Scrabble Flash Game - The New Scrabble Flash From Hasbro

Have you heard of Scrabble, the most popular word game ever? Would you be interested in playing Scrabble without any game board, whenever and wherever you wish to? If so, let me introduce to the Scrabble Flash Game, an electronic alternative of Scrabble.

The Scrabble Flash Game (also often referred to as Scrabble Flash Cubes or even Boggle Flash Game in countries outside the USA) has been released in early fall 2010 and it comes with a brand new technology that allows the Scrabble Cubes recognise their position to each other. This technology is called "SmartLink" and is one of the reasons why Scrabble Flash is going to be one of the top-selling toys at Christmas 2010.

The Hasbro package contains 5 electronic tiles of a square shape (that's why the game is also called Scrabble Flash Cubes) and each of them has an electronic display that shows a letter from the English alphabet. Batteries are included.

The goal of the game is to form as many English words as possible in a time limit. There are three game modes you can play; In the first game mode, you are supposed to create as many 3-, 4- or 5-letter words as possible within 75 seconds and every time you create a word, the letters on the tiles change to 5 new ones. Whenever you create a word (regardless of length), you receive one point and when you create a 5-letter word, you get additional 5 seconds. When the game's over, the tiles will tell you how many words (=points) you have achieved and how many is maximum possible.

As for the second Scrabble Flash game mode, you are given 75 seconds as well, but this time, you are allowed to spell 5-letter words only. Logically, when you spell a 5-letter word, the letters on the displays change to 5 new ones.

The third type of play is probably the most enjoyable; because it can be played with as many people as you want, literally. However, you are allowed to form 5-letter words only (likewise in game mode 2). You are given a short time to do so and when you successfully create a word, the tiles will say "Next" and you pass the Scrabble Flash Cubes to the player sitting next to you. But if you fail to spell a 5-letter word within the time limit, the tiles will say "Out" and that means you have been eliminated. I find this game mode the best and after some time the game gets hectic, as the time limit decreases with each new word created.

In the conclusion, I can highly recommend the Hasbro Scrabble Flash and give it 9/10 stars. It is a perfect toy to play on the go and it gets even more amusing when played in a bigger number of players.

If you would like to get more information on Scrabble Flash, I recommend visiting scrabbleflashgame.net, where you will certainly get all info you need. I addition, they offer there the best price on this Hasbro toy. Don't forget, Scrabble Flash is considered to be one of the best Christmas gifts for 2010.

Scrabble Blast

Scrabble Blast is an online word game you can download and play. Scrabble Blast requires you to race against a clock, so it has elements of video games like Space Invaders or Tetris. Players find words, while the game screen speeds up ever faster. Accumulate points to prove your vocabulary and spelling skills.

At first glance, the game screen looks a lot like a Scrabble board, except a game board that's filled up with letters. You have to find word patterns amidst these random looking word sequences, building words like you would in a regular game of Scrabble, except you can create words diagonally. That might take some getting used to, for you Scrabble purists.

The Bomb Challenge

The twist with a game of Scrabble Blast is you're playing against a timer. Every so often, a bomb square appears at the top of the screen. As the game progresses, these squares shift down the board. Like in Checkers, if one ever reaches the other side of the board, bad things happen (you lose).

Luckily, you can eliminate bomb icons by building a word over the bomb. When you do, you hear an explosion and see the icon disappear. The game goes faster, until you can no longer hold back the inevitable bomb that gets through. Winning a game of Scrabble Blast is about attaining the highest score, so you're pitting yourself against all other players. There are two versions of the bomb game: Puzzle Mode and Action Mode.

Blasted Word Games

Scrabble Blast is therefore a competition for finding already existing words amidst a jumble of letter icons, instead of building words from letter tiles. This means the challenge might not appeal to every word game aficionado.

At the same time, those who enjoy video games can brush up on their word skills and spelling ability, so those who don't like when their favorite games are changed shouldn't get too upset. Scrabble, in general, is a good way for the younger generation to increase their spelling ability, and the online "Blast" is tailored for those who like online games. For those who visit online forums and message boards, you know that can't be a bad thing.

1 Bag Scrabble Mode

Playing Scrabble Blast includes other word game variations, such as the "1 Bag Mode". 1-Bag gives you 100 letter tiles and challenges you to build as many words as possible. This is more like the word game you grew up playing, so old-timers are more likely to find enjoyment with this option.

Learn how to play an online Scrabble variant called Scrabble Blast. The Scrabble Blast article is just one example of our comprehensive coverage of everybody's favorite word game at Scrabble Pages.

Scrabble Dictionary

If you're playing the 1991 edition or the 1978 original, you're way behind the times for Scrabble-playing. With a library of more than 100,000 two to eight-letter words, they have given validation to some interesting words not formerly allowed. While this was going on, the words they deemed distasteful or no longer acceptable have been removed. Why subscribe to the Scrabble dictionary's unpredictable dictionary? Well, it stops the quarrel of which lexicon to use, and the primary reason is that it's the victor's dictionary, and why play Scrabble if not to be the victor? Commit to memory those two and three lettered words, and your Scrabble game develops into a lethal weapon.

