# Scrabble etiquette -- Did I do wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254 "2001-07-04T21:31:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/1 "2001-07-04T21:31:21Z")
So I’m playing Scrabble on [games.com](http://games.com) and whomping butt against one other player. We’re about two thirds of the way done and she says, “I know that the point of the game is to win and all but would you please stop following me around the board.” I thought she was joking. I answered, “gee, I’d love to accomidate you but I just can’t right now” and then played on the word she had just left. She replied, “well you sure do have some great gamesmenship” and then passes her turn. I played my tiles and she passed _again_. At this point the score was like 302 to 86. I fugured that she just wanted to concede so I passed back. We both passed twice more to end the game. She lost 22 points and **I** lost 5 points. Damn, I thought I’d at least gain some points or I’d’ve kept playing. It’s true that for the previous several moves I had played on the word where she had just played. If I had played anywhere else, it would have left her a great opening for a triple word score. I generally think about defense when I play so I don’t leave my opponent with good openings. That’s just sound strategy, right? Was I being a jerk? Haj ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/2 "2001-07-04T21:36:56Z")
I don’t recall reading in the rules about ‘taking other people’s spots’ in Scrabble. I myself do it all the time to prevent them from trying to set themselves up for a two or three-word combo. I am surprised that you both lost points for the game ending like that though. I would have thought a double-pass would have ended it normally. Anyway, if I see you there, I’d be more than happy to play, though I prefer Literati at [games.yahoo.com](http://games.yahoo.com) as there is less opportunity for ‘griefers’ to ruin a game. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/3 "2001-07-04T23:38:32Z")
Oh now, that’s just silly. Blocking the other player’s plays is right up there with knowing the 2-letter words. Of _course_ you should try to block your opponents best plays. I play Scrabble (or I guess that should be Scrabble[sup]TM[/sup]) with my father, whom I love and respect, but you’d better believe I’m as merciless as I can manage at defense. I try not to leave any good openings for him when I play. And when he plays, if he sets anything up, I not only try to block it, I try to take advantage of it myself–“Oh, gee thanks for setting up that Triple Word for me Pop–uh, that would be, um, 87 points”. Sheesh. Tell her to go play Pictionary or something. I suppose if she was playing chess with someone she’d be saying “Hey, no fair, you keep putting my king in check!” Oh, well. If you were whomping her that badly, I suppose she was feeling frustrated. She probably needed to find a player more at her own skill level. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/4 "2001-07-05T00:36:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LlamaPoet \* > \*\*I am surprised that you both lost points for the game ending like that though. I would have thought a double-pass would have ended it normally. > \*\* I just played another game where my opponent quit on me. What actually happened is that I got 5 less points than I would have had the game gone to completion. I did gain points afterall. Thanks to both of you for answering my question. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/5 "2001-07-05T04:39:35Z")
I gained my Scrabble habits from many a game with my mother, and we always tried to keep the board as opened up as possible, without sacrificing points to do so. This was admittedly more in the interest in extending the game than in going for a defensive win, though, and in extended games it was many years before I could even begin to hope of defeating her. So she was probably just being sneaky and using the guile of her years to keep the youngster in place. I picked up a good chunk of both vocabulary and spelling skills from multiple games of it, it’s probably one of the best educational games for a kid out there. ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/6 "2001-07-05T04:44:00Z")
I’m just amazed at how rude some of those people are in the chat section! No sense of humor, some of them. Guess we can’t all be Dopers… But to answer the OP, you’re not guilty of anything except playing the game properly. Don’t worry about it. Slight hijack: The Scrabble game on [Games.com](http://Games.com) lets a lot of weird words and spellings go by. One game let “uh” stay when challenged. Is that kosher, or is it counted as a caveman word or something? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/7 "2001-07-05T04:59:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grok \* > \*\*Slight hijack: > > The Scrabble game on [Games.com](http://Games.com) lets a lot of weird words and spellings go by. One game let “uh” stay when challenged. Is that kosher, or is it counted as a caveman word or something? \*\* “Uh” is most certainly an acceptable word in Scrabble. It’s in the 3rd edition of the Official Scrabble Dictionary. It’s defined as “interj. – Used to express hesitation.” Haj ---
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/8 "2001-07-05T05:00:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Grok \* > > \*\*Slight hijack: > > > > The Scrabble game on [Games.com](http://Games.com) lets a lot of weird words and spellings go by. One game let “uh” stay when challenged. Is that kosher, or is it counted as a caveman word or something? \*\* > > “Uh” is most certainly an acceptable word in Scrabble. It’s in the 3rd edition of the Official Scrabble Dictionary. It’s defined as “interj. – Used to express hesitation.” > > Haj \*\* Uh-huh. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/9 "2001-07-05T05:12:10Z")
Was the point of the game to _win_ or to _play?_ If you were trying to win, you did fine. Usually when I play a board game (or cribbage or yahtzee, etc.), the idea is to spend time with my cohort. In these cases, etiquette demands that I not do things to intentionally annoy my opponent. (S)he, of course, returns the favor. So, it depends. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/10 "2001-07-05T14:01:25Z")
