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You can say you don't care if you win or lose at Scrabble, but you may very well be in the minority. Even

PresidentBarack Obama,one of United States' most high-profileScrabbleenthusiasts, isn't above

boasting about his wins. "It's his favorite game to play," said White House communications director

Robert Gibbs in a 2008 interview reported in The Independent. "He'll play with his family and particularly

his sister. And the winner gets bragging rights for a long, long time" [source:McSmith].

And Obama's not the only famousScrabble devotee. President Richard Nixon was an avid player. So is

actor Mel Gibson, who plays the game while waiting on the movie set. Author Vladimir Nabokov, famous

for his novel "Lolita," was a skilled player. Even Queen Elizabeth II is reported to enjoy a royal game of

Scrabble [source:McSmith].

Not bad for a pastime invented during the Great Depression. In 1931, out-of-work architect Alfred Mosher

Butts came up with a game that he first called Lexiko, then Criss Cross Words. He spent several years

tinkering before settling on the rules, now familiar to all Scrabble players: You draw seven letters and try

to make words on a board with a 15-by-15 grid. Each letter scores specific points that roughly go along

with how hard it is to fit the letter into a word. If an opponent challenges an unusual word, it had better be

in the dictionary, or you'll have to remove it and lose a turn.

Butts's game didn't meet with much success initially. But in the 1940s, another game maven, James

Brunot, took over. He renamed the game Scrabble and by 1952, it had become a sensation

[source:NPR].

Scrabble aficionados, like the ones mentioned above, may memorize long lists of unusual words to win

their bragging rights. But casual players can improve their games by learning just a handful of useful

entries. You can impress -- and even beat -- your friends by blitzing them with high-scoring words, or by

sneaking in common but strategic words that get rid of unwanted letters. Remember to make use of the

double and triple squares to leverage your score on almost any word. And always look for what playerscall a "bingo," the 50 extra points you get for using all your tiles on one play.

Now let's look at 20 words that every Scrabble player should know.

20.za

Challenge! That might be your first instinct, thinking there's no way this is a word. But "za" is now

accepted as slang forpizzaand appears in the Official Tournament and Club Word List, the final authority

for acceptable words in the U.S. and Canada. It's not much to look at, but "za" packs a big punch: With 10points for the "z," it'll earn you least 11 total. Hit a triple letter square and you can score 31. Add

pepperoni and you've got a meal.

http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htm

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19.muzjiks

Muzjiks are Russian peasants -- or so they were called under the tzar (another handy word to know).

InScrabble,"muzjiks" gives you the highest possible opening play. Put the "z" on the double letter square

for an initial score of 39. All opening plays score a double word -- that makes 78. Add 50 for a bingo,the

use of all seven letters in your rack. With a total of 128, you're off to a terrific start.

18.aerie

Learning just a few useful words might give you the edge over your friends in Scrabble.

John Gichigi/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

You can say you don't care if you win or lose at Scrabble, but you may very well be in the minority. Even

PresidentBarack Obama,one of United States' most high-profileScrabbleenthusiasts, isn't above

boasting about his wins. "It's his favorite game to play," said White House communications director

Robert Gibbs in a 2008 interview reported in The Independent. "He'll play with his family and particularly

his sister. And the winner gets bragging rights for a long, long time" [source:McSmith].

And Obama's not the only famousScrabble devotee. President Richard Nixon was an avid player. So is

actor Mel Gibson, who plays the game while waiting on the movie set. Author Vladimir Nabokov, famous

for his novel "Lolita," was a skilled player. Even Queen Elizabeth II is reported to enjoy a royal game of

Scrabble [source:McSmith].

Not bad for a pastime invented during the Great Depression. In 1931, out-of-work architect Alfred Mosher

Butts came up with a game that he first called Lexiko, then Criss Cross Words. He spent several years

tinkering before settling on the rules, now familiar to all Scrabble players: You draw seven letters and try

to make words on a board with a 15-by-15 grid. Each letter scores specific points that roughly go along

with how hard it is to fit the letter into a word. If an opponent challenges an unusual word, it had better be

in the dictionary, or you'll have to remove it and lose a turn.