The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 3rd edition (OSPD3) is more for assistance in finding the list of words that are suitable for Scrabble than for use as a dictionary. The word list is modernized from the second edition to the third and the third omits offensive words. This makes this edition safe to use with the kids. If you have no problem with distasteful words being eliminated from your cache of words you use for Scrabble, then this is the edition for you.

For those who want a Scrabble dictionary that is appropriate for school or families with kids, you should get the Scrabble Dictionary OSPD3. This dictionary has the definitions. The official word lists can be found in a collegiate dictionary or a word list that is posted online.

Scrabble has a long history in the dining rooms of many families around the world. Scrabble is often where kids learn to spell words they normally do not come across in everyday language. The expansion of vocabulary is made fun for the kids and they begin the journey into the world of literature through the words they become familiar with as they play the game. These different editions allow the players of all ages and of tastes to experience the game at the level they are comfortable with.

In true review of these lexicons, each has their purpose and they are useful for their purpose. Using a lexicon that is previously agreed upon for experienced players is also okay, but in the end the original editions are often the best. When the game of Scrabble is taken to an international competition level it becomes a different story all together. Just as an informal game of chess would be played with less stringent rules than a true competition, there need to be rules and lexicons in place that everyone agrees upon to base the rules and guidelines in place for there to be a fair competition. The home game should be informal enough to encourage individuals to seek out a wide variety of sources for their word lists and give kids the freedom to explore different words, meanings, and applications of the basis for language.

Purchase the software or go online for the free stuff, but when competing at home or online, be sure that everyone is on the same "page" with the Scrabble dictionary that will be used or the word lists. Let's be fair. After all, there is no true competition if the playing ground is not even. Scrabble is one of the greatest games ever invented, and it is encouraging to see that there are people who are trying to improve the game and make it more competitive.

Mike has been writing articles for over a year now. His latest website gives reviews on Scrabble Blast. Here is his website... http://www.scrabbleblast.org When you get a minute come and see it.

Scrabble Basics - Advancing From Picking Tiles to Sticking Bingos

The Basics of Playing Scrabble

Scrabble is a simple game to play because all that is needed are the tiled letters, a board, and a little bit of knowledge about words. The rules are simple. Select a certain number of letters, arrange them to form the best combination for the highest score, and place them on the board beginning at a predetermined spot.

The distribution of letters is set: [100 Scrabble; 200 Super Scrabble]

Super Scrabble: A-16 B-4 C-6 D-8 E-24 F-4 G-5 H-5 I-13 J-2 K-2 L-7 M-6

N-13 O-15 P-4 Q-2 R-13 S-10 T-15 U-7 V-3 W-4 X-2 Y-4 Z-2

BLANKS-4

Regular Scrabble has about half of each of these distributions. Since I am using the Super Scrabble version, I will refer to those numbers.

Draw letters and make words from those letters, if it is possible. There are 75 vowels and 4 blanks as well as 4 semi-vowels (Y). The chance of drawing at least one vowel or vowel equivalent is 83/200 or better than 40 percent. Therefore, the probability of making some word is fairly likely. Of course, if you defy the odds and draw KWQZTRRVM, you may have to forego the first move and hope your opponent puts something to play on. Or, you may opt for changing letters (any or all) and allow your opponent the first move.

Let's assume you draw ABCDEFGH and I; the chance of that is virtually unfathomable, but for the sake of argument, what words can be made from that combination?

15 points: chafed

14 points: bached, bighead

13 points: biface, chafe, chief, fiche

12 points: beach, chef

11 points: ached, bach, chide, decaf, faced

10 points: cebid, chad, chid, fadge, fidge

9 points: ache, badge, cadge, cafe, caged, ceiba, chai, chia, debag, each, face, feh, fice, gibed

8 points: abide, ahed, bah, bice, chi, deaf, defi, fab, fade, fib, hade, haed, head, hic, hide, hied, ich

7 points: abed, aced, acid, bade, bead, bide, cab, cade, cadi, cage, caid, cedi, dace, dah, def, dice, dif, edh, fad, fag, fed, fid, fig, ghi, gibe, had, hag, hid, iced

6 points: aged, ahi, bad, bag, bed, beg, bid, big, cad, cig, dab, deb, dib, egad, fie, gab, gadi, gaed, gib, gied, hae, hie

5 points: ace, ah, aide, dag, dig, ef, eh, fa, fe, gad, ged, gid, ha, he, hi, ice, idea, if

4 points: age, aid, ba, be, bi, dei, die, gae, gie

3 points: ad, ag, da, de, id

2 points: ae, ai

All of these are legitimate scrabble words as calculated by A2ZWordfinder.com, a free on-line dictionary and word resource. But notice that there is only one that has seven letters and that is BIGHEAD. Put the B on the double letter and the word is worth 34 points. Add the fifty point bonus for a seven-letter word (called a Bingo) and your first move is worth a healthy 84 points. That is a fine way to start.

More than likely you will draw more randomly distributed letters. But, the same principles apply. Rearrange the letters in all possible ways to construct the best possible word and play it. An average game should entail between 15 to 25 words for each of two players dependent upon the length of the words. Point values can go well above a thousand for each player.

