What is Scrabble?

Scrabble is essentially a word game which can be played by 2-4 players at a given time on a board which comprises a grid of squares in a 15 X 15 format. The squares are assigned different scoring attributes. There are 100 tiles to draw from and players must draw 7 tiles initially and maintain the same number on their racks till they are exhausted. Each tile has a point value attached to it. If all 7 tiles are used in a word an additional 50 points is added to the players score. The goal is to win by scoring more than your opponent. Scrabble is now increasingly played competitively across several countries on the globe and in several languages.

Featured post

Scrabble Word Study Tools

 My colleague Ishika takes you through some useful tools for word study namely Zyzzyva, Aerolith, and Anagram Quizzer. I chip in on my favor...

Saturday 14 January 2017

Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament 2017 - Day 3

The second major of the year the Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament has reached its climax and this time around it is know different Nigel is running away from the field and all set to win his 7th straight title. Here are some game boards:

The first one is a terrific play from Thatcha:

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 25

Next my board of the day:

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 26

Here are some more game boards:

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 27

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 28

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 29

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 30

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 31

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 32

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 33

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 34

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 35

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 36

Here are the standings from the Scrabble Association of India:

Division A Round 28 Standings

Rank Won-Lost Spread Player                Last Game

1 24–4 +1863 Nigel Richards (A1) 1W:397-393:A3
2 21–7 +1642 Hubert Wee (A2)         1W:583-343:A4
3 19½–8½ +962 Pichai Limprasert (A3) 2L:393-397:A1
4 17–11 +1116 Sherwin Rodrigues (A5) 1W:443-322:A6
5 17–11 +979 Thacha Koowirat (A4) 2L:343-583:A2
6 17–11 +366 Nakul Prabhu (A14) 1W:418-396:A7
7 17–11 +347 Udayan Grover (A7) 2L:396-418:A14
8 16–12 +783 Akshay Bhandarkar (A6) 2L:322-443:A5
9 16–12 −414 Jayaska Baranage (A17) 2W:407-394:A8
10 15–13 +453 Rajveer Rawlin (A31) 2W:478-383:A29
11 15–13 +367 Tony Sim (A11)        2L:308-416:A9
12 15–13 +341 Lakshan Wanniarachchi (A9) 1W:416-308:A11
13 15–13 +126 Carolann Pais (A25) 1W:455-354:A24
14 15–13 −66         Mohan Chunkath (A10) 2W:426-353:A35
15 14–14 +1003 Varisht Hingorani (A13) 2W:576-394:A28
16 14–14 +390 Charles Carneiro (A21) 2W:433-391:A20
17 14–14 +349 Marlon Prudencio (A8) 1L:394-407:A17
18 14–14 −62         Indunil Amarasinghe (A24) 2L:354-455:A25
19 14–14 −314 Suthiraphan Assarat (A28) 1L:394-576:A13
20 14–14 −351 Jose de Abreu (A19) 1W:412-408:A22
21 14–14 −454 Michael Tang (A16) 1W:527-406:A32
22 13–15 +35         Pramit Kamath (A29) 1L:383-478:A31
23 13–15 −473 Karen Richards (A23) 2W:461-389:A18
24 13–15 −653 Aditya Iyengar (A35) 1L:353-426:A10
25 12½–15½−204 Douglas Lobo (A20) 1L:391-433:A21
26 12–16 +169 Shaikh Ahmed (A30) 2L:321-326:A12
27 12–16 −162 Sanjoy Gupta (A22) 2L:408-412:A19
28 12–16 −629 Mohsin Ahmed (A26) 2W:420-413:A33
29 12–16 −641 Eric Kinderman (A12) 1W:326-321:A30
30 12–16 −1201 Paul Richards (A32) 2L:406-527:A16
31 11–17 −1014 Mazher Qureshi (A27) bye
32 11–17 −1069 V Ramachandran (A34) 1W:392-363:A36
33 10–18 −16         Shaila Amalean (A18) 1L:389-461:A23
34 9–19 −735 Bhushan Pradhan (A33) 1L:413-420:A26
35 5–23 −1792 Rohaina Tanveer (A36) 2L:363-392:A34

