SCRABBLE Resources

There are many study tools to help tournament SCRABBLE players hone their skills, including a number of programs that can be downloaded for free. This section will offer suggestions and links, plus feature each month a different SCRABBLE resource.This month’s focus will be on using cross-tables.com to look at annotated games created on Quackle. Readers are welcome to suggest additions to this section.

PLAYING ALONGSIDE THE EXPERTS

by Cornelia Guest with research by Ben Schoenbrun and annotated game by Joey Mallick

When annotated games at SCRABBLE tournaments first appeared on tournament links, most games were from the top tables. Players still enjoy watching the moves of the experts, most recently with the NASPA links to Board One games at the 2009 National SCRABBLE Championship at Dayton, Ohio.

The good news is that players have downloaded other good games for analyzing at cross-tables.com. Click on “History” and then “Annotated Games,” and you’ll find hundreds of games featuring players you may well recognize as some of the most interesting players in tournament SCRABBLE. As you play along with the games, you can also read the players’ commentary on their moves—or their opponents’ moves. It’s like looking over the shoulder of a really good player without feeling any guilt.

Joey Mallick recently announced that he will be downloading ALL of his games starting with Albany 2009 onto cross-tables.com for players to share. If you click www.cross-tables.com, you can see an interesting game Joey played against Will Anderson at Albany.

What if you have a game you’d like to archive at cross-tables.com? Here are the steps to take:

1. Load the game onto Quackle (www.quackle.org), following instructions given on that site and being sure to fill in the names of the players where you see “New Player 1” and “Championship Player.”
2. After you load a play, you can click “Choices” and write down any comments you may have before pressing “Confirm Play.” (You can also go back later to add comments by using the “History” option.)
3. When you have finished, press the exit button. You will be asked if you want to save your game, with a prompt to put a name in front of “.gcg.” You can fill in any name—and don’t worry, the name won’t show up later on cross-tables.com, only the game.
4. Go to www.cross-tables.com and click “History,” then the link for “Annotated Games.” Then click “upload” and select your game by clicking “browse” and searching for your saved game name.
5. Click to upload your game and you’re done. Be sure to write down the code that is given to you should you wish to change the game later in any way.

Note: If you don’t want your game to be available for public viewing, click the box that says, “prevent my game from appearing” on the list box. You can save the game link and send your game to whomever you might want to see it.

OTHER SCRABBLE RESOURCE LINKS

Play SCRABBLE On Line

POGO SCRABBLE

The official SCRABBLE online game. Created under agreement with Hasbro in 2008.

SCRABBLE ON FACEBOOK

Select the SCRABBLE application on the Facebook home page to play the official SCRABBLE game. Various groups hold tournaments at this site, including a group called “Mad Scrabblers.”

INTERNET SCRABBLE CLUB

A Romanian site for interactive games. �

Play Live Scrabble

CROSS-TABLES

Lists all upcoming tournaments, as well as results of past tournaments. Has Scrabble tournament aides.

NASPA CLUB LISTINGS

Lists clubs throughout North America with their meeting times and locations.

NSA CLUB LISTINGS

Lists casual clubs throughout North America with their meeting times and locations.

Free Anagramming and Practice Tools

JUMBLETIME

A web site for practicing anagramming skills.

AEROLITH

A free application for practicing anagramming skills and learning words.

QUACKLE

A free application for playing, simulating, and analyzing games.

ZYZZYVA

A free application for practicing anagramming skills and learning words. Also has Word Judge capabilities.

Online SCRABBLE Discussion Groups

CGP (crossword-games-pro@yahoogroups.com)

This group, for tournament players and directors only, has the largest membership of any online tournament SCRABBLE discussion group. Most important events and changes in the SCRABBLE world are discussed on cgp. Admission is by approval only. Details can be found in the NASPA Tournament SCRABBLE Newsletter #1.

OSPD (ospd-scrabble@yahoogroups.com)

This group, dedicated to players using The Official SCRABBLE Players’ Dictionary, offers light-hearted humor, daily word lists, and more. Admission is to all SCRABBLE lovers. Details can be found in the NASPA Tournament SCRABBLE Newsletter #1.