More players will reduce the number of words played by each, but the strategies and alternate possibilities will certainly add more excitement as well as surprises. The main goals remain: have fun and learn well.

Chances Are....

The three variable factors in Scrabble Strategies include luck of the draw, fortune in the position of the bonus squares, and skill in the arrangement of the drawn letters. What percentage is skill and what percentage is luck is an arguable issue. It is my contention that two thirds is luck and one third is skill. If there were any way to perfect the art of drawing letters so that preferred combinations magically appeared, I would grant that a greater amount of skill was involved. As of now, there isn't.

There are 200 tiles with a distribution based on researched analyses of usage in extensive vocabulary occurrences. The rarest incidences include X, Q, and Z. There are two of each of these. The E has the largest number of tiles (24) followed by A (16), T and O (15 each), and I and N (13 each). There are also four blanks which can be any letter at all. The S (10) is helpful in pluralizing and the D (8) assists in the formation of the past tense. The laws of selection are governed by pure and simple probability.

It is possible to select seven tiles at random and come up with a seven letter word. More often, it won't happen, especially for the first word played. The chance of selecting letters that would form a seven-letter word is remotely possible, but the chances of forming any word increases as the number of letters required decreases. Since there are many two and three-letter words possible, it is a high probability that the first player will be able to play. Since the goal is to achieve the highest score, it is unlikely that one player would be satisfied with starting play with BE, or AT, or BUG. However, one might be happy with the double value of ADZ (a chopping tool) for a score of 26 points.

After the first word is played, there are letters on the board that can be a part of a new word by inclusion (using a letter on the board as part of your word) or by addition (adding an S or a D from your word to modify the word on the board.) Picking the letters at random can be an art, but mostly, it comes down to chances are.... I have tried selecting letters at random one at a time and by collecting all seven at one grab. I have theories about the results, but it all still comes down to pure chance. My preference is the handful technique. I have no scientific reasons. It just seems to work better for me. Nothing much can be done about the luck of the draw. You keep what you get or you change it. There is no way to practice the draw. Fate determines what you pick; luck establishes where you put it. Skill enables the construction of the word itself. Having an S or a D for the second word played helps increase point value by enabling greater possible use of an already played word. There is a five percent chance of drawing an S (10/200) and a bit less at four percent for drawing a D (8/200). Save them if you chance upon them. They will help.

The placement of the bonus squares is NOT random, but the design of the patterns is geometric and consistent. The board has 441 squares with a double word square at the centermost position. That is the starting point of the game. Some letter of the first word MUST be on that square. The other bonus squares range from double value letters (36), triple value letters (20), quadruple value letters (8) and four quadruple value words one in each corner. There are also triple value words (16) as well as the ubiquitous double value words (40 in addition to the one at the center of the board). The designs are symmetrical in that each side of the board has the same pattern as seen from the perspective of each of four players.

The skill required for the formation of words hinges on the knowledge base of the individual. However, there are numerous resources available to research possibilities or verify some doubtful creations. Scrabble Word Builder and the Merriam Webster Official Scrabble Dictionary are two. The best resource is an up-to-date version of the OED (Oxford Encyclopedic Dictionary), which is considered to be the most authoritative source. The limitation of the use of resources is determined before play. It is my attitude that the resources are there not to just check on the spelling of some conjured word but to act as an educational tool to learn new as well as unfamiliar words. This may take longer, but the rewards are well worth the wait.

The start of any game is simple. Each player draws a letter from the bag. Whoever has the closest to A begins. Why? Consistency. To let you begin just because it is your birthday may cost you the game if the letters you have could form a word using the letters placed on the board by the one who is supposed to go first by the prescribed rule. On the other hand, if winning is not as important as the social interaction, by all means, be creative in determining who goes first.

The draw is simple. Reach into the bag and take seven tiles. Arrange them on the rack to form the longest possible word. Then put that word on the board horizontally or vertically with any of the letters placed on the center square. Which one? That is up to you. Make the decision based on what may give you the highest points score. But keep in mind that where you place the word determines where all other words will begin and end. Be thoughtful. Anticipate future possibilities. Plan ahead. It may help you win, hone your strategic abilities, and provide greater opportunities for enjoyable ways to learn more and more each time you play.

A Variable Feast

There are variations that can make the game go faster or become more interesting and challenging. All these variations are acceptable as part of the official rules. They are designed to keep high value letters (Q, Z, X) in play as well as to keep the blanks in circulation. For example, QA with the Q on a triple letter can render 62 points with just 2 letters. Likewise, high point values are available with QI and XI or ZA. Being able to substitute the Q in QA with an LA re-circulates the Q so it can be used in other advantageous positions. There are hundreds of two and three letter words that are available by substituting vowels or consonants. Using the substitution variation allows for this to happen. The four variations challenge each player to expand the possibilities and better utilize acquired knowledge to expand the interest and excitement in word play.

The first variation is to expand the number of drawn letters to nine. Having the extra two letters lets the game move faster by using up the total supply more quickly. But more importantly, it opens the availability for more possible words. Making a seven-letter word from a maximum of seven letters is a great enough challenge. To make a seven-letter word from a pool of nine is more than 25% easier. Seven-letter words can be derived from the nine letters and the fifty-point bonus is still applied to any 7, 8, or 9 letter words made.

