Scrabble - General Info & Ranks

[Runner]

Howdy All!

Scrabble is now playable on the beta site.

The Basics
In SCRABBLE, players take turns creating words out of their seven letters. Each player places a word on the board on his or her turn. Words must connect to other words already on the board, either horizontally or vertically.

Each letter has a number that shows its point value. Your score is based on the point value of each letter in your word, multiplied by the premium squares on the board.

On your first turn, drag a word from your rack to the center of the board. Drag or type each letter separately, then click on a square to drop the letter.

Words you can play include:

Two letters or more
NO proper names or other capitalized words
NO abbreviations
Your word can read across or down.

Words must be readable from left to right (across) or from top to bottom (down).
Words cannot be played from bottom to top, or from right to left.
Words cannot be played diagonally.
The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent!

Quick Tip:
Each game includes 2 Blank tiles. These tiles can be used for any letter you want! In the Game Options, you can choose whether the blanks can be played once per game only, or you can choose to "recycle" the blanks after they have been played by replacing a blank with a matching letter from your rack!

Gameplay
If letters in your word touch other letters in adjacent rows or columns, each letter must be part of a complete word. You'll receive points for more than one word if your letters are adjacent to other letters that form complete words.

Tiles cannot be changed or replaced after they have already been placed and scored on the board.

When 2 or more words are formed in the same play, each word is scored. The common letter is counted for BOTH words.

Premium Squares
Your score for each turn is the sum of the letter values in each word(s) formed or modified on your turn, plus the additional points you get from the placing tiles on Premium Squares.

Double Letter: doubles the score of the letter placed on it

Triple Letter: Three times the score of the letter placed on it!

Double Word: Double the score of the entire word placed on it!

Triple Word: Three times the score of the entire word placed on it!

Premium Squares count ONLY on the turn in which they are played. Once they are covered, they are never scored again.

If you receive a blank tile, you can assign the blank to be any letter you choose! Simply play the blank as you would any other letter, then you can choose which letter you would like the blank to be. A blank tile is worth 0 points, but it can help you make lots of points!

Quick Tip:
Bingo!
You'll score 50 Bonus Points if you can use ALL 7 of your letters on a single turn!

When the game ends, each player's score is reduced by the sum of his or her unplayed letters. If you use all of your letters, the sum of other players' unplayed letters is added to your score.

Making Words
On each turn, drag one or more letters to the board to create a word that is connected to at least one of the words already on the board. All letters must be placed in a row across or down on the board, and all letters must be part of at least one complete word.

If letters in your word touch other letters in adjacent rows or columns, each letter must be part of a complete word. You'll receive points for more than one word if your letters are adjacent to other letters that form complete words.

Tiles cannot be changed or replaced after they have already been placed and scored on the board.

Quick Tip:
If you cannot find a word to play, click the EXCHANGE or PASS button. You will have the option of keeping your letters or turning in any number of letters for new letters. Although you will not score any points on the current turn, you may "set yourself up" for big scores on your next turn!
How to Win
The player with the highest final score wins the game! Using all of your tiles before your opponent can definitely boost your chances of winning, since your opponent gets "stuck" with the tiles he or she didn't use!


Ranks and Ratings
Ranks and Badges
For Club Pogo Members Only:

Each time you play any letter, your rank increases at the end of your current game. (You do not need to win the game to get rank progress, but you need to finish the game.) Check the jewel icon next to your name to see your current rank.

The SCRABBLE Rank System consists of 50 ranks and 5 Rank Badges.

To find out more about the badges available for this game, please check out the Game Award book in Badge Central.
When you reach Rank 10, you unlock a special Game Skin, the Diamond Style. You can select this skin by clicking the Style button. The style you choose affects your own game only.

SCRABBLE also includes 3 achievement badges for expert players. If earned, these badges will appear in the game award album alongside the rank badges for Club Pogo members.

Tasks include:

Create 500 Bingos!
Create 8 8-letter words!
Score 100 points or more on a single turn!
National SCRABBLE Association Ratings
For Club Pogo Members Only:

Rated Games are special games that are designed for competitive players. When you play a Rated Game, you collect "ratings points" that show up in the special icon next to your name. There are 3 Rating Levels:

Rating Level: Points Required Icon
Novice Below 1199  
Intermediate 1200 – 1599  
Expert 1600 and above  


As in all Pogo Rated Games, everyone begins at the same level (Novice). Your performance in each game makes your rating go up or down. Your rating goes up faster if you play against players of a higher rating than your own.

