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...

Thursday 30 June 2016

Tracking Akshay and Sanjoy at the Kings Cup

Here are the links to track Akshay and Sanjoy's progress at the Kings Cup from the original coverage on poslfit.com:

Background Information
[photo of Akshay Bhandarkar]
Given name(s): Akshay
Surname(s): Bhandarkar
Home: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Awards: 1996 1999 2007 Gulf; 2002 2003 2004 2005 Indian NSC; 1993 1997 Bahrain NSC
Hobbies: Music, reading, squash
2016 BRAND'S International Crossword Game King's Cup Team: India
Round by Round
High score: 622
Average for: 443
Average against: 387
Round 1
[photo of Thavatchai Thivavarnvongs]
[flag]
Thailand
Bhandarkar played #45 Thavatchai Thivavarnvongs (THA) and won 387 to 359 (a spread of 28).
Current ranking: #31.
Current record: 1-0, +28.
Round 2
[photo of Rocky Sharma]
[flag]
Australia
Bhandarkar played #32 Rocky Sharma (AUS) and lost 404 to 432 (a spread of -28).
Current ranking: #41.
Current record: 1-1, +0.
Round 3
[photo of Gerald Carter]
[flag]
England
Bhandarkar played #16 Gerald Carter (Eng) and won 591 to 340 (a spread of 251).
Current ranking: #19.
Current record: 2-1, +251.
Round 4
[photo of Rodney Talbot]
[flag]
Australia
Bhandarkar played #34 Rodney Talbot (AUS) and won 527 to 365 (a spread of 162).
Current ranking: #11.
Current record: 3-1, +413.
Round 5
[photo of Thanapong Kukiettikulchai]
[flag]
Thailand
Bhandarkar played #58 Thanapong Kukiettikulchai (THA) and lost 360 to 430 (a spread of -70).
Current ranking: #22.
Current record: 3-2, +343.
Round 6
[photo of Peter Arreola]
[flag]
Philippines
Bhandarkar played #50 Peter Arreola (PHL) and won 375 to 358 (a spread of 17).
Current ranking: #15.
Current record: 4-2, +360.
Bhandarkar is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit).
Round 7
[photo of Ching Wei Chang]
[flag]
Malaysia
Bhandarkar played #31 Ching Wei Chang (MYS) and lost 360 to 460 (a spread of -100).
Current ranking: #26.
Current record: 4-3, +260.
Round 8
[photo of Absar Mustajab]
[flag]
Pakistan
Bhandarkar played #63 Absar Mustajab (PAK) and won 622 to 284 (a spread of 338).
Current ranking: #16.
Current record: 5-3, +598.
Bhandarkar is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit).
Round 9
[photo of Karen Richards]
[flag]
Australia
Bhandarkar played #43 Karen Richards (AUS) and won 382 to 353 (a spread of 29).
Current ranking: #10.
Current record: 6-3, +627.
Round 10
[photo of Waseem Khatri]
[flag]
Pakistan
Bhandarkar played #9 Waseem Khatri (PAK) and lost 424 to 486 (a spread of -62).
Current ranking: #20.
Current record: 6-4, +565.
Round 11
[photo of Thacha Koowirat]
[flag]
Thailand
Bhandarkar played #15 Thacha Koowirat (THA) but no score is available yet.
Current ranking: this round’s game not yet complete.
Current record: not yet available.
Background Information
[photo of Sanjoy Gupta]
Given name(s): Sanjoy
Surname(s): Gupta
Home: India
2016 BRAND'S International Crossword Game King's Cup Team: India
Round by Round
High score: 532
Average for: 423
Average against: 391
Round 1
[photo of Rhys McGuckin]
[flag]
Australia
Gupta played #66 Rhys McGuckin (AUS) and won 474 to 274 (a spread of 200).
Current ranking: #8.
Current record: 1-0, +200.
Gupta is mentioned in this round’s commentary (2 hits).
Round 2
[photo of Tanaphon Kamenkij]
[flag]
Thailand
Gupta played #65 Tanaphon Kamenkij (THA) and won 485 to 337 (a spread of 148).
Current ranking: #5.
Current record: 2-0, +348.
Gupta is mentioned in this round’s commentary (2 hits).
Round 3
[photo of Tony Sim]
[flag]
Singapore
Gupta played #28 Tony Sim (SGP) and lost 428 to 455 (a spread of -27).
Current ranking: #16.
Current record: 2-1, +321.
Gupta is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit).
Round 4
[photo of Chock Heng Kong]
[flag]
Malaysia
Gupta played #30 Chock Heng Kong (MYS) and won 495 to 360 (a spread of 135).
Current ranking: #9.
Current record: 3-1, +456.
Gupta is mentioned in this round’s commentary (2 hits).
Round 5
[photo of Paul Richards]
[flag]
Australia
Gupta played #44 Paul Richards (AUS) and lost 338 to 418 (a spread of -80).
Current ranking: #20.
Current record: 3-2, +376.
Round 6
[photo of Weibin Toh]
[flag]
Singapore
Gupta played #4 Weibin Toh (SGP) and lost 380 to 423 (a spread of -43).
Current ranking: #32.
Current record: 3-3, +333.
Round 7
[photo of Arham Abidi]
[flag]
Pakistan
Gupta played #59 Arham Abidi (PAK) and won 532 to 379 (a spread of 153).
Current ranking: #23.
Current record: 4-3, +486.
Round 8
[photo of Suthiraphan Assarat]
[flag]
Thailand
Gupta played #47 Suthiraphan Assarat (THA) and lost 370 to 379 (a spread of -9).
Current ranking: #31.
Current record: 4-4, +477.
Round 9
[photo of Apirat Choomai]
[flag]
Thailand
Gupta played #35 Apirat Choomai (THA) and lost 306 to 490 (a spread of -184).
Current ranking: #39.
Current record: 4-5, +293.
Round 10
[photo of Cedric Lewis]
[flag]
Malaysia
Gupta played #38 Cedric Lewis (MYS) but no score is available yet.
Current ranking: #45.
Current record: 4-5, +293.
Round 11
[photo of Dianne Ward]
[flag]
Australia
Gupta played #54 Dianne Ward (AUS) but no score is available yet.
Current ranking: this round’s game not yet complete.
Current record: not yet available.

