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Lexulous Word Game
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  3. Development of Scrabble rules

Development of Scrabble rules

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  • MistertoadM Offline
    MistertoadM Offline
    Mistertoad
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    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?

    ? R 2 Replies Last reply
    0
  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #2

    @mistertoad it ends the game

    MistertoadM 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • MistertoadM Offline
    MistertoadM Offline
    Mistertoad
    replied to A Former User on last edited by
    #3

    @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.

    ? 1 Reply Last reply
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  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #4

    @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.

    MistertoadM 1 Reply Last reply
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  • R Offline
    R Offline
    roymccoy
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #5

    @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 š˜®š˜¢š˜µš˜µš˜¦š˜³š˜“ 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.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • MistertoadM Offline
    MistertoadM Offline
    Mistertoad
    replied to A Former User on last edited by
    #6

    @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?!

    M ? 2 Replies Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    MapmakerE
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #7

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

    MistertoadM 1 Reply Last reply
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  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #8

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

    MistertoadM 1 Reply Last reply
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  • MistertoadM Offline
    MistertoadM Offline
    Mistertoad
    replied to MapmakerE on last edited by
    #9

    @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.

    M ? 2 Replies Last reply
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  • MistertoadM Offline
    MistertoadM Offline
    Mistertoad
    replied to A Former User on last edited by Mistertoad
    #10

    @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 ā€œSā€ 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

    ? 1 Reply Last reply
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  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #11

    @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

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    MapmakerE
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #12

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

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  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    replied to Mistertoad on last edited by
    #13

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

    1 Reply Last reply
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