Development of Scrabble rules

Mistertoad

Why is it such a big deal to be the first one who has an empty tile rack? As you know, the one who does this gets the sum of the opponent's tile values added to their score whilst the opponent has this deducted.

So it's a double whammy!! What is the justification?

@mistertoad it ends the game

Mistertoad

@betterlate1-0 Yes, but my question is about the way that the game was formulated at inception. Why such a severe penalty if you, as it were, "left holding the baby"!

Not saying it isn't a good rule.

@mistertoad The question you asked was what made it such a big deal? Answer, it ends the game, Justification is to end the game properly The game was not determined by what Lex did it was determined by what Scrabble has done for many years and it is very fair. Though no longer Scrabble, I do not know any other way to end the game that would be as fair.

roymccoy

@mistertoad

I've had the same feeling myself, but not anymore. I think it's kind of like the jack of diamonds ten-point bonus in the card game Hearts, adding an additional and interesting element. That is, going out becomes an extra consideration calling for a different consideration and skill. It 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 to go out first, so you have to include that in your endgame strategy. You may or may not like it, depending on whether you're benefiting or suffering from it in the particular game.

Mistertoad

@betterlate1-0
I agree it's a fair/good way to end. I wonder who came up with the idea maybe someone thinking along the same lines as the JD in 'Hearts', like Roy mentioned.

Do you know where I can find out more about the history of the game?!

MapmakerE

@mistertoad Right here: https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/history

@mistertoad Alfred Butts invented the game you might want to start there. Sorry could not answer earlier could not post

Mistertoad

@mapmakere
Thanks for the link!

On the 'tips' page it said "But a good rule to remember while playing SCRABBLE - leave as few high-point tiles in your rack as possible". I wonder what the reasoning is behind this tip.

Mistertoad

@betterlate1-0
Thanks a lot for replying. So far I found a nice link wiith the following quote:

Alfred Butts "used the front page of The New York Times as his study guide. He found that just 12 letters (E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R, D, L and U) accounted for 80 percent of the letters used most frequently. This study of letter usage also gave him the data he needed to add point values for the use of each letter.

As Butts experimented, he found a weakness in the game. If players had access to too many “S” letters, then they could score by making a previously-played word plural. To make that aspect of the game more difficult, he created only four squares of the letter S."

Scrabble: How It Began

@mistertoad @MapmakerE Just my view, I think there are a couple reasons not to hold the big point letters. One is depending on how many letters are remaining, at the end you will be holding them and subtracting from your score, helping your opponent. The other is you are not making points you could be making if you play them fairly soon and look at all letters not just big points

MapmakerE

@mistertoad So you don't get stuck at the end I expect...the high-counters are harder to place as the board gets fuller.

@mistertoad I have been playing since I was a little kid and to this day ..still learning