Scrabble

Scrabble rules — frequently asked questions

Can words be played diagonally or right-to-left?

No. Words only read left-to-right (across) or top-to-bottom (down). Diagonal and reversed words are never legal.

Do premium squares count every turn?

No — a premium square only counts on the turn a tile is first placed on it. On later turns, words built through that tile score it at face value only. There are no exceptions: each multiplier is used exactly once, on placement.

Can I change the letter a blank represents later?

No. Once played, a blank permanently represents the declared letter. (Standard rules have no swap-the-blank mechanic — that's a house rule.)

Are proper nouns allowed?

No. Words requiring capitalization, abbreviations, prefixes/suffixes standing alone, and words with apostrophes or hyphens are not valid. When in doubt, the agreed dictionary decides via a challenge.

How does challenging work?

A challenge must come before the next player moves. Look the word up: if invalid, the tiles return to the rack and the player scores nothing. If valid, the challenger forfeits their next turn (standard North American rule). Only whole plays are challenged — all words formed by the play are checked at once.

What is a bingo worth?

Playing all seven of your tiles in a single turn earns a 50-point bonus, added after all letter and word multipliers are applied.

Can I exchange tiles whenever I want?

Only while the bag still holds at least 7 tiles, and exchanging is your entire turn — you score nothing. You may exchange anywhere from 1 to all 7 of your tiles.

Does the first word really score double?

Yes. The center star is a Double Word square, and the first word must cover it, so the opening play is always doubled.

Do two-letter words count?

Yes, if they're in your agreed dictionary — tournament players lean heavily on words like QI, XU, and ZA. Agree on the dictionary before the game to avoid arguments.

How does scoring work when the game ends?

Every player subtracts the total value of tiles left on their rack. If someone played out (used their last tile with the bag empty), that player also adds the combined value of all opponents' leftover tiles to their score.