Scrabble Strategy Guide - 02 - Opening Play

[@levim2]

these are really great scrabble tutorials that teach from a proper standpoint and i hope that you make more. i also agree with mr. brain, having explanations/possible options with racks and situations can help players who get stunted when they have to make a move, especially in a live game (me)

[@MrBrain4]

I liked the amount of talking in relation to the number of examples. What might be helpful in future episodes is if you can give the viewer a chance to look at a rack in a hypothetical game. Then the viewer can consider some options along with the instruction as in a real game.

[@nodnarbassoon]

I hope you make more videos! these two are extremely helpful. I've only started playing scrabble recently, and found that I'm a lot better than most of my friends and the people I encounter... but when I go to more competitive players, I get annihilated. So I've been trying to study and learn more strategy, etc. These videos help a lot, and I hope for more!

[@rkohearsvoices]

This was pretty good. You solidly explained first move strategy. There are other smaller considerations that you've skipped on- for example, all else held equal, it's best to avoid playing an M by the double letter scores, as both the other M or a Y would play parallel to them. Still, admittedly, this is a bit nitpicky.

[@kampiuben]

This is the best teaching material i'd ever had. Everytime when i'm playing the scrabble games with my English friend and they're all easily got more than 30+ points but i only got 10 or 20 points as i am a beginner of playing this games and i'm definitely sure i have no match for them despite i have well educated by the real English lessons but unfortunately this is pretty tough for me to continue the games. Once before, the highest score i have got 150 points and the computer player got more than 200 or 300 points! Can anyone give me any tips for further scoring even higher than this time? I'd practise for a serveal times but i'm still couldn't acquire more than my beginning record. All these video have already tell me the clues to improve a lot and my current english proficiency have improve a lot seriously! I hope the scrabble revolution could be doing much better!

[@curran919]

@BarryFrench Thats completely understandable. Most people don't want to play those far below their rating/skill level. Usually it is just boring for them to not have the challenge, but on ISC, they have little to gain from beating a beginner, and should that beginner decide they want an easy rating boost by cheating (it really is rampant on ISC), a lot to lose. I generally don't play strangers +/- 20% off my rating.

[@curran919]

Did you know, that the distribution of scrabble tiles was originally based on their occurence on the front page of NY Times newspaper? After some testing, the creator decided that although S's are one of the most common consonants, that too many ruined the game, so he decreased their number. Its the only letter he changed.

[@bigmac3006]

I just subscribed, WOOHOO I'M NUMBER 550! Thank you.

[@rkohearsvoices]

@curran919 Yeah, in retrospect, I was being wayyyy too nitpicky when I said that. The case I was concerning myself with was 8G HM vs 8H HM Good, solid, video.

[@curran919]

@elcerritorealtor Good Eye! Indeed the scenario with CUKE and KILLABLE uses two non-blank K's. The set does not have 2 K's, but when you are playing in quackle, you do not necessarily have to play with tiles on your rack. If i have SDUHFRI on my rack, yet am constructing a game, i can just play LENTOID and it confirms that the letters are not on my rack. It also lets you play with tiles not in the bag. It then asks again, "this play would involve letters not in the bag... etc...". Whoops.

[@curran919]

@rkohearsvoices Hi, thanks. Most people should extrapolate that. I wouldn't mention it because its just a question of where you draw the line. I could say an M can be paired with M,Y,H. I could also say beware the B, Y and H for their association with other high point tiles in HM,BY and MY, but this is a fruitless cause. We should beware not only of missing important considerations, but spending too much time considering unimportant ones.

[@AllThisOverASliceOfGabagool]

I really like these video's. Now my difficulty is in playing good players on the ISC, because every time I try to play someone 1000 and upwards (I'm only 550 rated) they just abort the games.

[@pjbolas]

Nice video, look forward to the next one. Just one thing though, FLICKERINGLY in the example would score 128 points, not 78 :).

[@curran919]

@pjbolas wow I can't believe i did that. Can't wait to get home and edit all my other vids.

[@ILoveCrissAngel1234]

You are an AMAZING teacher!

[@curran919]

@jabezmanning I agree! I have 3 more videos that are filmed and I just need to edit them into videos. As soon as I have 4 spare hours...

[@curran919]

@oldnovicenana There will always be talking throughout the entire video, do you mean less facetime and more boardtime? Also, do you mean you want examples that are more specific or more examples that are specific. I thought if anything I should have some LESS specific examples, ie, putting up a rack and taking it through the entire process instead of having examples that stand for just one point.

[@curran919]

@rkohearsvoices When I get home, I will simulate how the different positions (H4 vs H8) of CHAMP, CLAMP and CLASP simulate. I have a feeling they will be awfully similar

[@MrSmackdab]

Im new at this game but I already have an observation; I think the letters 'E' and 'S' should be worth no points E is such a necessary vowel and 'S' because it pluralizes so often.

[@619petty]

I drew D-E-L-I-V-E-R today on an opening move. I was happy:)

[@elcerritorealtor]

Does your set contain 2 K's?

[@scjackson36]

Do you play tournaments? I would play CUKE one over to the left without an S.

[@332360515]

Nice, the only mistake is only 1K in scrabble tile set, no your opponent is imposibble to make KILLABLE without using blank

[@Snakzie]

cool video, it was bugging me the entire video because you were talking out the side of your mouth.