The second variation allows the blank substitution. When the blank was placed on the board, it had a particular letter assigned to it. If a player, on his turn has the same letter, he may replace the blank with that letter and keep the blank for whatever letter he needs. Caution! The blank must be replaced with the letter it was assigned when it was first put on the board and NOT some other letter that would still make a legitimate word if the blank were not there.

The third variation is the letter substitution. Any letter in any word can be removed and replaced with a letter from a player's rack so long as that letter maintains an acceptable word. Any number of letters can be substituted on any word on the board so long as every change made maintains the continuity of legitimate words and only with single letter substitutions on any one change. There is no limit on the number of substitutions, and all of them precede the placement of the player's eventual word on the board. Any change is completely reversible without affecting the player's turn.

The final variation is the anagram which allows the transposition of letters in an already placed word but requires the addition of a least one letter from the player's rack up to the total number of letters available on the rack. So DEAD can become RETREADED by the addition of RETRE from the rack and the rearrangement of the letters already on the board, DEAD. The only condition is that any words shared by the word already on the board must still remain as legitimate words, even if they are different from what was already there. It is a rare opportunity to utilize extensive creativity. The occasion doesn't often occur, but it is possible.

The following chapters will describe strategies and techniques for maximizing points possible (if winning is important) or maximizing the challenge of beating the board if just having fun with words is the goal.

Scrabble - An Inside Look at One of the Most Popular iPhone Apps

Over the years, Scrabble has been one of the more popular board games for people of all ages. Now you can take your favorite classic Hasbro word game anywhere you go, thanks to the Scrabble app released by Electronic Arts.

Electronic Arts has been in business since 1982. Since that time, the company, commonly known as EA, has developed many popular games for various gaming consoles, personal computers, wireless devices, and the Internet. EA is headquartered in Redwood City, CA and has grown to the point that it employed over 9000 people worldwide in the year 2008. Today, EA is perhaps best known for its sports and action based video games, including the Madden NFL series and the Need for Speed games. The popularity of EA's iPhone apps, such as the Scrabble one, cannot be ignored, however.

Since its release on July 9, 2008, the Scrabble has sold very well in the iTunes store. In fact, the Scrabble application is ranked in the App Store's list of top iPhone applications.

Basic game play is the same as the board game, and the Scrabble iPhone app has many positive points. Users are very pleased with the options for solo play, including the fact that the CPU you play against is actually a challenging opponent and not one that is impossible to beat or far too easily defeated. You can also play alone without a computer opponent. Multiplayer options include pass and play for playing with friends in person, multiplayer Wi-Fi for online play, and even a Facebook app. The clear graphics and ease of play with the Scrabble iPhone app are also praised by users. The low cost of this app only adds to its appeal.

If you enjoy the classic board game of Scrabble, you will definitely love the Scrabble iPhone app. You will be able to enjoy your favorite game and expand your vocabulary everywhere you go. EA has certainly scored a home run with the Scrabble iPhone app, and this app is a must for even the occasional Scrabble player.

Read a more in-depth review of the Scrabble iPhone app here. For more information on popular iPhone applications like Pocket God or to read more reviews of iPhone apps visit AppCraver today. AppCraver is dedicated to iPhone apps, news, reviews and interviews with iPhone application developers.

Play Scrabble Online For Free!

Play Free Scrabble Online Today

One of the World's most beloved games is available now online and you can play for Free! Not only that, you can win some money. Continue reading this article, and I will give you some history on the game of Scrabble, as well as some great information on the natural progression of this game to the internet. Grab a cup of coffee and let me tell you a little about this game...

The History of Scrabble

The game of Scrabble is for word lovers. Points are scored by making words from individual letter tiles. Words can be formed up, down and across on a grid-like game board. The origins of the game go clear back to 1938 when a similar game called Lexiko was invented. In 1948, the manufacturing rights were purchased by James Brunot. He revamped the rules and changed the name to "Scrabble." The game got its big break in 1952 when the president of Macy's, Jack Strauss discovered the game. He decided that everyone should have the game and began to sell such large quantities that Brunot could no longer keep up with the orders. The rights of the game were then sold to Selchow & Righter. The game has changed hands several times but the concept is still the same. Scrabble even became a TV game show in 1984.

Scrabble Board Game Set Up

The game board is made up of a 15-by-15 grid of cells or squares. Each one will accommodate a single letter tile. There are 98 letter tiles ranging in value from 1 to 10 points. Common letters are worth fewer points, whereas harder letters to use such as Z or Q are worth the highest points. There are also 2 blank tiles that can be used to substitute any letter, but they are worth 0 points. Some of the squares on the board are colored differently. The tile that lands on these special cells can cause the points of that word to be doubled or even tripled.

