7 Super Scrabble Strategies to Subdue Your Opponent

Champion Scrabble players have one thing in common: strategy. They don’t just play the tiles they’re given without a ton of thought. Instead, they plan ahead, build their win a step at a time, and dominate the board.

While you can use our Scrabble Cheat to see all the possible plays, it’s also good to strengthen your game with a sound strategy. Keep these seven tips in mind.

1. Build Your Vocabulary of Short Plays

Short words have a lot of power in Scrabble. They’re easy to play when you need to, and they’re a great way to nab those bonus spots on the board or set yourself up to build a longer word later. 

The key here is knowing some short words to play. The shortest words in Scrabble are two-letter words, and you can sometimes make these by playing only one tile. Memorize some possibilities to have on hand during your next match.

2. Hook Yourself Some Quick Points

Hooks are a huge part of any Scrabble game. They happen when you play only one or two tiles and build off of a larger word, scoring those points for yourself. Think adding an S or an ED to an existing word. Always keep an eye out for hooks (and try not to leave hooks open for your opponent).

3. Start Your Scrabble Game Strong

The very first words you play can make a big difference in the way the game goes. That’s because you’re making your mark on the board and taking up the spots your opponent might want to play too. Try to start your Scrabble game with a bang.

This is the time to play the highest-scoring Scrabble words in your rack. Don’t hang onto those for a better time. 

4. “Bingo” Was His Name-O

In Scrabble, a “bingo” is when you play all the tiles in your rack on a single turn. This means you’re looking for an 8-letter word (or more) because you’ll be building off of what’s already on the board. When you play a bingo, you get 50 points, so this is a pretty big deal.

Playing a bingo takes planning. Start saving up the tiles you’re going to use and playing the ones you don’t need. This might take several turns, but it can pay off big time.

5. Use the Bonus Squares

Every Scrabble board has colored squares that can give you a major bonus for your play. The double-letter and triple-letter spots let you multiple the Scrabble letter values for more points. The double- and triple-word spaces let you multiple the whole word’s point value.

Using these bonus squares can make a big difference in your game. And keeping your opponent from using them can make a huge impact too. Play on these squares as much as possible.

6. Balance Your Rack of Tiles

Sure, there are some Scrabble words with only vowels, but you’ll have a better chance of a great play if you keep your rack balanced between vowels and consonants. Ideally, you’ll have about three or four of each at any given time (unless you’ve got a plan for the letters in your rack).

To keep things balanced, play short words when you can to use those tiles up and make room for more. 

9. Know When to Swap Your Tiles

We’ve all been there. You’ve got a rack full of useless tiles, and you feel like you’re just limping along in this game. This is when you need to sacrifice a turn and exchange your tiles. 

You don’t want to swap too often in a game because it gives your opponent a chance to play when you can’t. Still, it’s totally worth it if it opens up some options for you. And it will.

Practice Often to Build Your Scrabble Game

Scrabble domination comes down to practice, so play as often as you can. You’ll find that these strategies become second nature to you, and soon, you’ll be unbeatable. In the meantime, you’ll have a lot of fun too.