Your Rating on Pogo.com is calculated using the official system of the National SCRABBLE Association. This means that you can compare your rating directly with the pros of the NSA to see how you compare!

In order to set up the games similar to way they are played in National SCRABBLE Association Tournaments, Rated Games can ONLY be played with the following options:

- 2-player Games. Rated games must be played with a single live opponent. No 4-player games are allowed. In most rated Pogo games, an AI opponent can step in to finish a game where the live opponent has left the game unexpectedly. However, in rated Scrabble games, we will give the opponent a chance (5 minutes) to rejoin the game if their connection was lost. If the opponent does not rejoin, the remaining player can choose to continue the game with a new live opponent OR continue with an AI opponent. A player who abandons a game before the game is complete will still receive a ratings adjustment based on the results of the current game.

- 25-minute clock per player. Each player has a total of 25 minutes to make all of his or her moves (like a standard Chess clock). If you run out of time, 10 points are subtracted for each minute over the time limit, (rounded up, if necessary). The same turn timer UI will be used here as in the other option packages.

Doubling the score for unplayed tiles. If you use all of your tiles before your opponent, you receive double the value of your opponent's remaining tiles. (This is a slight variant of the standard traditional rule of reducing the score of each player who ends the game with unplayed tiles on his or her rack.)
Alternating First Turn. On RATED games only, we will look into your player history to see if you took the first turn the last time you played Scrabble on Pogo.com. If you went first last time, you will go 2nd in the current game. If both players in the current game both went either first or second in the previous game, the first player will be chosen randomly, in the same format as non-RATED games.
The dictionary for the Rated Games Option Package will be the Tournament Word List (TWL). This dictionary differs from the official Merriam-Webster Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary in that it includes some words deemed too off-color to be included in family games.

Note:
In RATED games only, players may sometimes play off-color words. Because these words are included in most standard dictionaries, they are acceptable in RATED games. Of course, the computer opponent does not play off-color words. If you would prefer to avoid seeing such words altogether, please either avoid RATED games, let your opponent know your preference before you begin, or play with friends who share your preference to avoid all off-color words.
Players will not be able to look up any words in the dictionary in rated games, even after the words have been played. Of course, using dictionaries of any kind, with online or on paper, is strictly forbidden in Rated Games!

If players drop out of a game before the game is over, their rating will decrease. Players receive "credit" for the outcome of each game they begin, even if they dropped out before the game was over.
Here are the steps to start a Rated Game:

Click the 2-player Tab
On the Choose a Table dialog, click a Play button.
Click the box that says Make Game Rated (Needs 2 players to start)
Click the Play button
It's easy to ensure that you only play against opponents who are a good match for you. To play against opponents of your skill level or higher, click "Limit players joining this game to certain skill ratings." For example, if you do not wish to play against Novice players, leave the Novice item un-checked.

Note:
Rated games where the difference between opponent's ratings is greater than 600 will not affect the players ratings. This is to prevent more experienced players from taking advantage of new players.

[Runner]

Options

If you are the first player to sit down at a table in the Table Selector screen, you can customize your game in several ways by choosing Options. If you'd like, you can have your preferences saved for future games. If you use the Play Now button or join a table that someone else has set up, you'll have to accept whatever options are set for the table. You can see the options by clicking the "I" button in the corner or looking for special icons next to the table.

Pogo's House Rules Option Package
This is the default option package, and it is the option package that will load automatically if you click the Play Now button or the Practice with Robots button without opening the table selector. Players who select Pogo's House Rules will be able to play a game that includes a variety of different options to make gameplay easier and quicker. This option package differs from the Traditional Option package in that Challenges are not allowed; blanks can be recycled; the letters in your rack are pre-screened to avoid bad combinations; and Hints are available.

