Official Scrabble Rules

Master the complete ruleset of the world's favorite word game, from basic gameplay to tournament regulations.

Game Setup

Equipment

  • 1 Scrabble board
  • 100 letter tiles
  • 2 tile racks
  • Letter bag
  • Score pad and pencil

Initial Setup

  • Place all tiles face down
  • Each player draws one tile
  • Closest to 'A' goes first
  • Return tiles to bag and shuffle
  • Draw 7 tiles each

Tile Distribution

Q10
1
Z10
1
J8
1
X8
1
K5
1
F4
2
H4
2
V4
2
W4
2
Y4
2
B3
2
C3
2
M3
2
P3
2
D2
4
G2
3
A1
9
E1
12
I1
9
L1
4
N1
6
O1
8
R1
6
S1
4
T1
6
U1
4
A
0
2

Distribution Tips

Total of 100 tiles including 2 blank tiles. High-point letters (Q, Z, J, X) are rare but valuable. Vowels and common consonants (E, A, I, R, S, T) are abundant for word building.

Premium Squares

Premium squares multiply the value of letters or words placed on them. These squares are crucial for high-scoring plays:

TW

Triple Word

Triples entire word score

DW

Double Word

Doubles entire word score

TL

Triple Letter

Triples single letter value

DL

Double Letter

Doubles single letter value

Important Rules

  • The center square (★) is a Double Word Score and must be used for the first word
  • Premium squares only count when first played on - not in subsequent turns
  • Word multipliers are applied after letter multipliers
  • Multiple word multipliers are cumulative (e.g., two DW = 4×)

Basic Gameplay

Turn Sequence

  1. 1
    Place word on board using your tiles
  2. 2
    Calculate and announce score
  3. 3
    Draw new tiles to maintain 7
  4. 4
    Record score on scorepad

Valid Word Placement

  • Must connect to existing words
  • Can read left to right or top to bottom
  • All connected tiles must form valid words
  • First word must use center square

Essential Word Lists

2-Letter Words

Master essential two-letter combinations.

3-Letter Words

Learn powerful three-letter plays.

High-Value Words

Discover top-scoring combinations.

Word Patterns

Study common word structures.

Q-Words

Master Q without U.

Z-Words

High-scoring Z combinations.

Bingo Words

Seven-letter word strategies.

Pro Tips

Strategic Placement

Save high-value tiles for premium squares. Plan multiple moves ahead by considering both offensive scoring and defensive blocking.

Rack Management

Keep a balanced mix of vowels and consonants. Don't be afraid to exchange tiles if your rack is unplayable.

Tournament Success

Practice with a timer to improve speed. Learn common two and three-letter words for tight spots.

Endgame Strategy

Track played tiles and adjust strategy accordingly. Consider point differentials when deciding final moves.

Advanced Word Finder

Take your game to the next level with our powerful word finder tool. Perfect for solving challenging racks and discovering high-scoring opportunities.

  • Pattern matching and wildcards
  • Advanced filtering options
  • Score optimization suggestions