their length and location. You can place words either horizontally or vertically. However, the former is more often used since the latter gives your opponent more chances to score additional tiles.
Adaptability and flexibility
Consider your opponent’s moves, the layout of the board, and the rack tiles as you plan what to do next. Always be ready to switch gears and take the offensive or defensive position if you want to win the game. This way, you can prevent your opponent from scoring and use everything you have at your disposal. You can also use many creative tools, as seen at unscramblewords.net, that can help you find all possible words you can create just by entering a series of letters. Your chances of winning can drastically increase if you use these tools and know how to out-plan and out-maneuver your opponent in an unexpected way.
Tricks for building words
When it comes to suffixes, a fifty-point bonus may be yours if you master the art of rack management. The list of terms ending in -ING, -S, -ER, or -ED is limitless. This is the item you should seek when you examine your rack. Once you see them, move them to the rack’s right side and focus on the remaining letters. Bingo is still a possibility until you’re down to your last few vowels or consonants. You should also search for common endings such as -NESS, -LY, -ITE, -FUL, -TION, -AL, etc.
Find the most frequent prefixes and put them on the left side. Make the most of the prefixes that end in IN, UN, and RE, as they appear quite often on your rack. Be careful to search for all possible prefixes, such as DIS-, MIS-, PRE-, etc.
If you want to win in Scrabble, you should remember lists of words with high scores. A few examples of frequent terms include OXO, QAT, ZEE, ZOA, and AJI. On subsequent rounds, these words will get you an exceptionally high score. Za, Jo, and Qi are a few of the high-scoring two-letter terms that you should try to remember. These short words not only increase your score but are also simpler to recall.
Expand your vocabulary
What makes Scrabble is actually a major vocabulary you need to improve and put into use. Learning new words is key if you want to be a successful player. Always challenge yourself and your opponents by learning new words and expanding your vocabulary, particularly learning phrases with unusual word combinations, as these can bring you more points. What you can use to achieve this is to look at various dictionaries, online resources, or word lists, whatever you think may be of use. Also, learn everything you can about two and three-letter words, as these are real diamonds in scoring more.
Focus on scoring
Every move you make in Scrabble should be a step toward scoring more, as this is essentially what the game is all about. Watch out for chances to play words with high scores, especially those that include premium scoring tiles or the creation of unusual word combinations. Gain more points by placing letters to create words that are parallel to one another or to make the existing ones longer.
Control the important squares
One of the best ways to win Scrabble games is by controlling the board. Of course, this is easier said than done but there are some tips that we can give you to get as close as possible to this situation. The first thing you should try to do is utilize the premium squares on the board, such as the TWS and DWS squares. It would be great if you could score a high score on these squares but it is as important, if not more, that you block off your opponent from scoring. Even though you might score less, you should still calculate the risk of leaving a good opportunity for the opponent. You should also look to create parallel words on the board, which will enable you to score multiple words in one go. Look to create both horizontal and vertical pairs and extend them if it’s possible.
Try to cover as much of the board as possible, as you do not want to be concentrated in one area because you limit your scoring potential. Always look out for hooks, where you can create new words from your opponent’s ones. It would be great if you could predict the play of your opponent and plan for what you think they are aiming for. This should not be hard if you are playing with the same opponents, like your friends or family members. Even if you play with someone completely new, you should still be able to sense some patterns of play after a few turns. If you think you know what they are aiming for, then try to disrupt their plans. You can do that by either blocking them from some key squares or by taking them yourself. Of course, if you think that their strategy is not worth stopping, either because it is a losing one or because you have something better, then you should let them go on with their plan.
Scrabble is a game where knowledge and strategy meet and one cannot go without the other if you want to have a chance against good players. You need to always develop your game and try to learn about as many patterns of play as possible if you wish to be successful.
