Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I come to the scrabble club? Because you're good at Scrabble and no one in your family wants to play you anymore. Maybe, you're looking for a new hobby and like a challenge. Or, you don't want to just sit around looking at your phone all day on Saturday.
2. How much does it cost? Do I need to be a member to play? – Playing club games is free, no membership required, just show up! If you decide to play in tournaments, you’ll need to become a NASPA member for around $30 a year. If you feel so inclined, you’re welcomed to donate to help cover our very minor operational costs, but dues are not required at this time.
3. How old do I need to be? We have had players from 8 to 84.
4. Are the rules the same as how I play at home? – Yes (mostly). The basic rules of gameplay and scoring are the same. We use the Official North American Word List as our standard dictionary, not the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary, but the main differences between playing at home and in a club/tournament are that both players are required to keep score, we use a game clock, and we have standardized equipment. Don’t worry about it, though. We relax rules for newcomers. The director and other players want you to be there and will help you out.
5. Why are there so many rules? – We’ve found it’s better just to agree on the dictionary, rules, and length of the game beforehand, so we do! Having a set of a rules and a director to help with them eliminates most of the common Scrabble disagreements, i.e., “But it's word in Webster’s!” or "You're taking too long on your turn!" as well as the multitude of house rules regarding challenges, blanks, and so forth.
6. What should I bring? – A pencil or pen would be great, but we’ll be happy if you just show up!
7. I’m a beginner and I came to club and lost every game. What should I do now? – Come back! We hope to have a good mix of players from beginner to expert at every session, but most club regulars are intermediate players and make for tough competition. The best way to ensure that you get opponents at your level is to keep coming back. No one, even the top player in the world, wins all of their games. No one loses all of them either. Things will even out eventually. But win or lose, we’re here to make friends and play a game that we like.
8. I’m an expert and I came to club and won every time. What should I do now? – See above!
9. I’m a beginner or intermediate player and I want to get better. I’ve heard that people study. How do I do that? – Check the study link on the Info page.
10. How can I get more information? – Email [email protected] or come to a club event.