Scrabble® Game Rules

  1. Each game will begin when the Tournament Captain says it begins.
  2. The team to take the first turn is determined in the following manner: Each team selects one letter tile.The team to select the letter closest to “A” in the alphabet is awarded the first turn.
  3. "Sneak peeks" at the dictionary and "expert advice" may be purchased at any time before or during the game for $5/each. The ticket or money to purchase such is given to a judge.
  4. Words must be formed either down (top to bottom) or across (left to right), not diagonally.
  5. A team completes a turn (limited to 3 minutes) by counting, announcing and recording their score for the turn. The team then draws as many new letters as played, always keeping seven.
  6. Each team plays in crossword fashion, adding one or more letter tiles to those already played. New words may be formed by (a) adding one or more letters to a word or letters already on the board; (b) placing a word at right angles to a word already on the board. The new word must use one of the letters already on the board or must add a letter to it; (c) placing a complete word parallel to a word already played so that adjacent letters also form completed words.
  7. Blank tiles may be used as any letter. When playing a blank, the team must state which letter it represents. It remains that letter for the rest of the game.
  8. Players may use a turn to exchange some or all of the letter tiles in their rack.
  9. Words must appear in the SCRABBLE® Official Dictionary (available at the Judge's Table).
  10. The word just played may be challenged before the opposing players start a turn. If the challenged word is unacceptable, the challenged team/ player takes back their tiles and loses that turn. If the challenged word is acceptable, the challenging team loses their next turn.
  11. The Head Judge has the final word on controversies
  12. Players will receive a six-minute and a three-minute warning that will give each team the chance to make their final play.
  13. Each game ends when the Tournament Captain says it ends OR when all letters have been drawn and one team uses their last letter OR when all possible plays have been made.

Scoring Procedures

  1. The score for each turn is the sum of the letter values in each word formed or modified on that turn, plus the additional points obtained from placing letters on premium squares. The score value of a blank tile is zero.
  2. Each team must announce and record their score after each turn. It is the opposing team's responsibility to ensure scoring is accurate.
  3. Premium Letter Squares: A light blue square doubles the score of a letter placed on it; a dark blue square triples the letter score.
  4. Premium Word Squares: The score for an entire word is doubled when one of its letters is placed on a pink square; it is tripled when one of its letters is placed on a red square. Include premiums for double or triple letter values, if any, before doubling or tripling the word score. If a word covers two premium word squares, the score is doubled, then re-doubled (4 times the letter count). NOTE: The center "star" square is pink, which doubles the score for the first word. Letter and word premiums count only on the turn in which they are played.
  5. When a blank tile is played on a pink or red square, the value of the word is doubled or tripled, even though the blank itself has no value.
  6. At the end of the game there is no reduction or addition to anyone’s score due to the tiles remaining on the racks.

BONUS POINTS

  1. Playing all seven tiles on a single turn scores 50 additional points after totaling the score for the turn.
  2. Game Word: Forming the word "READING," regardless of its placement on the board, will be a triple word score. This score will only be given once per game to either the first team or individual player to form the word. A judge will announce this to all players when it occurs.