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.

Featured post

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...

Sunday 17 January 2016

Nigel Wins iGate Scrabble Championship 2016

Nigel continues his domination  of the iGate Scrabble Championships winning the 2016 edition with over 2 games to spare. Here are the final standings from the Scrabble Association of India:

Rank Won-Lost Spread Player Last Game
1 30–5 3764 Nigel Richards (A1) bye
2 26–9 1538 Hubert Wee (A2) 1W:416-367:A20
3 23–12 973 Marlon Prudencio (A4) 2W:342-327:A6
4 21–14 716 Gerry Carter (A6) 1L:327-342:A4
5 21–14 506 Mohan Chunkath (A7) 1W:540-387:A11
6 20–15 1256 Russel Honeybun (A5) 2W:531-327:A8
7 20–15 729 Tony Sim (A11) 2L:387-540:A7
8 19–16 513 Jose de Abreu (A18) 1W:451-441:A23
9 19–16 484 Sherwin Rodrigues (A3) 1W:513-451:A15
10 19–16 189 Udayan Grover (A8) 1L:327-531:A5
11 19–16 −93 Jayaska Baranage (A23) 2L:441-451:A18
12 18½–16½ −219 Carolann Pais (A16) 1W:453-412:A13
13 18–17 663 Douglas Lobo (A14) 2W:441-387:A12
14 18–17 317 Goutham Jayaraman (A15) 2L:451-513:A3
15 18–17 −341 Michael Tang (A13) 2L:412-453:A16
16 17½–17½ 168 Shaila Amalean (A19) 1W:556-230:A28
17 17–18 −328 Sanjoy Gupta (A12) 1L:387-441:A14
18 17–18 −595 Suthirappan Assarat (A22) 1W:453-346:A21
19 16–19 784 Odette Rio (A9) 2W:517-440:A24
20 16–19 −313 Mohsin Ahmed (A20) 2L:367-416:A2
21 16–19 −334 V. Ramachandran (A28) 2L:230-556:A19
22 16–19 −571 Pramit Kamath (A21) 2L:346-453:A22
23 16–19 −1237 Sunny Bhatia (A32) 1W:507-310:A29
24 15–20 −710 Rajveer Rawlin (A24) 1L:440-517:A9
25 14½–20½ −249 A Krishnan (A30) 1W:451-378:A25
26 14–21 −1235 Manju Sood (A29) 2L:310-507:A32
27 13½–21½ −985 Bhushan Pradhan (A25) 2L:378-451:A30
28 13–22 −1616 Mangala Bhandarkar (A27) 1W:428-362:A31
29 11–24 −1175 Rohaina Tanveer (A31) 2L:362-428:A27

Saturday 16 January 2016

iGate Scrabble Championship 2016 - Standings after Day 3

The iGate Scrabble Championship 2016 kicked off this week. Here are the standings after day 3 from the Scrabble Association of India:

Nigel and Hubert are battling it out at the top, The critical phase of the tournament has started with the King of the Hill format now in force.