Butts's game didn't meet with much success initially. But in the 1940s, another game maven, James

Brunot, took over. He renamed the game Scrabble and by 1952, it had become a sensation

[source:NPR].

Scrabble aficionados, like the ones mentioned above, may memorize long lists of unusual words to win

their bragging rights. But casual players can improve their games by learning just a handful of usefulentries. You can impress -- and even beat -- your friends by blitzing them with high-scoring words, or by

sneaking in common but strategic words that get rid of unwanted letters. Remember to make use of the

double and triple squares to leverage your score on almost any word. And always look for what players

call a "bingo," the 50 extra points you get for using all your tiles on one play.

Now let's look at 20 words that every Scrabble player should know.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htm

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Challenge! That might be your first instinct, thinking there's no way this is a word. But "za" is now

accepted as slang forpizzaand appears in the Official Tournament and Club Word List, the final authority

for acceptable words in the U.S. and Canada. It's not much to look at, but "za" packs a big punch: With 10

points for the "z," it'll earn you least 11 total. Hit a triple letter square and you can score 31. Add

pepperoni and you've got a meal.

19. Muzjiks

Muzjiks are Russian peasants -- or so they were called under the tzar (another handy word to know).

InScrabble,"muzjiks" gives you the highest possible opening play. Put the "z" on the double letter square

for an initial score of 39. All opening plays score a double word -- that makes 78. Add 50 for a bingo,the

use of all seven letters in your rack. With a total of 128, you're off to a terrific start.

18.Aerie

An aerie is an eagle's nest located on a cliff or some other high location. InScrabble,the word is a handyway to get rid of four vowels in one fell swoop. You only score five points, but it beats turning your tiles in

for new ones and losing a turn in the process.

17.Caziques

When Spanish explorers first reached the West Indies, they found tribes of Indians who described their

chiefs using this word. The conquistadors applied the word, which can also be spelled "caciques," to all

native chiefs. It also refers to a tropical bird similar to an oriole. In a game in England in 1982, Dr. Karl

Khoshnaw set the record for the highest single word score in Scrabblecompetition. He played "caziques"

across two triple word squares for a total score of 392.

16.faqir

found tribes of Indians who described their chiefs using this word. The conquistadors applied the word,

which can also be spelled "caciques," to all native chiefs. It also refers to a tropical bird similar to an

oriole. In a game in England in 1982, Dr. Karl Khoshnaw set the record for the highest single word score

inScrabblecompetition. He played "caziques" across two triple word squares for a total score of 392.

"Q" is the best of letters and the worst of letters. It gives you 10 points when you use it, but drags down

your score if you end the game holding it. Thinking of "q" words is always a challenge. That's why it's a

good idea to keep "faqir" in mind.

Faqirs were originally monks in the Sufi sect of Islam, who took vows of poverty. (The word came from the

Arabic for "poor man.") The term is now used to refer to any Muslim or Hindu holy man. On

theScrabbleboard, "faqir" earns you a generous 17 points. And it's an ideal way to use a "q" if you don't

have its usual partner, the letter "u."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htm

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15.jousted

Once upon a time, when knights jousted, they had great fun trying to knock each other off their horses

with lances. In 2006, two journeymanScrabble buffs jousted with each other in a game in Lexington,

Mass., that involved record high scores.

The loser, Wayne Yorra, opened with abingo using the word "jousted." He hit the double letter square

with the "j" for an initial score of 23. Doubled, it was 46, plus 50 points for using all his tiles, and Yorra was

off to a galloping start with a score of 106.

14.quixotry

Learning just a few useful words might give you the edge over your friends in Scrabble.

John Gichigi/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

You can say you don't care if you win or lose at Scrabble, but you may very well be in the minority. Even

PresidentBarack Obama,one of United States' most high-profileScrabbleenthusiasts, isn't above

boasting about his wins. "It's his favorite game to play," said White House communications director

Robert Gibbs in a 2008 interview reported in The Independent. "He'll play with his family and particularly

his sister. And the winner gets bragging rights for a long, long time" [source:McSmith].