AlbertRose nailed it: Was the point of the game to win or to play? There is nothing wrong with defensive play in Scrabble. There is nothing wrong in knowing more words, or learning all the 2 letter combinations (or all the words with Q but no U). I play with my mother and we have close games. Some are high scoring (if one of us puts down a 7 letter word early, the board opens up). Some are tight, because neither of us wants to let the other onto a triple word tile. I played with my Mum and her friend once. I put down KRAIT (snake), which I knew from a Rex Stout novel. Mum’s friend challenged, so we looked it up in the dictionary. She then said I should still take it back, because she didn’t know it! Now if I play with a child, I keep the scores close and offer advice (and leave openings for them). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/11 "2001-07-05T14:26:29Z")
Definitely to win. We were playing on line at [games.com](http://games.com). It was a rated game which means that the winner gets points (and the loser loses points) which affects their ranking. There was no question about the intent of the game. BTW I am nearly incapable of playing games “just for fun.” I’m not a sore loser. I am actually happier if I play well and lose than if I play poorly and win. “Playing for fun” is the same as not trying, IMO. Haj ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/12 "2001-07-05T16:55:26Z")
I always play to win, and I don’t generally play with people who don’t. For me, it’s no fun unless I’m trying to win! FTR - I don’t think you did anything wrong. You were just playing the game, and if she doesn’t play that way, maybe she should find a pre-schooler to play Candyland with. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/13 "2001-07-05T17:38:25Z")
I’ve never understood some of the rulings on words in [games.com](http://games.com)’s dictionary. Quo isn’t a word. Ambury isn’t a word. Well gosh, it most certainly is. AA is a word? Some two letter “words” with no vowels count? And would someone please tell me the definition of “qat?” I think it’s a made up word that the programmers forgot to weed out and it’s been passed down from scrabble player to scrabble player as an acceptable spelling. **hajiro** , no you weren’t wrong. Look at it from the other perspective. If you _don’t_ steal her openings then all you’re doing is letting her set herself up. She might as well be playing alone. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/14 "2001-07-05T17:50:24Z")
**Hajario** … Well, that just about sums up my spelling skills. Who wants to play Scrabble? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/15 "2001-07-05T18:24:41Z")
Any word in the Official Scrabble® Dictionary, such as “aa”, is allowed. Aa is originally a Hawaiian word for a type of lava which leaves a pointed surface when cool. Think of the sound you’d make when walking barefoot over bits of pointed lava rocks. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/16 "2001-07-05T18:25:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*I’ve never understood some of the rulings on words in [games.com](http://games.com)’s dictionary. Quo isn’t a word. Ambury isn’t a word. Well gosh, it most certainly is. > AA is a word? Some two letter “words” with no vowels count? > > And would someone please tell me the definition of “qat?” I think it’s a made up word that the programmers forgot to weed out and it’s been passed down from scrabble player to scrabble player as an acceptable spelling. > > \*\* All of those words are in the (Scrabble) dictionary. aa = a type of lava, from Hawaiian. qat = a type of leaf similar to cocoa that is chewed from South East Asia. “qivit” is another good no “u” one. That’s from memory. I don’t have my dictionary right now. [games.com](http://games.com) uses the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (3rd ed). You should get one. Haj ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/17 "2001-07-05T20:29:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > > \*\*I’ve never understood some of the rulings on words in [games.com](http://games.com)’s dictionary. Quo isn’t a word. Ambury isn’t a word. Well gosh, it most certainly is. > > AA is a word? Some two letter “words” with no vowels count? > > > > And would someone please tell me the definition of “qat?” I think it’s a made up word that the programmers forgot to weed out and it’s been passed down from scrabble player to scrabble player as an acceptable spelling. > > > > \*\* > > All of those words are in the (Scrabble) dictionary. > > aa = a type of lava, from Hawaiian. > qat = a type of leaf similar to cocoa that is chewed from South East Asia. “qivit” is another good no “u” one. > > That’s from memory. I don’t have my dictionary right now. > > [games.com](http://games.com) uses the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (3rd ed). You should get one. > > Haj \*\* To continue (have dictonary now) “quo” is not a word but “qua” is (acting in the capacity of, as in Man qua man can be cruel) “ambury” isn’t a word but “ambry” is (recess in a chuch wall for vessels) Haj ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/18 "2001-07-06T05:23:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lolagranola \* > \*\*I always play to win, and I don’t generally play with people who don’t. For me, it’s no fun unless I’m trying to win! > > FTR - I don’t think you did anything wrong. You were just playing the game, and if she doesn’t play that way, maybe she should find a pre-schooler to play Candyland with. \*\* Word **Lola**. You only do yourself and your opponent a diservice by playing below your ability (kids are another matter). The better player serves to teach the less skilled one. Plus, you never get better playing against someone who is less talented than yourself. If you don’t block double or triple word and letter scores you are an idiot! Of course you play on your opponent’s most recent play! They just ate it putting all those low value vowels on the board. It’s your duty to swoop in with a tail of high ticket consonants to tack onto that donkey your opponent just put on the board. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/19 "2001-07-06T05:41:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \*[games.com](http://games.com) uses the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (3rd ed). You should get one.Haj \*\* Or you can go [here](http://216.208.33.134/scrabble/). (I don’t play Scrabble well at all, which is why I tracked this thing down 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254/20 "2001-07-06T09:45:44Z")
> [@](#): > > “qivit” is another good no “u” one. Actually “qivit” is not a word–qiviut is, though. Useful if the “U” you need is already on the board, for example. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrabble-etiquette-did-i-do-wrong/71254.md?page=2)