Scrabble Hooks

In Scrabble, a hook refers to a letter that is added to a word to make a new word. If it is added to the left side of the word, then it is called a front hook. If it is added to the right, then it is a back hook. These hooks especially the unusual ones can help you in connecting your words to the ones placed on the game board. It can also help open up a tight board. Below are some hooks that I commonly use: (Note: The small letter S means that you can add an S to the main word to change it to its plural form)

ALIFs - CALIFs - KALIFs
OYSTERs - ROYSTERs
VINEs - OVINEs - BOVINEs
VULVAs - VULVAE - VULVAR

Hooks with power tiles:

BEAUs - BEAUX - BEAUTs - BEAUTY
BIJOUs - BIJOUX
HAJ - HAJIs
HADJ -HADJIs
HAJJ - HAJJIs
HAIKs - HAIKA - HAIKUs
HAMZAs - HAMZAHs
HOOKs - HOOKAs - HOOKY - CHOOKs - SHOOKs
JEU - JEUX
JINs - JINNs - JINNIs - DJINs - DJINNs - DJINNI
JOCKs - JOCKOs
JUGA - AJUGAs - JUGAL
QABALAs - QABALAHs
QUINs - QUINTs - QUINTEs - QUINTAs - QUINTALs
QUIPs - EQUIPs - QUIPUs
XYSTs - XYSTI
ZOEAs - ZOEAE - ZOEAL
ZOIC - AZOIC
ZORIs - ZORILs

Got more unusual hooks? Contribute by commenting to this post. Thanks!

The Letters Q and U

Have you played Bogglebefore? Did you notice that the Q always comes with the letter U? This dynamic duo may seem inseparable but the truth is that the Q is not useless without the U. There are still a lot of words where the Q can stand alone. These are:

FAQIRs
QABALAs
QABALAHs
QADIs
QAIDs
QANATs
QATs
QIs
QINDARs
QINDARKA
QINTARs
QOPHs
QWERTYs
SHEQELs
TRANQs

Try to memorize them if you can. It is important to know these words because in a Scrabble game, there are only 4 U's and 2 blanks. Therefore, the chances of having a Q and a U or a blank in your rack are slim.

It is also beneficial to familiarize the words where the letter U doesn't come right after the letter Q. Take these for example:

BUQSHAs
QIVIUTs
UMIAQs
SUQs

Got more words to contribute? Just leave a comment. Thank you!

Scrabble Rack Management

I have often encountered Scrabble players complaining about their losing streaks and blaming it on bad luck. Perhaps they only need a little help in managing their rack. Although drawing your tiles solely depends on the Tile Fairy (or The Fates, if you prefer), what you do with them is a whole different story. Here are some ways you might want to take note of:

1. The highest score isn't always the best play. You should also consider the tiles that are left behind. For example, if you play PALER, you will be left with two U's in your rack (not a good combination). However, if you play LUAU for a lower score, you'll then have P, E, and R...not bad.

2. Balance your rack. If you have too many vowels, try disposing them if you can. Same goes with consonants. An ideal rack contains 4 consonants and 3 vowels.

3. Retain common letters (A, E, I, N, R, S, or T) or letters that combine well with each other. You may want to save your U if you have a Q in your rack. Or if you are to choose between a V and a C, it might be preferable to retain the C if you have an H in your rack.

4. Avoid duplicates. If you have three N's, you may want to sacrifice a few points to dispose two of them.

5. No fishing. Do not play away one letter at a time in hopes of getting the perfect word. You'll just end up being 100 points behind, or worse, the game will be over before you know it.

6. In a hopeless case, exchange your tiles. If you have W, V, V, C, C, L, and F in your rack, then, boy, have you been cursed by the gods...

Scoring a Bingo

A bingo in Scrabble refers to a play wherein you use all 7 letters in your rack in one turn. Once you score a bingo, you get 50 bonus points aside from your word score. Try using these tips to get that 50-point advantage:

1. Save common letters like A, E, I, N, R, S, T. If you have all of them, then that's great! You can either play STAINER, RETAINS, RETINAS, RETSINA, ANTSIER, or NASTIER...hmm what else did I miss...anyway just read on.

2. Do not waste your blanks. They are useful in making bingos since they can be any letter.

3. Look for prefixes or suffixes. Some examples are RE-, UN-, MIS-, OUT-, -ION, -ER, -ING, -IER, -IEST. If you arrange them first, then you'll be left with lesser tiles to scramble.

Try the following:










Can you spot the bingos?

4. Rearrange your tiles. It's more difficult to look for a bingo if you just stare at your rack.

For more Bingo tips, Click Here!

Look Out for Premium Squares

Premium squares are the colored squares in a Scrabble game board. These are the double-letter squares (light blue), triple-letter squares (dark blue), double-word squares (pink), triple-word squares (dark red). They function as their name implies. You should keep an eye on these premium squares since they can boost your word score and give you a higher point advantage. Placing power tiles in premium squares in both directions or combining two premium squares can even outscore a bingo. So if your opponent scores a bingo, give him a great comeback using these premium squares. Ha ya! Take that!