Scrabble is a crossword-style board game for 2–4 players. Each player draws tiles bearing a single letter and takes turns placing words on a 15×15 grid, connecting to letters already on the board. Points are awarded based on the letters used and the squares they land on.
What you need
- A Scrabble board (15×15 grid)
- 100 letter tiles (98 letters + 2 blank tiles)
- A tile bag to draw from
- A rack for each player to hold their 7 tiles
- A score pad and pencil
Setting up
Place all tiles face-down in the bag and shake to mix. Each player draws one tile — the player with the letter closest to A goes first (blank beats any letter). Return those tiles and draw 7 each to start.
Taking a turn
On your turn you can do one of three things:
- Play a word — place one or more tiles on the board to form a valid word. At least one tile must connect to an existing word on the board. After playing, draw tiles from the bag to refill to 7.
- Exchange tiles — return any number of your tiles to the bag, draw the same number of new tiles, and skip your turn. Only allowed when at least 7 tiles remain in the bag.
- Pass — forfeit your turn without playing or exchanging.
Your first word
The opening word must cover the centre star square (H8). It counts as a double word score. Play the longest or highest-scoring word your tiles allow.
Ending the game
The game ends when a player uses all their tiles and none remain in the bag, or when all players pass twice in a row. Each player subtracts the total value of their remaining tiles from their score. The player who emptied their rack adds the sum of all opponents' unplayed tiles to their score.