Friday 13 January 2017

Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament 2017 - Day 2

The second major of the year the Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament has reached the half way mark. Here are some game boards:

First Retinas from a 6 year old Madhav Kamath in the Newbie division:
Capgemini Scrabble 2017 kids

Here are some more game boards:

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 13

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 14

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 15

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 16

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 17

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 18

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 19

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 20

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 21

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 22

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 23

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 24

Here are the standings from the Scrabble Association of India:

Rank Won-Lost Spread Player Last Game Next Game
1 16–3 +1283 Nigel Richards (A1) 1W:559-452:A8 2nd vs. A3 @1
2 15½–3½ +920 Pichai Limprasert (A3) 2W:486-327:A21 1st vs. A1 @1
3 15–4 +1227 Hubert Wee (A2) 1W:417-379:A6 2nd vs. A14 @2
4 13–6 +671 Nakul Prabhu (A14) 1W:473-382:A28 1st vs. A2 @2
5 12–7 +1063 Varisht Hingorani (A13) 1W:506-427:A35 2nd vs. A5 @3
6 12–7 +827 Thacha Koowirat (A4) 2W:562-319:A20 2nd vs. A7 @4
7 12–7 +783 Sherwin Rodrigues (A5) 2W:437-379:A10 1st vs. A13 @3
8 12–7 +481 Udayan Grover (A7) 2L:286-643:A11 1st vs. A4 @4
9 11–8 +501 Tony Sim (A11) 1W:643-286:A7 2nd vs. A17 @5
10 11–8 −365 Jayaska Baranage (A17) 2W:468-347:A32 1st vs. A11 @5
11 10–9 +69 Lakshan Wanniarachchi (A9) 1W:460-351:A36 1st vs. A16 @11
12 10–9 +47 Suthiraphan Assarat (A28) 2L:382-473:A14 2nd vs. A35 @6
13 10–9 −121 Aditya Iyengar (A35) 2L:427-506:A13 1st vs. A28 @6
14 10–9 −556 Michael Tang (A16) 1W:430-365:A33 2nd vs. A9 @11
15 9½–9½ −345 Jose de Abreu (A19) 1W:430-364:A27 2nd vs. A20 @8
16 9–10 +421 Pramit Kamath (A29) 1W:465-291:A26 2nd vs. A8 @7
17 9–10 +398 Akshay Bhandarkar (A6) 2L:379-417:A2 1st vs. A22 @10
18 9–10 +249 Charles Carneiro (A21) 1L:327-486:A3 2nd vs. A10 @9
19 9–10 +116 Shaikh Ahmed (A30) 2W:508-329:A34 1st vs. A24 @12
20 9–10 +75 Marlon Prudencio (A8) 2L:452-559:A1 1st vs. A29 @7
21 9–10 +4 Sanjoy Gupta (A22) 1W:400-389:A31 2nd vs. A6 @10
22 9–10 −22 Indunil Amarasinghe (A24) 2W:379-368:A18 2nd vs. A30 @12
23 9–10 −234 Mohan Chunkath (A10) 1L:379-437:A5 1st vs. A21 @9
24 9–10 −248 Douglas Lobo (A20) 1L:319-562:A4 1st vs. A19 @8
25 8–11 −164 Rajveer Rawlin (A31) 2L:389-400:A22 1st vs. A25 @13
26 8–11 −192 Carolann Pais (A25) 2W:483-410:A23 2nd vs. A31 @13
27 8–11 −435 Irineu Gonsalves (A15) 1W:421-419:A12 2nd vs. A27 @15
28 8–11 −686 Eric Kinderman (A12) 2L:419-421:A15 1st vs. A32 @14
29 8–11 −709 Paul Richards (A32) 1L:347-468:A17 2nd vs. A12 @14
30 8–11 −714 Mazher Qureshi (A27) 2L:364-430:A19 1st vs. A15 @15
31 7–12 −955 V Ramachandran (A34) 1L:329-508:A30 2nd vs. A26 @16
32 6–13 −516 Bhushan Pradhan (A33) 2L:365-430:A16 1st vs. A23 @17
33 6–13 −700 Mohsin Ahmed (A26) 2L:291-465:A29 1st vs. A34 @16
34 6–13 −851 Karen Richards (A23) 1L:410-483:A25 2nd vs. A33 @17
35 5–14 −143 Shaila Amalean (A18) 1L:368-379:A24 2nd vs. A36 @18
36 4–15 −1179 Rohaina Tanveer (A36) 2L:351-460:A9 1st vs. A18 @18

