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...

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

Bayer India National Scrabble Championships - Standings after Round 12

The nationals are well underway. Here are the top 10 after 12 rounds on day 2:

Standings
Player
Win
Loss
Spread
1
Sherwin
11
1
1170
2
Ranga
11
1
542
3
Sanjoy
9
3
654
4
Irinieu
8
4
591
5
Carolann
8
4
401
6
Eeshan
8
4
125
7
Charles
7
5
464
8
Nakul
7
5
306
9
Sudhir
7
5
294
10
Mohan
7
5
292

Sunday 22 May 2016

Bayer National Scrabble Championship 2016 this Week

India's best scrabblers are heading to Mumbai for the 2016 edition of the Bayer National Scrabble Championship 2016 this Week end.

Venue - Hotel Executive Enclave, No 331, Dr B.R Ambedkar Road, Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai - 400050.
Date and Time - 27th, 28th & 29th May 2016 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be two divisions:
1) Premier Division - SAI Rating 1150 and above
2) Open Division - SAI Rating 1150 and below

There will be a minimum of 24 rounds
First 12 rounds - Australian Draw Format
Last 12 rounds - King of the Hill
Dictionary - CSW15
Registrations are now closed

Friday 20 May 2016

3-5 Letter Scrabble Words that Take S as a Front Hook

Hook words are an integral part of any winning strategy in scrabble. Here is the entire list of 3-5 letter words from Zyzzyva that take S as a front hook:

Tuesday 17 May 2016

Word of the Day - Malinger

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

Malinger
Meaning - pretending illness in order to escape work.
Usage - He learned fast to malinger on the job.

Synonyms: dodge, fake, evade.

Antonyms: do, meet, face.

Anagrams - Germinal, Maligner
Front hook - none
Back hook - S, Y

Saturday 14 May 2016

Bangalore Scrabble League Tournament 2016 - Standings as on May 14

The Bangalore Scrabble League Tournament 2016 is reaching its critical phase. Here are the updated standings. Manju is still on top, still a long way to go:

Standings
Player
Handicap
Win
Loss
Spread
Average Game Score
1
MANJU
-45
30
10
2092
408
2
SANJOY
-65
27
11
2067
395
3
NUPUR
-20
23
9
1134
396
4
SHANKAR
25
22
17
286
394
5
MOHSIN
-60
21
12
1907
417
6
RAJVEER
-55
19.0
6
1379
410
7
CHRIS
10
16
25
-713
376
8
SARAS
0
16.0
16
-34
398
9
RADHIKA
-35
15
11
128
399
10
HARSH
45
13
17
-692
394
11
YASH
0
12
12
102
391
12
NALINI
-20
12
16
62
389
13
DIPANKAR
-35
12
14
-448
377
14
LENNIE
-35
11
13
-210
372
15
ARVIND
10
9
18
-1347
374
16
SHAILAJA
15
9
19
-1196
375
17
VIDYA
15
8
15
-530
364
18
REX
-10
8
15
-703
364
19
HEMANTH
0
4
5
-103
377
20
NEELAM
10
4
4
-131
366
21
DEEPA
40
3
21
-1587
364
22
VASAVA
45
1
5
-550
343
23
GIRISH
40
0
4
-617
309
24
SHILPA
45
0
1
-296
284

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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.