Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions that come up most often during a game, and a few about the score sheet itself.
Rules questions
Can I add letters to both ends of a word?
Yes. Turning PLAY into REPLAYS in one move is fine, as long as all the tiles you place are in one line and the result is a single valid word. You score the whole new word.
Can I play a word in two directions at once?
No. All the tiles you place on one turn must sit in a single row or a single column. They may form extra words in the other direction where they touch existing tiles, and those words score too.
Do premium squares count again if I play through them later?
No. A premium square only counts on the turn a tile is first placed on it. After that it scores as a normal square for everyone.
Is the blank worth anything on a double-letter square?
No. A blank is always worth zero. On a double-word or triple-word square it still multiplies the rest of the word.
When can I exchange tiles?
Only while there are at least seven tiles left in the bag. Exchanging uses your whole turn, and you score nothing.
What happens when the bag runs out?
Keep playing without drawing. The game ends when one player uses all their tiles, or when nobody can make a move. Then deduct leftover tiles as explained in the scoring guide.
Is a 50-point bingo doubled on a double-word square?
No. The 50 points are added after all premiums have been applied, and the bonus itself is never multiplied.
Are proper nouns ever allowed?
Not as names. Some words that look like names are also ordinary words with other meanings, such as MARK or BILL. Those are fine because the word list includes them in lower case.
Which dictionary should we use in the UK?
Collins Scrabble Words is the official list for UK and international play. Any up-to-date Collins Scrabble word checker will settle challenges. Agree on one before you start.
Who wins a tie?
The player who had the higher score before the end-of-game adjustments for leftover tiles.
Score sheet questions
Where are my scores saved?
In your own browser, on your own device. Nothing is sent to us. If you close the page and come back later on the same device and browser, your game is still there.
Can I go back to an earlier game?
Yes. When you start a new game, the previous one is kept under Past games, below the score sheet. Press Open to carry on with it. The last 20 games are kept, in this browser only.
Why is my game missing?
Saved games stay in the browser that created them. A different device or browser, a private or incognito window, or clearing your browsing data will each give you a blank sheet.
How do I record a pass or an exchange?
Type 0, or leave the box empty. Both count as zero.
How do I fix a mistake?
Click the box and type the right number. To remove a whole row, hover over it (or tap the row number on a touchscreen) and press ×.
Can I use it for more than four players?
Not at the moment. The game itself is designed for two to four players.
Does the timer work with the screen off?
The timer keeps counting in the background, but phones often pause web pages when the screen locks, so the chime may not play until you look again. Keep the screen on during timed games.