These options include:

Automatic Word Verification. Unlike in Traditional Rules, challenging a move is not allowed. All words are automatically verified against the game's dictionary before they can be played. In order to avoid having to calculate how many points you would receive for making a play, the point value of your word is shown BEFORE you hit the Play button.
Re-using Blank tiles. Many players enjoy a 'house rule' where blank tiles can be recycled after they are played on the board, as long as the player replaces the tile with the same letter from his or her own rack on the same turn. In Pogo's House Rules, the blank can be changed to any letter the player prefers, but it must be used on the same turn when it was picked up.
Turn timer. 2 minutes per turn by default. (Players can select between 30 seconds and 3:30 by modifying this option.)
Smart letter dispersal. In a traditional game, players are sometimes frustrated by a bad random mix of letters, such as 4 I's or a complete lack of vowels. The Smart letter dispersal feature allows the computer to use certain criteria when adding new letters to the players rack:
The computer attempts to provide 3 vowels and 4 consonants in each rack, if possible. This is always possible on the first move and after a Bingo. It becomes less likely toward the end of the game and if the player has created an inequal distribution in his or her own rack.
The computer attempts to avoid providing more than 2 copies of the same letter.
The computer does NOT consider the point value of each letter before replenishing the rack. Thus your chances of getting a Q versus an S are not affected by the Smart Letter Dispersal system. The intention behind this system is not to "stack" the racks with "good letters" – rather, it is to preserve a semi-random distribution, while avoiding the frustration of having to play with letters that are obviously disadvantageous.
Hints. You can see a series of sequential hints that make gameplay easier.
List of 2-letter words. You can see the standard list of acceptable 2-letter words during gameplay, as these words are among the most powerful words in the game.
The dictionary for the Pogo's House Rules option Package is the official Merriam-Webster Scrabble Players Dictionary.

Traditional Rules Option Package
The traditional rules Option Package corresponds to the standard rules that are included in the boxed board game.

Challenging a move. Words are not verified against the dictionary before they are played. Players are allowed to play any letters they wish, including invalid words. Players can challenge a move if they suspect it is not a valid word. If the opponent challenges the move, they never need to specify which word(s) they intend to challenge if more than one word is possible.

When a move is challenged, ALL words played on the current turn are verified against the TWL dictionary. If the word is valid, the challenger loses his or her next turn. If the word is invalid, the word is removed from the board and returned to the player's rack. The player who played the word scores 0 points for the turn, and the corresponding message appears in the Ticker/Message area.

In 4-player games, any player may challenge a word within 5 seconds after the word is played. The first player to click the challenge button is considered the challenger.

Blank tiles. When you play a blank tile, you must specify the letter that appears on that tile. The blank tiles cannot be changed or picked up again once they are played.
Turn timer. 2 minutes per turn by default. (Players can select between 30 seconds and 3:30 by modifying this option.)
List of 2-letter words. We will allow players to see the standard list of acceptable 2-letter words during gameplay, as these words are (arguably) the most powerful words in the game.
The dictionary for the Traditional Rules option Package will be the official Merriam-Webster Scrabble Players Dictionary.

NSA Rated Games Option Package
Scrabble on Pogo.com supports the official rules that tournament players will be familiar with from tournament play with the National Scrabble Association. See the Ratings section for more information.

Advanced Options (Customize My Options)
Players can choose among various additional "a la carte" options that are not included in the Option Packages. If you click the "Use these options next time" checkbox, the options you chose the last time you set up a game will be pre-populated the next time you set up a new game on the Options menu.
You can choose from a variety of individual options in the Advanced Options menu:

End game when the score reaches:

[default] no more tiles left in the bag
50
70
90
120
160
200
Choose dictionary:

[default] Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary
Beginner
TWL (Tournament Word List)
Use forfeit timer:
Minutes allowed per turn:

0:45 (speedy game)
1:00
1:30
[default] 2:00
2:30
3:00
5:00
10:00
Game limit: 25:00 (tournament style)
[default on] Allow blanks to be recycled on future turns (you must play the blank on the same turn)
[default off] Allow challenging a word (words are not verified beforehand)
[default off] Allow smart letter balancing (avoiding unequal racks when possible)
[default on] Allow hints (up to 3 per game)
[default off] Show dictionary before submitting a word
[default on] Show dictionary when clicking a word already played
[default on] Show list of 2-letter words


End game when the score reaches.... In this version, the game ends when one player's score reaches a certain pre-determined number. In 4-player games, this number can range from 50-160. In 2-player games, this number can range from 70 – 200.

Show dictionary before submitting a word. In order to allow players to improve their game (especially when playing casually or against the AI), we will allow players to look up potential words in the dictionary before making a play. Clicking this button opens the Dictionary module above the bottom 2 player info areas, consisting of a text entry area. When the player enters a word, the definition of the word will appear in this area, or a message that mentions that the word was not found in the dictionary.