To decide who will get to go first, each player must draw a letter tile. The letter closest to the beginning of the alphabet will go first. Each player then draws seven tiles. During each turn, a player can decide to both pass and forfeit the turn, exchange one or more tiles for an equal number from the leftovers in the bag, or form a word on the board and scoring the accumulative points. The first player starts in the center of the board and words are formed from there. After playing a word, the player draws more letter tiles from the bag to once again have seven tiles on his rack. According to the rules, the game is over when either someone plays all seven of his tiles and there are no more left in the bag, or when six successive scoreless turns have occurred and the score is not zero-zero. The scores are then tallied, but each player must subtract any points remaining on his rack.

Scrabble Goes Online

A fairly recent phenomenon has been born - Free Online Scrabble. A number of sites offer the possibility to play Scrabble online against other users. Many websites have the game available to play free. Some companies have had to change the name slightly to avoid lawsuit from Hasbro and Mattel, the current makers of the game. However, regardless of the controversy, online Scrabble has taken off exponentially. Mattel has its own version of free online Scrabble, as well as The International Scrabble Club, http://www.pogo.com, and hundreds of others. By simply googling Free Online Scrabble, one can bring up over a half a million hits. However, you decide to play, whether it is the old-fashioned way or using the latest of modern technology, you are sure to learn something when playing this game.

Summary

Scrabble has a very interesting history and now people are playing free scrabble online as well...

I'd like to invite you to find out more information on playing free scrabble online at:

Free Scrabble Online

Hi, my name is Scott Smith and I love playing online games and writing about great deals and free stuff you can do on the internet. You can join me in playing games and getting great information on Scrabble, Bejeweled 2, Family Feud, Solitaire, and more, all for free, by visiting:

Free Online Scrabble

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Learning About Free Scrabble Online

There is nothing more entertaining than family competition and one way to do this is to play Free Scrabble Online. If you are familiar with the game, you know that it consists of using lettered tiles and compiling names on a grid. The number of tiles, the letter used and special places on the grid count a certain number of points. This is a great way to have an evening's entertainment with your family, or with an unknown online opponent, with a great deal of excitement when someone wins. With today's high tech advancement this free game is easily found online.

There is quite a history concerning the game, going back to 1938 when Alfred Mosher Butts combined a number of different resources to develop the game. It was in the 1950's before the game actually became a best seller. Through a great deal of exchanges between companies the game finally wound up in the hands of Hasbro, Inc in the U. S. And Canada and Mattel elsewhere.

The game comes four different editions, Standard, Deluxe, Junior and travel. These games are currently being used throughout the world and appear in a number of different languages. It can be played on computers, Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.

There are a number of ways to pay Scrabble on line. Some are official and some are unofficial sites. There are also different versions available which offer different levels of ability. There are also Scrabble-like crossword games which crossword buffs particularly enjoy. This offers a great opportunity for you and/or family members to select a level that is most comfortable to play.

There are versions of the game for residents of the U. S., Canada and other countries. These games can be found on Facebook. Some regular, online sites offer a number of Scrabble versions, some of which are played online and some of which can be downloaded.

The game has been found to be an excellent incentive for teens who like to compete against their parents. It enhances their vocabulary, as well as their concentration powers. Everyone likes to win when playing against others and this is a a chance for you to not only learn new words but show others how to cleverly maneuver letters, and moves, to rack up the most points.

The great thing about Scrabble online is that you can play with the entire family, friends or just against the computer. The excitement builds just as much as if one had the game on the dining room table. Being able to beat the opponent, or opponents, gives a great feeling of accomplishment when declared the winner.

Competition, in free Scrabble online or other games, keeps the family interested and allows a sense of companionship that is so often lost these days. Having your family, gathered together, enjoying a friendly atmosphere, will keep a spirit of togetherness that is so often lost in today's world of outside activities. It is times like this that build a family tradition that will be remembered for many years to come.

Learn more about how and where to play free Scrabble online now in our comprehensive online guide to scrabble on http://freescrabbleonlines.com/

If You Thought Scrabble Was a Word Game, Think Again

Scrabble is commonly cited as being the world's most popular word game. Truly, Scrabble is a popular board game played throughout the world on kitchen tables and in a thriving international tournament scene. Is it, however, accurate to describe Scrabble as a word game?

At face value, a bag of one hundred letter tiles with each player having racks of seven letters at a time from which to form words and place on the board, it may appear to be a word game. On a closer examination, one must question that common assumption.

If Scrabble was truly a word game, one could expect that the most expert players would be those players with the best linguistic skills. These would include authors, journalists, language professors and similar professions. The reality tells a different story. These occupations are a rarity amongst Scrabble players at the top of the international competitive ranks.

If you were to survey the participants at any of the biennial World Scrabble Championships, you would discover a very significant proportion of these elite level Scrabble players come from mathematics, actuarial, accounting, architectural and engineering occupations. These professions reflect the strategic skills, the critical and strategic thinking skills and the mathematical and statistical skills that marks the difference between a winner and loser in Scrabble, or the difference between a masters level competitor and an intermediate or novice player.

Vocabulary is far less important than one might initially imagine in a Scrabble game. Whilst obviously vocabulary plays an important, in fact essential, role in the game, vocabulary alone won't win many Scrabble games. You could liken it a little to war. In a battle, one side may have a majority of the weapons and even a larger army, though without a solid strategic battle plan the war is all but over before it even begins. Without a strong battle plan, the biggest army with the most weapons will not defeat their opposition.

