2 Scrabble Strategies: the Tortoise & the Hare
Written: Apr 06 '01 (Updated Apr 28 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun, challenging, educational to those who like word games and developing strategies
Cons: Any new words you learn are likely to be short and obscure
The Bottom Line: Recommend to anyone who likes challenging word games and developing strategies
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| GlendaG's Full Review: Scrabble |
One player always scores like the Tortoise and the other like the Hare. Who do you think will win the most games over time?
First let me say that at the risk of offending Epinions purists, I'm going to forego describing the rules of Scrabble. I believe that most readers here already know how to play, but if not, there are many reviews here that explain the rules of the game very well.
Instead I'm going to talk about two opposing strategies of play. I play Scrabble regularly with my sister (we are both adults) and we each use entirely different scoring techniques. I would describe myself as the tortoise and my sister as the hare, although we've never mentioned those words between us.
I try to score as many points as I can at each turn, even when only a few points are possible. This may seem obvious, but my sister doesn't play the game this way. She would never bother with a 10-point play. She goes for the big kill even if it means passing on several plays in a row in order to exchange some or all of her tiles. Instead of scoring a few points at a time, she would rather try to acquire the needed tiles to make a big score all at once.
As a result, it's not unusual for her to play all of her tiles at once on two separate occasions during a game (for a 50-point bonus each time). On these occasions, each play often results in her scoring more than 100 points at a time. At other times, she'll go for a clever high scoring play and make upwards of 50 points. She especially likes to play one word horizontally underneath another horizontal word, thus forming short, (usually two-letter words) vertically as well as the longer horizontal word. This can really pay off if there are double or triple squares involved, as well as highscoring letters. For example, a ten-point letter played on a double square as a part of a both a horizontal and vertical word scores 40 points for just the one letter.
In the meantime, as my sister is passing up plays to exchange tiles and occasionally making the big score, I'm just plodding along, slow and steady. If I get too many low point tiles that i don't really want, I try to play as many at a time as I can so that I can draw replacements. I can rarely stand to give up a turn in order to swap all my tiles.
Another difference in our play is that I seldom play a word unless I really believe it is in The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary. On the other hand, my sister will play any word she needs to (with a straight poker face) if she thinks she can get away with it. Than I have to decide whether or not to challenge. This is the part I dislike the most about this game because I hate making the wrong decision, which sometimes happens.
It's often mentioned that Scrabble contributes toward better spelling and even toward a better vocabulary. It also helps develop the ability to multiply and add quickly in the head. I think it makes an even more important contribution toward decision making and planning (or scheming).
Now I should tell you who wins the most games, the tortoise or the hare. The truth is that it's pretty much dead even all the time. The hare probably has more fun though. I think I'll try switching strategies the next time we play. Two hares should stir up the game.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10
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Epinions.com ID:
GlendaG
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Reviews written: 25
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