Rank Won-Lost Spread Player Last Game
1 25–4 3517 Nigel Richards (A1) 2L:437-447:A2
2 23–6 1574 Hubert Wee (A2) 1W:447-437:A1
3 19–10 1187 Tony Sim (A11) 1W:445-435:A4
4 18–11 491 Marlon Prudencio (A4) 2L:435-445:A11
5 17–12 551 Gerry Carter (A6) 2W:469-343:A7
6 17–12 404 Mohan Chunkath (A7) 1L:343-469:A6
7 17–12 −55 Jayaska Baranage (A23) 1W:435-412:A8
8 16–13 932 Russel Honeybun (A5) 1W:531-285:A14
9 16–13 260 Sherwin Rodrigues (A3) 1W:449-437:A19
10 16–13 242 Udayan Grover (A8) 2L:412-435:A23
11 15½–13½ 16 Carolann Pais (A16) 1W:412-326:A20
12 15–14 591 Douglas Lobo (A14) 2L:285-531:A5
13 15–14 59 Sanjoy Gupta (A12) 1W:389-270:A18
14 15–14 −447 Michael Tang (A13) 2W:360-303:A29
15 14½–14½ 50 Shaila Amalean (A19) 2L:437-449:A3
16 14–15 367 Goutham Jayaraman (A15) bye
17 14–15 −90 Mohsin Ahmed (A20) 2L:326-412:A16
18 14–15 −169 Jose de Abreu (A18) 2L:270-389:A12
19 14–15 −197 Rajveer Rawlin (A24) 1W:386-341:A9
20 14–15 −616 Manju Sood (A29) 1L:303-360:A13
21 13–16 733 Odette Rio (A9) 2L:341-386:A24
22 13–16 −105 V. Ramachandran (A28) 1W:395-392:A22
23 13–16 −553 Pramit Kamath (A21) 2W:454-420:A32
24 13–16 −823 Suthirappan Assarat (A22) 2L:392-395:A28
25 12–17 −1508 Sunny Bhatia (A32) 1L:420-454:A21
26 11–9 −153 Nakul Prabhu (A17) bye
27 11–18 −380 A Krishnan (A30) 1L:300-303:A25
28 11–18 −987 Bhushan Pradhan (A25) 2W:303-300:A30
29 9–20 −1115 Rohaina Tanveer (A31) 1W:494-387:A27
30 8–21 −1780 Mangala Bhandarkar (A27) 2L:387-494:A31
31 1–28 −2146 Radhika Mahalingaiah (A26) bye
32 0–13 −975 Irfan Siddiqui (A10) bye

Friday 15 January 2016

iGate Scrabble Championship 2016 - Standings after Day 2

The iGate Scrabble Championship 2016 has kicked off yesterday. Here are the standings after day 2 from the Scrabble Association of India:

The Nigel legend continues. As for me my play was pretty mediocre today. Still managed some good wins against the Singapore Maestros Hubert and Marlon and Sri Lanka's stalwart Shaila.

Division A Round 19 Standings

RankWon-LostSpreadPlayerLast Game
118–1+2511Nigel Richards (A1)2W:509-366:A32
215–4+911Hubert Wee (A2)2W:611-410:A15
314–5+1149Tony Sim (A11)2W:454-305:A24
414–5+879Marlon Prudencio (A4)2L:433-435:A18
512–7+578Gerry Carter (A6)1W:366-340:A14
612–7+389Udayan Grover (A8)1W:431-402:A27
712–7+200Shaila Amalean (A19)2W:435-422:A30
811–8+620Mohan Chunkath (A7)2W:407-356:A23
911–8+489Carolann Pais (A16)1W:430-352:A31
1011–8−78Nakul Prabhu (A17)2L:333-438:A28
1110–9+175Sherwin Rodrigues (A3)2W:465-409:A5
1210–9+63Jose de Abreu (A18)1W:435-433:A4
1310–9−91Jayaska Baranage (A23)1L:356-407:A7
149–10+674Odette Rio (A9)1W:446-424:A20
159–10+156Goutham Jayaraman (A15)1L:410-611:A2
169–10+6Rajveer Rawlin (A24)1L:305-454:A11
179–10−223Sanjoy Gupta (A12)2L:448-464:A25
189–10−490Pramit Kamath (A21)2W:589-378:A22
199–10−620Manju Sood (A29)2W:464-443:A13
209–10−783Suthirappan Assarat (A22)1L:378-589:A21
218–11+136Russel Honeybun (A5)1L:409-465:A3
228–11−39Douglas Lobo (A14)2L:340-366:A6
238–11−262Mohsin Ahmed (A20)2L:424-446:A9
248–11−287Michael Tang (A13)1L:443-464:A29
258–11−792Sunny Bhatia (A32)1L:366-509:A1
267–12−321V. Ramachandran (A28)1W:438-333:A17
277–12−1111Mangala Bhandarkar (A27)2L:402-431:A8
286–13−438A Krishnan (A30)1L:422-435:A19
295–14−926Bhushan Pradhan (A25)1W:464-448:A12
305–14−1154Rohaina Tanveer (A31)2L:352-430:A16

