So you've finally decided to take the plunge. Congratulations, and welcome to the world of tournament Scrabble! This is the beginning of a long wonderful journey that all of us have been lucky to embark upon: a journey that has allowed us to embrace this wonderful game while making a lifetime of friends and memories. I'm sure you have some questions, so let's get started!
Joining a tournament is easy. You don't need to belong to any club or association in order to play a Scrabble tournament: simply find details of the event on the website and follow the instructions for paying the entry fee. The organiser will advise you on everything else you need to know.
I was playing on the Internet Scrabble Club for a year before I entered my first tournament, and at one stage I thought I never would. I suffer from some anxiety and once told someone that I would never be able to play real-life tournaments. This changed as I grew in confidence, but I feel I may have entered a tournament much sooner had I actually known what to expect.
Do I have to bring a Scrabble set?
No. Although playing equipment is not provided by the organisers, most experienced players bring their own boards, tiles, racks etc. along with them. This means there is never a shortage of equipment to go around and so new players should not worry about bringing their own equipment.
How do I know who to play?
The name of your first opponent, which table you are playing on and who starts the game will appear shortly before the first round, usually on a printout which people gravitate towards when it is posted up on the wall. Who starts each game is normally determined by the program making the fixtures - it tries to ensure that everyone has an equal number of starts and replies in the event.
What do I need to know about playing with a timer?
Your move is officially finished when you have pressed the button on your side of the timer and started your opponent's timer ticking. Until then, you can do anything you like - place a word on the board, announce the score, change your mind altogether, etc. until you announce the score for that move and then press your timer. This even applies if your opponent has prematurely said "Challenge" before you have ended your move by pressing your timer.
The usual time limits are 25 minutes for a player in which to complete all his/her moves. People who are not used to playing Scrabble with a timer sometimes have difficulty remembering to press it when they have finished their move; as Dave Koenig advises in the chapter on time management, play some friendly practice games before the day itself. If all of your time ticks away there is a penalty of 10 points for every extra minute or part of a minute used, but don't panic and play too quickly - you will find you have plenty of time as long as you remember to press your timer when you have made your move.
What if I want to exchange?
If you wish to use your move to exchange tiles, place the tiles you are going to exchange face down on the table, announce "Change" and the number of tiles being exchanged, then press your clock to end your move. Take fresh tiles from the bag before putting the unwanted ones back in (otherwise you could end up getting the same tiles right back again!). There is no limit to the number of times a player can use their moves to exchange tiles, although there must always be at least seven tiles in the bag; after this point it is no longer possible to exchange.
How do I tell how many tiles are left in the bag?
You are allowed to pick up the bag and feel it at any time to estimate how many tiles are left. If you wish to feel inside the bag to count the remaining tiles, then show your opponent an open hand, count them without too much disruption to your opponent, and show an empty hand afterwards.
How do I challenge moves?
It is imperative that you are not afraid to challenge any words played by your opponent of which you are unsure. There have been cases in the past when new players have felt intimidated by their opponent's rating, word knowledge
or apparent experience and so have not felt confident enough to check the validity of what is played against them. Players at all levels of the game play invalid words quite often; in games in which there is no penalty for making an unsuccessful challenge you are encouraged to check everything your opponent plays unless you are 100% sure of its validity.
To challenge a word, simply wait until your opponent has announced their score and pressed their timer. Say "Challenge" and press the button in the middle of the timer which neutralises both sides of the timer. In most tournaments the adjudication is done by computers located at various points in the playing room. You can challenge any number of words played by your opponent in the preceding move. Be aware that all challenges are adjudicated with one tick - the whole move is simply deemed either "valid" or "invalid", regardless of how many words have been challenged.
What's this about 'ratings'?
After every tournament the organiser will ensure the results are entered to the national rating system. Ratings are fun and a useful indication of your own performance, and ensure you are always put in a division with people near your own ability.
Anything else?
It is important to arrive on time, and even more important to let the organiser know if you are going to be late. Most organisers will have provided you with an emergency contact number. There will always be a Tournament Director (TD) at every event. If there is ever any problem or something you are unsure of then don't hesitate to neutralise the timer and call him/her over to help you out; everyone has queries from time to time, not just people at their first tournament. However, lousy letters are not a problem the Director will help you with!
Finally …
Don't worry, relax and have fun. Most people find their first tournament an enjoyable experience - you might discover a few things you didn't realise and will perhaps feel a bit new
at first, but most people go home having really enjoyed themselves and already looking forward to the next one.
Good luck!