SCRABBLE - The Last Word Newsletter

Book Reviewby Cornelia GuestEverythingSCRABBLE®, ThirdEdition by Joe Edleyand John D.Williams., Jr.SCRABBLE® players rejoice!The long-awaited third editionof Joe Edley and John D.Williams, Jr.’s classic book onSCRABBLE® strategy is nowavailable. The words addedto the OSPD4 in 2006 havebeen included, and newsample games and puzzleshave been added. EverythingSCRABBLE® is once againthe book to read for everyserious Scrabbler.The book is divided into 5parts, each addressing adifferent aspect of the game.Diagrams are presentedthroughout to illustrate points,and quizzes are interspersedto help the reader develop topcompetition skills.B O O K R E V I E WPart 1, “Getting BetterQuickly," is perhaps the bestintroduction to winningSCRABBLE® strategies everwritten. Readers are firstintroduced to the OfficialScrabble Players Dictionary,Fourth Edition, the wordsource for casual and SchoolSCRABBLE® play, and thebasic rules of the game.They then learn the importanttwo-letter words and Q-without-U words. Theauthors next explain basicstrategy essentials: How tomove your tiles on the rack tofind useful letter combinations(ERS, BR, IES, for example);how to maximize points byusing “hot spots”; how to find50-point bonus “bingos”; andhow to manage your rack tomaximize your chances forhigh scoring plays.Part 2, “Advanced Play,”takes the reader to the nextlevel. For more experiencedplayers, this will is the heartof the book. Edley andWilliams explore advancedrack management, helpingplayers determine whether togo for points or a good leave.They discuss when toexchange, rather than play offtiles, and when to tryphoneys. One of the mostinteresting chapters in thissection shows how to takeadvantage of the developingspatial patterns on the board,“opening” or “closing” theboard to your advantage.Chapters 1 and 13 discussways to use important “powertiles”: the blanks and S, J, X,and Z. Chapter 12, “It’s YourWord Against Mine,” givestips on expanding yourSCRABBLE® vocabulary,with advice from four expertsand a list of amusing “wackydefinitions” and usefulmnemonics.Part 3, “Puzzles,” is fun foreveryone--and gives anopportunity to practice whathas been learned. Thepuzzles will help you developyour word-finding skills--which makes them perfect forteachers of SchoolSCRABBLE®. You’ll learnhooks, fill-ins, andextensions, enabling you tolook at a board and seewhere opportunity lies. You’llalso learn to look for thehighest-scoring play, ratherthan the first good play yousee. By listing the “AverageScore,” “Good Score,” and“Expert Score” for eachpuzzle, the authorsencourage readers to lookhard for the best play--a skillthat will be invaluable in anactual game. Chapter 18 has35 pages of very toughpuzzles, including difficult“blanagrams” and “Clabbersstyle”puzzles.Part 4 is called “Exploring theWorld of Scrabble® Clubsand Tournaments.” It givesan insider’s view ofcompetitive SCRABBLE®--and includes wonderfulstories from clubs andtournaments, plus examples48