Thursday 14 January 2016

iGate Scrabble Championship 2016 - Standings after Day 1

The iGate Scrabble Championship 2016 has kicked off. Here are the standings after day 1 from the Scrabble Association of India:

Division A Round 9 Standings

RankWon-LostSpreadPlayerLast Game
18–1+1040Nigel Richards (A1)1W:461-366:A9
28–1+463Hubert Wee (A2)2W:415-369:A22
37–2+490Marlon Prudencio (A4)1W:494-269:A7
46–3+685Odette Rio (A9)2L:366-461:A1
56–3+471Carolann Pais (A16)1W:457-410:A18
66–3+371Gerry Carter (A6)2L:382-455:A3
76–3+294Sherwin Rodrigues (A3)1W:455-382:A6
86–3+173Suthirappan Assarat (A22)1L:369-415:A2
96–3+40Tony Sim (A11)1W:478-367:A8
105–4+453Mohan Chunkath (A7)2L:269-494:A4
115–4+139Goutham Jayaraman (A15)2W:458-359:A12
125–4+118Shaila Amalean (A19)2W:465-461:A27
135–4+79Rajveer Rawlin (A24)2W:440-404:A25
145–4−30Jayaska Baranage (A23)2W:499-388:A5
155–4−88Nakul Prabhu (A17)2W:524-407:A29
164–5+48Mohsin Ahmed (A20)1W:416-415:A28
174–5−7Jose de Abreu (A18)2L:410-457:A16
184–5−54Michael Tang (A13)2W:429-387:A32
194–5−98Sanjoy Gupta (A12)1L:359-458:A15
204–5−245Udayan Grover (A8)2L:367-478:A11
214–5−266Douglas Lobo (A14)2W:428-346:A31
224–5−320Rohaina Tanveer (A31)1L:346-428:A14
234–5−432Manju Sood (A29)1L:407-524:A17
243–6−65Russel Honeybun (A5)1L:388-499:A23
253–6−120A Krishnan (A30)1W:405-352:A21
263–6−285V. Ramachandran (A28)2L:415-416:A20
273–6−316Sunny Bhatia (A32)1L:387-429:A13
283–6−375Bhushan Pradhan (A25)1L:404-440:A24
293–6−506Mangala Bhandarkar (A27)1L:461-465:A19
302–7−636Pramit Kamath (A21)2L:352-405:A30
311–8−646Radhika Mahalingaiah (A26)bye
320–9−1559Irfan Siddiqui (A10)bye

Thursday 7 January 2016

Nigel Dominates UK Scrabble Open Yet Again

Nigel continued his winning streak at the UK Scrabble open winning by 5 clear games. Here are the final standings from the original coverage at CentreStar:

RankWon-LostSpreadClassPlayerLast Game
125–5+3224ANigel Richards (A1)1W:532-313:A11
220–10+875BKwaku Sapong (A11)2L:313-532:A1
318–12+1396AWayne Kelly (A2)1W:452-372:A10
418–12+771BColin Northmore (A10)2L:372-452:A2
518–12−81BYing_Ming Poh (A14)2W:347-343:A8
617–13+395AJames Squires (A8)1L:343-347:A14
716–14+874AElie Dangoor (A3)2W:467-359:A9
816–14+234ANeil Rowley (A9)1L:359-467:A3
916–14+137ACecil Muscat (A5)1W:434-326:A12
1015–15−415BRick Blakeway (A12)2L:326-434:A5
1115–15−464BNuala O'Rourke (A13)2W:452-382:A4
1214–16−148APaul Burton (A4)1L:382-452:A13
1312–18−700AJack Durand (A7)1W:455-439:A6
1412–18−1022BPhil Kelly (A16)2W:418-398:A17
1511–19−112ASteve Perry (A6)2L:439-455:A7
1610–20−1256BRuth MacInerney (A15)1W:372-355:A18
1710–20−1572BKevin Synnott (A17)1L:398-418:A16
187–23−2136BDavid Shenkin (A18)2L:355-372:A15

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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.