Thursday 12 January 2017

Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament 2017 - Day 1

The second major of the year the Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament has kicked off. Here are some game boards:

The first one features a rare 150 point comeback for me to win by 80 points against Singapore maestro Marlon. The notable play hooking bravo onto adwares for 75 plus 5:

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 1

Here are more game boards:

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 2

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 3

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 4

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 5

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 6

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 7

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 8

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 9

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 10

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 11

Capgemini Scrabble 2017 12

Here are the top 30 after day 1:
Capgemini Scrabble 2017 day 1

Sunday 8 January 2017

Bangalore Scrabble Club Team Tournament - Formidables Win

The Bangalore Scrabble Club team tournament has concluded. Team Formidables proved too formidable in the end edging out team Camelias to capture the title. Here are the final standings:

1)
FORMIDABLES

WINS


LOSSES


SPREAD
MANJU1822199
DIPANKAR128995
HEMANTH146652
CHRIS911-810
RACHEL5.514.5-1469
TOTAL58.541.51567

2)
CAMELIAS
WINS

LOSSES

SPREAD
MOHSIN1461476
CECIL1641702
SARAS911-331
ARVIND911-831
MOHAMMED8.011.0475
TOTAL56432491

3) 
THE RACK
 STARS


WINS


LOSSES


SPREAD
SANJOY2002466
SHANKAR1010-245
AUBREY713-315
SUSHANTO713-885
DEEPA217-1773
TOTAL4653-752

4)
STINGERS

WINS


LOSSES


SPREAD
NUPUR9.510.5-47
RADHIKA811-180
YASH137566
VIDYA713-402
GAUTHAM612-786
TOTAL43.553.5-849

5)

CZARSWINSLOSSESSPREAD
LENNIE128408
NALINI137885
HARSH812-1256
NEELAM8.011.0288
SUCHINDRA117-2782
TOTAL4255
-2457

Thursday 5 January 2017

Scrabble Puzzle -1

Can you spot the high scoring scrabble plays here? See solution in the discussion forum below:

scrabble puzzle -1

Sunday 11 December 2016

Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament 2017

Here are the details of the upcoming Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament scheduled for January 2017 from the Scrabble Association of India:

Capgemini International Scrabble Tournament 2017

Venue: Capgemini campus,Whitefield, Bangalore, India

Date: January 12, 13, 14 & 15, 2017


Divisions:
No of Divisions:3
Division A: Premier Division, WESPA Rating 1500 and above, Lower rated players may also opt to play in the premier division
Division B: WESPA rating 1499 and below
Division C: For Newbies

Format: 
A minimum of 35 games of 50 minutes each will be played over four days. 
Word source will be the latest Collins Scrabble Tournament and Club Word List 2015. 
Challenge: 5-point penalty per word, the player does not lose turn.

Registration Fee:
Division A: 100$
Division B: 50$
Division C: 15$
Late Registration: Entries sent in after January 1, 2017, will have to pay Rs.500 extra.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided on all four days of the tournament.
Contact: Radhika Mahalingaiah - spica57@yahoo.com 
NYTS Fall. 468x90 
Accommodation:
Discounted Accommodation is available for participants at the following hotels:

1) MGM Mark Hotel Whitefield Bangalore
Reservations: reservations@mgmmarkwhitefield.com 

2) Ginger Bangalore - Whitefield
Reservations:   www.gingerhotels.com

3) The Park Residency
Reservations: theparkresidency@gmail.com

4) Lemon Tree Hotel, Whitefield
Reservations: reservations@lemontreehotels.com

Prize Money:

Total Prize Money over $16,000
Here is the indicative list of participants for the Premier Division:

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Different Words Same Meaning

