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...

Thursday 31 March 2016

Scrabble Open at IIT Madras

The Word Games Club of IIT Madras invites you to be part of its flagship event, the Scrabble Open, to be held on 3rd April 2016. Note that this event is open to everyone to participate and that it is a team event. Teams of two are asked to take part. If you don't have a partner, we'll match you up with someone at the venue.
Prizes worth Rs. 20,000 are up for grabs, along with special prizes for the best college team and the best school team.


When: 3rd April, 2016, 9 AM

Where: HSB 352, IIT Madras

Point of Contact - Meghana at Meghana.palukuri@gmail.com

Register using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zXouo82DE0S48AsBQJ_vVNWSpz8NSbAcpQRyFVOpTwg/viewform 

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Word of the Day - Straggly

Here is the word of the day from our students at the communicare club at M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Management:

Straggly
Meaning - Spreading out in different directions.
Usage - He was a tall, wiry man with straggly hair.

Anagrams - none
Front hook - none
Back hook - none

Thursday 24 March 2016

Bangalore Scrabble League Tournament 2016 - Standings as on March 24

The Bangalore Scrabble League Tournament 2016 is well underway. Here are the updated standings. Manju is on top so far:

Standings
Player
Handicap
Win
Loss
Spread
Average Game Score
1
MANJU
-45
19
5
1302
417
2
MOHSIN
-60
13
5
1022
420
3
SHANKAR
25
13
11
189
397
4
CHRIS
10
12
13
-451
379
5
SANJOY
-65
10
4
522
402
6
NUPUR
-20
7
3
139
390
7
LENNIE
-35
7
10
-375
364
8
RAJVEER
-55
6
1
783
455
9
SHAILAJA
15
6
10
-619
388
10
NALINI
-20
5
1
580
438
11
HARSH
45
4
5
147
411
12
SARAS
0
4
6
-123
401
13
NEELAM
10
4
4
-131
366
14
REX
-10
4
10
-518
370
15
ARVIND
10
4
10
-723
380
16
YASH
0
2
5
-226
370
17
DEEPA
40
2
8
-349
385
18
UMITA
-15
1
0
46
450
19
DIPANKAR
-35
1
3
-49
365
20
VASAVA
45
1
5
-550
343
21
VIDYA
15
0
1
-33
346
22
RADHIKA
-35
0
2
-113
374
23
GIRISH
40
0
2
-174
321
24
SHILPA
45
0
1
-296
284

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Word of the Day - Bulwark

Here is the word of the day from our students at the communicare club at M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Management:

Bulwark
Meaning - a defensive wall; an object that acts as a shield.
Usage - If shots are fired at the presidential vehicle, the car’s bulletproof exterior will act as a bulwark.

Anagrams - none
Front hook - none
Back hook - S

Thursday 10 March 2016

Word of the Day - Evince

Here is the word of the day from our students at the Communicare Club at M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Management:

Evince
Meaning - a defensive wall; an object that acts as a shield.
Usage - If shots are fired at the presidential vehicle, the car’s bulletproof exterior will act as a bulwark.

Anagrams - none
Front hook - none
Back hook - S

Monday 7 March 2016

Causeway Scrabble is Back

One of the most storied scrabble tournaments of this decade the Causeway Scrabble spectacle is back after a brief hiatus. Conducted by visionary Michael Tang, the 2016 edition of the tournament promises to have a plethora of the top scrabble talent in the world across divisions. Here are the details from Michael Tang:


Date: 30th November - 4th December 2016


Venue:  Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Bahru, Malaysia 
Dictionary:  CSW 15
Rules:  WESPA Version 3.0
Number of Games:  45
Ratings:  Based on Peak ratings from WESPAC 2015 till WSC 2016
Closing Date:  30th September 2016

Premier Division: 

Registration Fees:  US$300 
WESPA Peak Ratings: 1850 & above
Pairings:  KOTH with repeat for 45 games
Champion: US$10,000
1st Runner up: US$5,000
2nd Runner up: US$2,500
4th position: US$1,500
5th position: US$1,000
6th position: US$900
7th position: US$800
8th position: US$700
9th position: US$600
10th position: US$500Total: US$23,500 

Masters Division: 

Registration Fees: US$200 
WESPA Peak Ratings:1600 - 1849
Pairings: Swiss Pairings with No repeat each day from Day 1 to 4.  KOTH with repeats for Day 5
Champion: US$5,000
1st Runner up: US$2,500
2nd Runner up: US$1,500
4th position: US$1,000
5th position: US$900
6th position: US$800
7th position: US$700
8th position: US$600
9th position: US$500
10th position: US$400
Rating prize (Band 1600 - 1700): US$200
Total: US$15,100

Intermediate Division: 

Registration Fees: US$150 
WESPA Peak Ratings: 1300 - 1599
Pairings: Swiss Pairings with No repeat each day from Day 1 to 4.  KOTH with repeats for Day 5
Champion: US$3,000
1st Runner up: US$1,500
2nd Runner up: US$1,000
4th position: US$800
5th position: US$700
6th position: US$600
7th position: US$500
8th position: US$400
9th position: US$300
10th position: US$200
Rating Prize (Band 1300 - 1400): US$150
Total: US$9,150 

Open Division: US$125

WESPA Peak Ratings: 1299 & below
Pairings: Swiss Pairings with No repeat each day from Day 1 to 4.  KOTH with repeats for Day 5
Champion: US$2,000
1st Runner up: US$1,000
2nd Runner up: US$800
4th position: US$700
5th position: US$600
6th position: US$500
7th position: US$400
8th position: US$300
9th position: US$200
10th position: US$150
Rating Prize (Band 1000 - 1100): US$125
Rating Prize (Below 1000): US$125
Total: US$6,900

*Players can choose to play up by 1 Division**Where WESPA ratings is too low compared to the Local ratings, Organizer shall reserves the rights to make the final decision.

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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.