Scrabble Tips for Beginners
You don't need a huge vocabulary to win at Scrabble. Most of the gap between new and experienced players comes from a few habits. Here are eight that make the biggest difference.
1. Learn the two-letter words
There are 96 playable two-letter words. They let you squeeze a play next to other words, often scoring in two directions at once. Start with the ones worth the most:
The full list is in our guide to two-letter words.
2. Know a few Q words without U
Drawing a Q without a U doesn't have to ruin your turn. These short words need no U:
There are more in words with Q but no U.
3. Use the bonus squares
A heavy letter like J, X or Z on a double or triple letter square scores far more than a long word on plain squares. Look for the coloured squares before you look for long words. Our guide to high-scoring words shows which letters are worth the most.
4. Add an S to an existing word
Adding S to a word already on the board turns it into a new word, so you score both. It works more often than you might think:
- 78% of three-letter words take an S
- 63% of four-letter words
- 43% of five-letter words
That's why experienced players rarely waste an S on a small play.
5. Keep a balanced rack
Racks with two or three vowels make words most easily. After each play, think about the tiles you keep, not just the points you score. Holding letters like E, R, S, T and N gives you more choices next turn. Holding a second U or a pair of Vs gives you fewer.
6. Use all seven tiles
Playing all seven tiles in one turn earns a 50-point bonus. The easiest way to find these plays is to learn common letter groups. The best known is SATIRE: add any of 18 different letters and you can make a seven-letter word.
| Add | Seven-letter words |
|---|---|
| A | ATRESIA, ASTERIA, ARISTAE |
| B | BAITERS, BARITES, REBAITS |
| C | STEARIC, RACIEST, CRISTAE |
| D | ASTRIDE, TIRADES, TARDIES |
| E | SERIATE, AERIEST |
| F | FAIREST |
| G | GAITERS, AIGRETS, SEAGIRT |
| H | HASTIER |
| I | AIRIEST |
| L | REALIST, RETAILS, SALTIRE |
| M | MAESTRI, SMARTIE, IMARETS |
| N | RETAINS, NASTIER, RETINAS |
| P | PARTIES, PIRATES, TRAIPSE |
| R | TARSIER, TARRIES, ARTSIER |
| S | SATIRES |
| T | ARTISTE, TASTIER, STRIATE |
| V | VERITAS, VASTIER |
| W | WAITERS, WAISTER, WARIEST |
When your rack holds S, A, T, I, R and E, check this table before you play anything else.
7. Swap tiles when your rack is bad
Exchanging tiles costs a turn, but a rack like UUVWIIQ can cost you several. If you can't score well and your next rack would still be poor, swap.
8. Check your words afterwards
After each game, type your old racks into the Scrabble word finder to see the plays you missed. It's the quickest way to learn new words that you'll actually use.