Best Scrabble Tips for Beginners and Experts

Whether you are playing your first game or looking to improve your competitive rating, these Scrabble tips will immediately change how you approach the board.

Memorize Q-Without-U Words

The Q tile is worth 10 points but can be a burden if you never draw a U. Words like QI, QOPH, QANAT, and QIGONG let you play the Q without needing a U. These words are rare enough that most opponents will not challenge them.

Play Parallel Words

Instead of placing a word in isolation, try laying it parallel to an existing word so that each pair of touching letters forms a valid two-letter word. This can turn a 15-point play into a 40-point play without using any bonus squares.

Save Blank Tiles for Bingos

Blank tiles are the most valuable tiles in Scrabble. Using a blank to score 8 extra points is rarely worth it. Save blanks until you can form a seven-letter bingo word for the 50-point bonus.

Key Two-Letter Words to Know

• QI — the only two-letter Q word; worth 11 points minimum.
• ZA — slang for pizza; the easiest Z play in tight spaces.
• JO — a sweetheart; the only two-letter J word.
• XI — the Greek letter; 9 points for two tiles.
• AX, EX, OX — all valid; X tiles score 8 points.

Use a Word Finder to Build Your Vocabulary

After every game, enter your rack letters into SmartUnscramble and study the highest-scoring words you missed. Reviewing missed plays is the single best way to improve your Scrabble performance over time.