Strategy
Use the Premium Squares. Where you play is often more important than what you play. The 8 triple word score squares are often the most important areas of the board. Use them first, or your opponents will! When you have a high-scoring letter such as J, Q, X, or Z, try to place it on a triple letter or double letter score square!

Use the S and Blank tiles wisely! The S is the most valuable letter in the game, since it can be used to double your score. Instead of using the S or blank tile as part of only one word, make the S your link between a new word and an old word! This way, you will get points for two words for the "price of one"! For example, you could play the word "cat" alone. On your next turn, you can play the word "dogs" by using the S to make the word "cats" AND the word "dogs" at the same time! Sometimes you can also use letters such as Y, R, and D in the same way.

Look for word beginnings and endings! Look in your rack for certain letters that can become beginnings and endings for lots of different words.

Examples of prefixes include: RE, UN, OVER, etc
Examples of suffixes include: -ED, -ING, -ER, etc.

Length doesn't matter! A long word is not always a high-scoring word. The point values of the individual letters and the premium squares usually have a bigger impact on your score than the length of the word. The word ZA, for example, often gives you more points than a longer word like ANTLER, since the Z alone is worth 10 points!

Learn the special words! In SCRABBLE, there are certain words that are not common in everyday language but extremely useful in the game. These words include:

CWM – a geographical feature also known as a CIRQUE
QAT – a kind of shrub
QI – vital force, also spelled CHI
XI – a Greek letter
ZA – short for PIZZA

Choose Your Skill Level! If you decide to play against a computer opponent, you can choose the skill level that you prefer by selecting one of the 6 "tabs" on the Room Selector web page. If you'd like the computer opponent's skill level to be at the beginner level, choose the Social or Beginner tabs. On the Intermediate tab, the computer tends to make longer words. On the Advanced and Expert tab, you'll notice that the computer's vocabulary is even larger. Try the Master tab for the ultimate challenge -- the computer's vocabulary is immense, and it tends to make very long words!

Plan ahead! When you make a word, consider the letters that will be left over for your next turn. For example, if you play a J horizontally on your first turn, you might find it difficult to think of a second word that ends in the letter J. Also, don't always play the first word you can see - consider all of your options before you make a word!

Master the art of "parallel parking!" Try "parallel parking," where you create a new word parallel to one of your existing words. This strategy allows you to spread your letters out on the board. The only way to "parallel-park" is to use at least one letter of your existing words, and it's often easiest to create a two-letter word as the link between your new word and your old word.

Learn the two-letter words! If you're unsure whether a particular two-letter word is valid, click the two-letter word button to see if a word is in the dictionary before you attempt to play it.

Keep useful letters! Hoard letters that can be used to lengthen your words, such as endings like

-ED, -ING, etc.

Mix it up! The Mix Up button is there to help you, so use it! Sometimes clicking the Mix Up button allows you to see your letters from a different perspective, allowing you to see new words. Also, try moving your tiles around in your tray, and leaving a blank space between a word you find and the rest of your letters.

Jackpot & Prizes
If you win the game, you will receive a Jackpot Spin. This will give you one of the following prizes: extra tokens; instant merchandise prizes; "virtual" prizes such as desktop wallpapers; or the current jackpot!

The Jackpot Spinner spins like a slot machine. When it stops spinning, you'll win the prize indicated on the spinner -- perhaps the JACKPOT itself! If the Jackpot Spinner lands on the word "JACKPOT," you'll receive the current Jackpot amount. Jackpots range from $50 - $4,999. The current Jackpot amount, which gets higher every second, is shown on the right side of the game above the chat area.

To claim your Jackpot, you must fill out the contact information and conform to the eligibility requirements listed in our Prize Rules.

SCRABBLE is a "no-risk" game because it is completely free, yet you can win great prizes just by playing the game. We are able to offer games like these because our games are supported by advertising. It works out to be a great deal for you!

If you win one of our prize drawings, you will receive an e-mail directing you to a prize confirmation page where you must enter your real name, accurate e-mail address and other pertinent information. To claim any prize, you must enter this contact information and conform to the eligibility requirements documented in our Prize Rules.

The tokens you win in SCRABBLE can be entered into our prize drawings. The more tokens you accumulate, the more chances you have to win our drawings. For more details, see our Prize Help.

If you win one of our prize drawings, you will receive an e-mail directing you to a prize confirmation page where you must enter your real name, accurate e-mail address and other pertinent information. You must enter this contact information and conform to the eligibility requirements documented in the Prize Rules> text.