On the Scrabble board, strategic decisions are made with every move. You may have a great word ready to play, but which is the best position on the board to play it? There will often be multiple positions where a word could be played. Rapid mental calculations need to be made as to which position will produce the highest score. Even then, it may not always be wise to play in the highest scoring position if, for example, it opens up a triple-triple bonus scoring opportunity to your opponent. Settling for a different position on the board for a lower score may sometimes be the better strategic decision.

Likewise, the strategic player considers the balance between vowels and consonants in the rack. It is often the wise choice to play a small scoring word and maintain a well balanced rack than to go for a higher scoring word that leaves you with no vowels at all for your next move.

The strategic player will also consider the statistical probabilities of drawing good tiles from the Scrabble letter bag. Playing away a single tile from your rack in the hope of picking up the Q is generally unwise due to the low probability of actually picking out that Q. The same play for the purposes of picking up a far more common letter that you need to form your next bonus word, such as an E, can more often be rewarding.

To further reinforce the case that Scrabble isn't primarily a word game, a look at some of the recent victors in international tournaments tells a vivid story. A growing trend is for competitors from countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, where English is not even the primary language, to walk away with the tournament trophies. What these competitors may lack in terms of every day English language vocabulary, they more than compensate with their strategic, mathematical, statistical and logic skills.

Trevor Johnson is the author of the "Scrabble Bonus Word Techniques" ebook series - available at Your Scrabble Dictionary Accessory.

(Scrabble is a registered trade mark of Hasbro Inc in the USA and Canada, and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited (a subsidiary of Mattel Inc.) of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. Hasbro is not affiliated with J.W. Spear & Sons Limited or Mattel Inc.)

Hasbro Scrabble Flash Game - Think Quickly!

Great news for all fans of Scrabble, the well-known game for wordsmiths; Hasbro decided to produce an electronic version of Scrabble, they call it Scrabble Flash Game and it was released in fall 2010. Because of all its great features and functions (see below), Hasbro Scrabble Flash is a great Christmas gift idea for 2010.

For a retail price of about $30, it is an affordable toy and though it might seem a little bit pricey, the price is great if you take into consideration that Scrabble Flash comes with a brand new technology called SmartLink. The Scrabble Flash package contains 5 electronic tiles that has a square shape (that's why the game is often called "Scrabble Flash Cubes"), instructions and a small plastic case, which is perfect to store the tiles in (it has a nice design and is very handy to store whole game to play on the move). Batteries that are essential to run the game are include.

Each of the five tiles has a small display. When you turn the game on, each of the displays will show a letter from the English alphabet. The goal of the game is to order these 5 letters to create a 3-, 4- or 5-letter English word. When you line the tiles up, they will recognise their position to one another. There are three game modes. Let's review the game modes in more detail:

1. The first game mode is called simply Scrabble Flash and you are supposed to spell as many 3-5-letter words as possible within 75 seconds. Regardless of length, when you create a word, you will get 1 point. In addition, when you create a 5-letter word, you will be given additional 5 seconds. When the time is over, the tiles will tell you how many points you have got and how many points it is possible to get maximum.

2. The second game type is called Scrabble Five Letter Flash. From the name, it is obvious that you will be forming 5-letter words and again, you have only 75 seconds to act. Unlike the first game mode, here you will get no additional time when you create a word, but you do create one, the letters on each display will change to 5 new ones.

3. The third mode's name is Scrabble Pass Flash and this is probably the most enjoyable game. Here you don't play on your own, but with your friends and there is no upper limit of players. You have a short amount of time to spell a 5-letter word and when you spell one, the tiles will say "next" and you should pass the Scrabble Flash Cubes to another player. On the other hand, when you fail to form a word, the tiles will say "out" meaning you have been eliminated out of the game.

The Scrabble Flash Game is perfect to play on the go (while you are travelling by tram, bus or waiting for food at a restaurant). You don't have to waste your time by doing nothing, instead, you can develop you fantasy and the quickness of thinking.

To buy Scrabble Flash, I would recommend visiting scrabbleflashgame.net, as they offer a discounted price on the toy. Please note that Scrabble Flash Game is one of the top Christmas gifts for 2010 and therefore can get sold out at any moment.

Children and Scrabble: The Perfect Match

Scrabble was a tradition in my family. From the time I could barely see the board from my vantage point at the edge of the table, I witnessed the subtle strategies used by my older brother and sisters at play. I dreamed of the day I was old enough to play--how I'd dazzle them all with my victory! But that day was long in coming. If there's any game that makes kids feel left out, it's Scrabble. Because it requires reading, spelling, and vocabulary skills, many parents think Scrabble isn't for the very young. Think again! Parents these days can easily introduce the game to a child as young as four or five years old. With a little time and effort, they can help children even develop advanced skills that many adults don't know.

