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...

Sunday 30 April 2017

Goa Scrabble Tourney 2017

The WESPA rated Goa scrabble tourney has concluded. Sherwin pipped Udayan to win on spread. Both had 19 wins. Here are some game boards courtesy the participants:

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 1

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 2

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 3

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 4

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 5

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 6

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 7

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 8

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 9

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 10

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 11

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 12

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 13

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 14

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 15

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 16

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 17

Goa Scrabble Tournament 2017 17


Here are the top 10:

Thursday 20 April 2017

Scrabble Crossword-8

Here is the weekly anagram crossword from expert scrabbler Mohan Chunkath. Each of the solutions that goes into the grid is an anagram of the corresponding clue. The clue and the solution are both valid words in CSW 15. This is the eighth edition. Solution will appear in the discussion forum below:
Anagram scrabble crossword 8

Across  Down 
1 CREASES (7) 1 LEASED (6)
5 DEFORMS (7) 2 ALAAP (5)
9 RAGAS (5) 3 SCATS (5)
10 HADARIM (7) 4 ANTISEX (7)
11 MAXES (5) 6 REARISE (7)
12 SUPINES (7) 7 MONDE (5)
13 OKAYING (7) 8 HALIMOTS (8)
16 BOOZER (6) 10 PUSH (4)
19 KAVASS (6) 14 KAW (3)
21 POUNCED (7) 15 JUG (3)
25 QUERIER (7) 17 DOE (3)
27 AYAHS (5) 18 VISITORS (8)
29 SIDLERS (7) 20 DIPNETS (7)
30 DOOLE (5) 22 UNBALES (7)
31 DROWSED (7) 23 SECS (4)
32 EXTINES (7) 24 LADRON (6)
26 QUOIN (5)
27 LEXIS (5)
28 PAEDO (5)

Sunday 16 April 2017

Bangalore Scrabble Club One Day Tournament

The Bangalore Scrabble club conducted a one day tournament last Sunday. There were 18 participants. Dipankar ran out the winner, Yash in second and Mohsin third. Here are some game boards:
Bangalore scrabble tournament 1

Bangalore scrabble tournament 2


Bangalore scrabble tournament 3

Bangalore scrabble tournament 4

Bangalore scrabble tournament 5

Bangalore scrabble tournament 6

Bangalore scrabble tournament 7

Bangalore scrabble tournament 8

Bangalore scrabble tournament 9

Bangalore scrabble tournament 10

Bangalore scrabble tournament 11

Bangalore scrabble tournament 12

Bangalore scrabble tournament 13

Bangalore scrabble tournament 14

Bangalore scrabble tournament 15

Bangalore scrabble tournament 16

Bangalore scrabble tournament 17

Here are the top 5:

Rank
Player
Win-Loss
Spread
1
Dipankar
6-2
508
2
Yash
6-2
333
3
Mohsin
6-2
219
4
Rajveer
5-3
849
5
Nalini
5-3
152

Monday 10 April 2017

The Shantha Viswanathan Memorial Scrabble Tournament, May 2017

The family of late Mrs Shantha Viswanathan is conducting the 2nd edition of their scrabble tournament in memory of their beloved mother on May 21st 2017 at the Bangalore Golf Club. Mrs Viswanathan was an avid scrabble player and enjoyed playing board games and solving puzzles. In fact she had become a member of the Bangalore Scrabble Club and looked forward to being able to participate in their games. Unfortunately this has remained a dream. Below are the key details of the event :
The Shantha Viswanathan Memorial Scrabble Tournament 2017

Tournament : Shantha Viswanathan Memorial Scrabble Tournament 2nd Edition
Date : Sunday May 21st  2017
Timing : 9am to 5pm
Venue:  Bangalore Golf Club, Sankey Road, High Grounds Sampangi Rama Nagar Bengaluru 560094
If you wish to register, please send your  name, email address, mobile number and whether rated or not, to:
Girish (9901444744,email: technogirish@gmail.comor
Sheila Ramesh ( 9848396542 ,email: sheram4958@gmail.comor
Gita Prabhakar phone (whatsapp) +91 6788494166 or email gitaprabhakar@yahoo.com
Last date to register: May 19th 2017 or till we get required number of registrations  whichever is earlier.
Registration Fee : Rs 150 (may be paid at the venue)

The tournament is open to all players who will be categorised as follows
Players with a Scrabble Club Rating of 700 or less OR UNRATED players ( Category 1 )
Players with a Scrabble Club Rating of 700 or more (Category 2)
Every player will be expected to play a minimum number of 5 games.
All the games will be played as per International Scrabble rules.
Checkout http://www.indianscrabble.com for more details.
The decision of the Tournament Director will be final.
Tournament Director/s: Mr Rex DSouza/Mr Christopher Imison
Prizes:
1st prize: Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 4000/-
2nd prize:Trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 2500/-
3rd prize - Trophy and a cash prize 1500/-
4th prize - Cash prize of Rs 1000/-
5th prize - Cash prize of Rs 500/-

Other prizes for special categories of players such as children and professionals will be announced later.

Note: Breakfast and Lunch will be served to all the players

All players need to register by 9 am so that the tournament can commence at 9:30 am.
    We look forward to receiving your registrations. 

Thursday 6 April 2017

Scrabble Crossword-7

Here is the weekly anagram crossword from expert scrabbler Mohan Chunkath. Each of the solutions that goes into the grid is an anagram of the corresponding clue. The clue and the solution are both valid words in CSW 15. This is the seventh edition. Solution will appear in the discussion forum below:

Scrabble Anagram Crossword 7

Across  Down 

1

DEVIATES (8)

1

NAPPAS (6)
5 POSITS (6) 2 MUSTARD (7)
10 VAPOR (5) 3 DORT (4)
11 ALETHIC (7) 4 GRAVURE (7)
12 TAPA (4) 6 HASTA (5)
13 MURE (4) 7 COSEC (5)
14 DHOWS (5) 8 IDOLISMS (8)
16 COAITA (6) 9 ENAMEL (6)
17 ECTASIS (7) 15 EACH (4)
20 HELLIER (7) 18 MERC (4)
22 LUCITE (6) 19 LITHITES (8)
25 REPEL (5) 21 IDIOMS (6)
28 FADE (4) 22 SILICAS (7)
29 SETS (4) 23 ASININE (7)
31 BRISTLY (7) 24 MATSAH (6)
32 CHURN (5) 26 PICAL (5)
33 CREASE (6) 27 BARIC (5)
34 RECLAMES (8) 30 GRUE (4)

Saturday 1 April 2017

Scrabble Puzzle 2

Can you spot the most optimum play on the board below? Solution in the discussion forum:

Scrabble Puzzle 2

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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.