All tickets accumulated for a drawing will be wiped clean after that drawing takes place.

Members of Club Pogo are automatically eligible for DOUBLE JACKPOTS and Instant Win Prizes! This means that if the Jackpot Spinner lands on the word "JACKPOT," you'll receive DOUBLE the current Jackpot amount! If it lands on an Instant Win prize, you win that prize!

If you win either a Jackpot or an Instant Win prize, you will receive an e-mail from us telling you how to claim your prize, so make sure your contact information is up to date. Be sure you have filled out the proper contact information and conform to the eligibility requirements documented in the Prize Rules> text.

The prize confirmation page is where you must enter your real name, accurate e-mail address and other pertinent information. After you enter this info, you will receive an e-mail pointing you to a Web page where you can verify your prize.

[Mistyeyed]

why the qwerty clone instead of some new ideas?

[Tara]

Holy guacamole!

I don't know if I want to know how to play this...the instructions are way to long for me.  :)))

[badgie]

Now don't get me wrong, I love Scrabble, but we already have Qwerty. It seems like we are adding in so many games that are too similar. Did we really need Dominoes and Super Dominoes to come out at the same time? I would love to see a crossword game come out.

[mr.clean]

Now don't get me wrong, I love Scrabble, but we already have Qwerty. It seems like we are adding in so many games that are too similar. Did we really need Dominoes and Super Dominoes to come out at the same time? I would love to see a crossword game come out.

kinda allready have one of those it called word search?

[Tara]

kinda allready have one of those it called word search?

I was thinking the same thing, but didn't want to say it. What about Hangman whatever it is?  Thats kind of like a puzzle.

[CindyLouWho]

I'd like to see Battleship!

[Homer]

I'd like to see Battleship!

[MsMissy]

Just to much too read , wil wait for game to come out & then try it. ???

[Mistyeyed]

thank goodness for the auto programs..all these games coming out are either too boring to play,or clones of other games,you just have no interest at all in playing them..a high five to BH...

[arniebear]

Way to much in instructions to read, I will stick with Qwerty it is nice and easy and gives you lots of tokies.  Can't Pogo do any better with the games they are coming out with, no imagination.

[gator8_24]

'real' scrabble is easy, I don't think that game's rules are complicated.  Forget the Pogo game! :!$ to Pogo  :)))

[Homer]

Scrabble? I'd rather have scrapple !@!

[gator8_24]

Scrabble? I'd rather have scrapple !@!

OMG, Pa.Dutch/German. My hubby grew up on that stuff, lived near Reading. Do you put syrup on it?  :)))   It looks like fried dog food patties ! :xx

[Stinkerbell]

OMG, Pa.Dutch/German. My hubby grew up on that stuff, lived near Reading. Do you put syrup on it?  :)))   It looks like fried dog food patties ! :xx

My family is from the Bedford County area and my great grandma said we were PA Dutch/German.  Those early settlers were amazing people.  I love reading their stories.

Homer, what is scrapple exactly?

[Homer]

OMG, Pa.Dutch/German. My hubby grew up on that stuff, lived near Reading. Do you put syrup on it?  :)))   It looks like fried dog food patties ! :xx

No. I'm not big on syrup. 

[Mistyeyed]

My family is from the Bedford County area and my great grandma said we were PA Dutch/German.  Those early settlers were amazing people.  I love reading their stories.

Homer, what is scrapple exactly?

stinker..im located in blair county,right next door to bedford,are you located in the state?  by the way,i never ate scrapple,i think its bits and pieces of something,not sure what..lol...they used to make it locally..

[Homer]

My family is from the Bedford County area and my great grandma said we were PA Dutch/German.  Those early settlers were amazing people.  I love reading their stories.

Homer, what is scrapple exactly?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapple

[Stinkerbell]

stinker..im located in blair county,right next door to bedford,are you located in the state?  by the way,i never ate scrapple,i think its bits and pieces of something,not sure what..lol...they used to make it locally..

You familiar with Monongahela?  I have family buried there in the old, old, Monongohela Cemetery.  Also, there's a story about how they flooded a valley for some reason, I can't remember why, and now the old cemetery on the hill is the old cemetery on the island.  LOLOL

I have books on the histories of Bedford Co and Blair Co.  My family were early German and Irish/Scottish settlers there.  By early I mean late 1600-early 1700's.

No, I am not there, though I would LOVE to be!  I hear it's amazingly gorgeous.