Citolas, Citoles, Cithrens, Citherns, Cithers, Citterns - A Guitar
Waivode, Waiwode, Woiwode, Voivode - An army leader
Cagouls, Cagoules, Kagouls, Kagoules, Kagools - An anorak
Eulachan, Eulachon, Oulachon, Oulakan, Oolakan, Ulikon - A candlefish
Kiester, Keister, Hurdies, Patootie - The Buttocks
Didakei, didakai, Diddicoy, Didicoi, Didicoy - A Tinker
Cabala, Cabbala, Kabala, Kabbala, Kabbalah, Qabala, Qabalah - a Jewish doctrine
Yoghurt, Yaourt, Yogurt, Yoghourt - A type of curd
Narwal, Narwhal, Narwhale - An Arctic aquatic mammal
Lekythus, Lecythus, Lekythos - An ancient oil Jar
Germen, Germain, Germaine, Germin - Something that serves as an origin
Filemot, Philomot, Philamot - A dull brown shade
keblah, Kibla, Kiblah, Qibla - The direction muslims face while praying
Litchi, Lichi, Lychee, Lichee - A fruit
Poursue, Pursue, Persue, Poursew Pursew - To follow
Pummelo, Shaddock, Pompelo - A citrus fruit
Repreeve, Reprive, Repryve - To delay
Baklava, Baklawa, Baclava - A middle eastern desert
Nilgai, Nilgau, Nilghai, Nilghau, Nylghai, Nylghau - a large antelope
Cassina, Cassene, Cassine, Cassena - an evergreen tree
Narghile, Narghily, Nargile, Nargileh, Nargily - a hookah
Dirdam, Dirdum, Durdum - uproar
Shechita, Shehitah, Shehita - krosher killing of animals
Mezuzot, Mezuzoth, Mezuzah, Mezuza - a Jewish scroll

Combo Words of Two Words that are Good Both Ways

Bedrail - Railbed
Dovering - Ringdove
Hangover - Overhang
Turnover - Overturn
Runover - Overrun
Roadside - Sideroad
Outburn - Burnout
Woodworm - Wormwood
Linecut - Cutline
Outpass - Passout
Outspeak - Speakout
Comedown - Downcome
Upclose - Closeup
Outback - Backout
Pinhead - Headpin
Mateship - Shipmate
Cutover - Overcut
Upstart - Startup
Outshoot - Shootout
Overwing - Wingover
Fantail - Tailfan

Common Words with Not so common Anagrams

Tailors - Oralist, Rialtos, Sliotar
Almonds - Dolmans
Mustard - Durmast
Stadium - Dumaist
Romance - Cremona
Cauldron - Crunodal
Acolyte - Cotylae
Cilantro - Contrail
Decagon - Congaed
Ethical - Alethic
Strongly - Strongyl
Ungrazed - Gazunder
Expires - Prexies
Detangle - Danegelt
Teardown - Danewort
Erasions - Sensoria
Innovate - Venation
Inundate - Antidune
Invocate - Conative
Antidote - Tetanoid
Liaises - Silesia
Coalise - Celosia
Isotherm - Moithers
Heroism - Moreish
Sedation - Astonied
Marries - Simarre
Tsunami - Manitus, Santimu
Cheerio - Echoier


Those Handy Pyramid Words!

Pyramid words are words which start at 2 letters but can be extended to 7 letters and beyond. For example take the word loofahs, we start with lo, next we get to loo, followed by loof, loofa, loofah and loofahs. Thus by knowing loofahs we get to know a total of 6 words. Other examples include:
Abasers, Amenders, Amusers, Barbers, Bingers, Chained,
Chiasmal, Daledhs, Divests, Erasers, Fasties, Godsons, Hookahs, Jambees, Jamboks, Kaingas, Kinases, Lapsers, Maliced, Mentors, Nursery, Parkiest, Poleyns, Reeders, Reposes, Singers, Skaters,Tapetis, Teasers, Ureases, and Woosells.

There are some reverse pyramid words too. Take the word drooped for example, we start with ed, then ped, then oped, then ooped, rooped and finally drooped.Other examples include:
Aemules, Afeared, Borates, Cleared, Demures, Escapes, Glaired, Hamates, Lemures, Mananas, Penates, Retapes, Scraped, Testates, Upreach, Vacates, Whooped, Yslaked and Zananas.