After the Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary, the best Scrabble tool introduced by Hasbro in recent years is the Scrabble Junior Edition. This by far is the best way to introduce Scrabble to your four year old. Play resembles regular Scrabble, getting children accustomed to the flow of the game. First, children draw seven tiles from the pool. In turns they lay down tiles from their racks to match the letters on the board. Letter by letter they eventually spell out entire words, winning points. By game's end, they will have used over a hundred tiles to work a variety of different words. Few preschool teachers could match that for reading practice!

Children who have mastered this simplified version can then "graduate" to the next level of play by flipping the game board over to reveal another basic version of the classic Scrabble game. Using this board and modified scoring rules, children progress in difficulty and skill level.

By eight years old, most children will be ready for regular Scrabble. Don't get caught up in talking rules and strategy at first. Just jump right in and let your child experience the game for him or herself. Even better, you might play an opponent as a team, allowing the child to suggest plays and explaining tactics as the game goes on. Even if it's not the best play, use your child's suggestions occasionally so that he or she feels like a valuable member of the team and experiences first-hand the triumph or failure of a move. Having a teammate to share the disappointment will help when moves aren't successful, or when the child doesn't win.

Particularly in their early years, allow children to use a dictionary while playing. One rule variation used in my home while growing up was that players were allowed to "browse" the dictionary for word options as long as it wasn't their turn. This way, young players didn't get bored waiting for their turns, while they acquired a great learning skill! Dictionaries are a terrific safety net and their use can help children broaden their vocabulary base.

Outside actual play there are a few games you can teach that will help children sharpen their Scrabble skills. Using the Scrabble tiles, have your child spell out his or her name. Add up the score. Then spell out the other names of friends and family members, cities, states, countries, or other favorite words, adding and comparing the scores of each. Play for fun, taking off the competitive edge, and allow the child to explore the value of different word options.

Few skills are more important than anagramming to a Scrabble novice, and this is a skill you may want to explain as your child progresses. Give them a word and a time limit, and challenge them to find five, ten, twenty, or even more words using only the letters given. As they improve, encourage them to find lengthier options, maybe even offering a reward for using all the letters. I've used this game frequently in the elementary classroom when my class is waiting in line, and I haven't yet found a youngster who doesn't like it. Students especially love comparing their lists. If they've found a word nobody else found (or a word I didn't) it is especially rewarding.

You may be surprised how fast your child picks up on more advanced strategies after introducing Scrabble this way. More importantly, he or she will develop an interest in word play, which is infinitely more valuable than alternative interests in TV and video games. Go ahead, invite your child for a game of Scrabble--it'll be a perfect match!

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Scrabble Blast Download - Old School Enters New Age

Are you one of those people who have been playing games for a long time and remember the days when Tetris and Scrabble used to be the rage amongst the youngsters? Simultaneously, do you wish that you were able to play games like these even now, despite the fact that you are extremely short on time these days? If your answer to both questions is a resounding 'Yes', then the ideal solution for you would be the Scrabble Blast download.

Scrabble Blast is a game that is an ideal hybridization of the age old classics of Scrabble and Tetris. This game can help the purists blend the new age by way of being able to quickly reminisce the old school games of Tetris and Scrabble simultaneously. The game is the perfect way to improve vocabulary and speed for word game buffs of all ages.

Scrabble Blast download is a game that is divided into three segments. These three segments would challenge you in a variety of ways to test and improve your different facets and skills. These variations are nothing but renditions of the basic game. The following are details.

1. The one bag basic mode:

This is the old school way of playing Scrabble. In this mode of the Scrabble Blast download, you would be given 100 tiles from which you have to make as many words as possible. This is a simple mode that would allow you to actually spend a lot of time thinking of the kind of words you want to make, just like you used to when you had a lot of time on your hands.

2. Puzzle numbered bombs mode:

This mode of the Scrabble Blast download adds the property of puzzle into the whole concept of playing Scrabble. Herein, you would be given a board full of numbered bombs which you need to explode. You can explode these bombs by way of making words on the bombs but the length of the words have to correspond to the number written on the bomb. This game is the best method to improve your vocabulary because the variation in bomb numbers would perpetually keep you in a state of deep thought.

3. Action mode:

This is a mode that is probably as fast paced as your life is today. Hence, if you have a life wherein you are always short on time then this mode is the way to go in those little periods of lull. This mode of the Scrabble Blast download requires you to make words to blast bombs that keep coming at you. Gradually, the speed of the entry of the bombs and their numbers increase to make you feel more frantic.

Resultantly, regardless of the frame of mind that you are in, Scrabble Blast download will be able to cater to you without fault. Additionally, Scrabble Blast download would also allow you to compare your scores with other players and find out your standing with respect to other Scrabble and word games buffs. Hence, downloading Scrabble Blast would be one of the more convenient ways to reminisce of times when you used to be tension free.

Mike has been writing articles for over a year now. His latest website gives reviews on Scrabble Blast. Here is his website... http://www.scrabbleblast.org When you get a minute come and see it.

Scrabble Flash Cubes

Do you or your kids love playing word games? Then the new Scrabble Flash Cubes will definitely be the game to have fun with family and friends this Christmas season.

The Scrabble Flash Cubes are an excellent and very impressive makeover of the classic longtime favorite Hasbro Scrabble board game.