Kings Cup 2016 - Day 1

The kings Cup 2016 is underway. Hubert Wee is undefeated so far and on top. Here are the top 10 after day 1 from the original coverage on Poslfit.com:

Rank
Player
Win
Loss
Spread
1
Hubert Wee
8
0
782
2
Komol
6
2
698
3
Pichai
6
2
698
4
Marlon Prudencio
6
2
682
5
Panupol
6
2
529
6
Nigel Richards
6
2
464
7
Rocky Sharma
6
2
345
8
Weibin Toh
6
2
335
9
Weera
6
2
320
10
Jayaska Baranage
6
2
280

Thursday 23 June 2016

Kings Cup Scrabble Coming up this Month

The 31st edition of the Kings Cup Scrabble tournament is all set to take place at a brand new venue Central Plaza WestGate, Bangkok, Thailand between June 30th and July 3rd, 2016. It is expected to draw a very strong field as usual.


Here are the details from WESPA:

Format:

29 games in total.
Game 1–25 will be based on the Swiss pairing system.
Games 26–29 will be based on the King of the Hill pairing system.
After game 29, the top two players play the final.
The two finalists will play the final with special rules:
They have to play at least two games.
If one of them wins both games, then that player is the winner.
In the event they tie with a win and a loss each, regardless of spread, a third game will be played.
The winner, in this case, is the one who scores the most points when the scores from all three games
are combined.

Words Source Lexicon: CSW 2015. 

A list of all 2 and 3 letter words are provided for each player to look at during the game.

Division:

International Open Division, open to all.

Prizes:

Champion: HM King’s Cup + USD 10,000 + Gift Set
2nd place: 110,000 Baht + Gift set
3rd place: 50,000 Baht + Gift set
4th place: 25,000 Baht + Gift set
5th place: 10,000 Baht + Gift set
6th place: 7,000 Baht + Gift set
7th place: 5,000 Baht + Gift set
8th place: 4,000 Baht + Gift set
9th place: 3,000 Baht + Gift set
10th place: 2,000 Baht + Gift set

Sunday 12 June 2016

Causeway Scrabble Challenge 2016 Update

Here is an update from Scrabble Visionary and Causeway Scrabble Challenge Founder Michael Tang:


Causeway 2016 is making a comeback after 5 years.  With 5.5 months to go, 251 players from 23 countries have already signed up across 4 Divisions.  Causeway 2016 will be the biggest International Scrabble event where players can be expected to pit their skills against players from all over the World. A total of 45 games will be played over 5 days from 30th Nov till 4th December 2016.

Players who are interested and have not signed up can contact Michael Tang directly at alchemist9189@gmail.com or visit the website at www.causewaychallenge.com 

Word of the Day - Sporadic

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

Sporadic

Meaning - Occurring at irregular intervals or in isolated or scattered places
Usage - His attendance was sporadic at best.

Synonyms: occasional, infrequent, irregular.

Antonyms: regular, consistent, steady.

Anagrams - Picadors
Front hook - none
Back hook - none

Tuesday 7 June 2016

The 100 Most Probable 8 Letter Words in Scrabble

As part of a scrabble strategy it is useful to study words by probability and playability. The below list from Zyzzyva includes the 100 most probable 8 Letter words that you encounter during scrabble games:

Front Hook
Alphagram
Word
Back Hook
Probability
Playability
ADEINORT
AROINTED
1
289
ADEINORT
DERATION
s
2
67
ADEINORT
ORDINATE
ds
3
80
ADEINORT
RATIONED
4
218
AEILNORT
ORIENTAL
s
5
44
p
AEILNORT
RELATION
s
6
56
AEILNORT
TAILERON
s
7
52
AEINORST
ANOESTRI
8
481
AEINORST
ARSONITE
s
9
1310
AEINORST
NOTAIRES
10
1072
AEINORST
NOTARIES
11
1044
AEINORST
NOTARISE
ds
12
2689
AEINORST
ROSINATE
s
13
835
AEINORST
SENORITA
s
14
444
AAEINORT
AERATION
s
15
2
AEEILORT
AEROLITE
s
16
4
AEEIORST
ETAERIOS
17
3
ADEILNOT
DELATION
s
18
39
ADEILORT
IDOLATER
s
19
147
ADEILORT
TAILORED
20
99
ADEINORS
ANEROIDS
21
393
ADEINORS
ANODISER
s
22
771
ADEINORS
DONARIES
23
1404
ADEINORU
DOUANIER
s
24
14
ADEINOST
ASTONIED
25
115
ADEINOST
SEDATION
s
26
592
ADEIORST
ASTEROID
s
27
209
t
AEILNORS
AILERONS
28
870
AEILNORS
ALERIONS
29
837
AEILNORS
ALIENORS
30
337
dgr
AEILNOST
ELATIONS
31
429
AEILNOST
INSOLATE
ds
32
321
AEILNOST
TOENAILS
33
239
AEILORST
SOTERIAL
34
232
AEIORSTU
OUTRAISE
ds
35
68
AEIORSTU
SAUTOIRE
s
36
46
ADEEINRT
DETAINER
s
37
51
ADEEINRT
RETAINED
38
74
AEEILNRT
ELATERIN
s
39
85
AEEILNRT
ENTAILER
s
40
75
AEEILNRT
TREENAIL
s
41
57
AEEINRST
ARENITES
42
662
AEEINRST
ARSENITE
s
43
968
AEEINRST
RESINATE
ds
44
674
AEEINRST
STEARINE
s
45
310
AEEINRST
TRAINEES
46
705
ADEIINOT
IDEATION
s
47
95
ADEIINOT
IODINATE
ds
48
60
ADEIINOT
TAENIOID
49
54
AEINNORT
ANOINTER
s
50
267
AEINNORT
INORNATE
51
225
AEINNORT
REANOINT
s
52
183
AEINORRT
ANTERIOR
53
11
AEINORTT
TENTORIA
l
54
22
AEEIINRT
INERTIAE
55
1
AEELNORT
REALTONE
s
56
8
AEENORST
EARSTONE
s
57
290
AEENORST
RESONATE
ds
58
224
DEEINORT
ORIENTED
59
10
EEINORST
ONERIEST
60
107
EEINORST
SEROTINE
s
61
134
ABEINORT
BARITONE
s
62
1139
ABEINORT
OBTAINER
s
63
762
p
ABEINORT
REOBTAIN
s
64
817
ABEINORT
TABORINE
s
65
539
ACEINORT
ACTIONER
s
66
655
ACEINORT
ANORETIC
s
67
347
ACEINORT
CREATION
s
68
1129
ACEINORT
REACTION
s
69
1244
AEHINORT
ANTIHERO
70
65
AEINOPRT
ATROPINE
s
71
53
ADEGINOR
ORGANDIE
s
72
89
ADEGIORT
ERGATOID
s
73
58
AEGILNOR
GERANIOL
s
74
231
AEGILNOR
REGIONAL
s
75
175
AEGILNOT
GELATION
s
76
304
AEGILNOT
LEGATION
s
77
471
AEGINORS
IGNAROES
78
1708
AEGINORS
ORGANISE
drs
79
2072
AEGINORS
ORIGANES
80
815
EEIINORT
ERIONITE
s
81
5
ADEINRST
DETRAINS
82
383
ADEINRST
RANDIEST
83
530
ADEINRST
STRAINED
84
409
ADEINRTU
DATURINE
s
85
488
ADEINRTU
INDURATE
ds
86
629
ADEINRTU
RUINATED
87
1277
ADEINRTU
URINATED
88
1442
AEILNRST
ENTRAILS
89
1239
AEILNRST
LARNIEST
90
2062
AEILNRST
LATRINES
91
4777
AEILNRST
RATLINES
92
4951
AEILNRST
REINSTAL
ls
93
1320
AEILNRST
RETINALS
94
4196
AEILNRST
SLANTIER
95
1481
AEILNRST
TRENAILS
96
1260
AEILNRTU
AUNTLIER
97
349
AEILNRTU
RETINULA
ers
98
163
AEILNRTU
TENURIAL
99
285
AEINRSTU
RUINATES
100
3233

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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.