So what exactly has Hasbro improved? Forget the classic board game and step into the future. Hasbro has managed to design an electronic Scrabble game, which you can play wherever you are. Five electronic letter tiles allow you to swap, slide and shuffle letters your way to win.

How does it work? You have to use the word tiles to create words. The tiles will recognize whenever you have created a word and give a signal tone and flash. These tiles can actually read each other's letters. This is really amazing! The Scrabble Flash Cubes have three game possibilities for group or single player mode:


1. Make as many words as possible in 75 seconds. Every five-letter word you create gives you an extra five seconds to play.
2. Find one five-letter word and then receive five new letters and try to spell as many words as possible in 75 seconds.
3. Pass the tiles around to players trying to find a five-letter word in 75 seconds. If a five letter-word has been found, pass the tiles and new letters will come up to play with. If a shorter word has been found the same letters pass to the next player and if no word is found at all, the player is eliminated.

Five letters might be too difficult for younger players. So Hasbro has designed all three games to work with four letter tiles as well.

Scrabble Flash Cubes are for word gamers from eight years and above. It can be played with one or more players. And look out: this game is addictive! Playing against time, friends or family is loads of fun! So forget the large board and small letter parts. These five portable electronic tiles are everything you need to have fun. And the game comes with a lightweight storage box.

Scrabble Flash is a modern, compact and portable version of the classic Scrabble board game. It will definitely be the best word game this holiday season for kids as well as for adults!

Robin Dee
http://christmastoys24.com

I really like toys and I like to read and write about toys. Hence, I've build a website showing of the best toys of 2010. So check out my site (christmastoys24.com) for the top toys for this holiday season

Scrabble Diamond Anniversary Game - 4 Reasons Why Scrabble Fans and Collectors Love It

The Scrabble Diamond Anniversary Game is perfect for fans and collectors. It is special because it marks the 60th anniversary of the popular word game. Hasbro commemorates the occasion by releasing one of the fanciest versions of the game to date. But what makes it different from other versions of Scrabble?

1. A Special Board with Raised Grids. The grids hold your tiles in place on the board. The quickest way to start confusion is to have someone's letters slide out of place. This happens often when more than two people play, and the board is spun to face another player. Thankfully, this version of the game ends that problem.

You can stop worrying about your letters getting knocked out of place. This means no more confusion about what letters went where. And that means fewer arguments between friends and family.

2. A Sturdy Board and Carrying Case. The game board is attached to a rotating base that doubles as a carrying case. This comes in handy when you play away from home. The pieces stay in the box where they belong during transport.

3. Built-In Storage Trays. I love this feature. Storing the racks after a game drives me nuts. I have to get them into the box just right. If I don't, the board sticks up and the box stays open. Do you have this problem? The Scrabble Diamond Anniversary edition solves that problem with built-in storage racks.

The storage racks are attached to the sides of the rotating base. They easily slide in and out for easy access. You simply put the racks and tiles inside when you're done. I think it's the best feature about this edition.

4. A Rotating Base. The game board is attached to a rotating base. The board easily spins to face any direction. Players can easily see the board when its their turn.

The Scrabble Diamond Anniversary Game is a great gift and a collector's item. It's definitely one of the most stylish editions available. Learn about other collectible Scrabble editions now -> Scrabble Collectible Editions.

The Difference Between Scrabble Dictionaries

The internet has changed the face of Scrabble play - there are lots of online games such as the official Scrabble game by Hasbro, and similar word games such as Wordscraper, Lexulous and Words with Friends. Each of these games offers several options for the game dictionary - which should you use when playing with friends versus playing in a tournament?

The 'Official Scrabble Players Dictionary' was originally compiled in 1978 by members of the US National Scrabble Association for use in sanctioned tournaments. For a word to be included in this dictionary it must be present in one of five standard print dictionaries - Merriam-Webster's Collegiate, Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary of the English Language, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Webster's New World Second College Edition, and The Random House College Dictionary. The current version of this scrabble list is OSPD4.

In the United States, Canada and Thailand tournament play now uses the Tournament Word List (TWL) which is a modified version of the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary. The dictionary has been edited from the original OSPD version to remove some words which are less suitable for tournament play. The removed words are those that could be considered offensive to players. The current version used in competition is TWL2, and is sometimes referred to as OWL (Official Word List).

Within the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand the dictionary used is 'Official Scrabble Words' (OSW). This is a collection of all the words and combinations playable in tournament Scrabble within those countries and uses British English.

In the rest of the world, the SOWPODS dictionary is used. The SOWPODS dictionary is an amalgamation of the British OSW and National Scrabble Association's OSPD dictionary. It is not published as an actual dictionary with definitions, rather it allows for either of the OSW or OSPD dictionaries to be used as a reference when playing Scrabble.

So, which list should you use? The SOWPODS word list has the most words in it, which would give you the most possibilities to play in a friendly game. If you're practicing for a tournament or playing in a more competitive game, the official word list for your country should be used.

Dave Shimoda is a Software engineer and Scrabble Enthusiast, who developed Scrabble Word Finder. As well as allowing you to find all the words available from your Scrabble tiles, it has a series of articles and resources to help beginner Scrabble players become experts.