And Obama's not the only famousScrabble devotee. President Richard Nixon was an avid player. So is

actor Mel Gibson, who plays the game while waiting on the movie set. Author Vladimir Nabokov, famous

for his novel "Lolita," was a skilled player. Even Queen Elizabeth II is reported to enjoy a royal game of

Scrabble [source:McSmith].

Not bad for a pastime invented during the Great Depression. In 1931, out-of-work architect Alfred Mosher

Butts came up with a game that he first called Lexiko, then Criss Cross Words. He spent several years

tinkering before settling on the rules, now familiar to all Scrabble players: You draw seven letters and try

to make words on a board with a 15-by-15 grid. Each letter scores specific points that roughly go along

with how hard it is to fit the letter into a word. If an opponent challenges an unusual word, it had better be

in the dictionary, or you'll have to remove it and lose a turn.

Butts's game didn't meet with much success initially. But in the 1940s, another game maven, James

Brunot, took over. He renamed the game Scrabble and by 1952, it had become a sensation

[source:NPR].

Scrabble aficionados, like the ones mentioned above, may memorize long lists of unusual words to win

their bragging rights. But casual players can improve their games by learning just a handful of useful

entries. You can impress -- and even beat -- your friends by blitzing them with high-scoring words, or by

sneaking in common but strategic words that get rid of unwanted letters. Remember to make use of the

double and triple squares to leverage your score on almost any word. And always look for what players

call a "bingo," the 50 extra points you get for using all your tiles on one play.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htm

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Now let's look at 20 words that every Scrabble player should know.

Challenge! That might be your first instinct, thinking there's no way this is a word. But "za" is now

accepted as slang forpizzaand appears in the Official Tournament and Club Word List, the final authority

for acceptable words in the U.S. and Canada. It's not much to look at, but "za" packs a big punch: With 10

points for the "z," it'll earn you least 11 total. Hit a triple letter square and you can score 31. Add

pepperoni and you've got a meal.

The word for Russian peasants can make you rich in points.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

Muzjiks are Russian peasants -- or so they were called under the tzar (another handy word to know).

InScrabble,"muzjiks" gives you the highest possible opening play. Put the "z" on the double letter square

for an initial score of 39. All opening plays score a double word -- that makes 78. Add 50 for a bingo,the

use of all seven letters in your rack. With a total of 128, you're off to a terrific start.

An aerie is an eagle's nest located on a cliff or some other high location. InScrabble,the word is a handy

way to get rid of four vowels in one fell swoop. You only score five points, but it beats turning your tiles in

for new ones and losing a turn in the process.

Dr. Karl Khoshnaw set the 1982 record for the highest single word score with "caziques."

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

When Spanish explorers first reached the West Indies, they found tribes of Indians who described their

chiefs using this word. The conquistadors applied the word, which can also be spelled "caciques," to all

native chiefs. It also refers to a tropical bird similar to an oriole. In a game in England in 1982, Dr. Karl

Khoshnaw set the record for the highest single word score in Scrabblecompetition. He played "caziques"

across two triple word squares for a total score of 392.

"Q" is the best of letters and the worst of letters. It gives you 10 points when you use it, but drags down

your score if you end the game holding it. Thinking of "q" words is always a challenge. That's why it's a

good idea to keep "faqir" in mind.

Faqirs were originally monks in the Sufi sect of Islam, who took vows of poverty. (The word came from the

Arabic for "poor man.") The term is now used to refer to any Muslim or Hindu holy man. On

theScrabbleboard, "faqir" earns you a generous 17 points. And it's an ideal way to use a "q" if you don't

have its usual partner, the letter "u."

This fairly accessible word can help you defeat your Scrabble opponents.

iStockphoto.com/bcreigh

Once upon a time, when knights jousted, they had great fun trying to knock each other off their horses

with lances. In 2006, two journeymanScrabble buffs jousted with each other in a game in Lexington,

Mass., that involved record high scores.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.istockphoto.com/http://www.istockphoto.com/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.istockphoto.com/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htm

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The loser, Wayne Yorra, opened with abingo using the word "jousted." He hit the double letter square

with the "j" for an initial score of 23. Doubled, it was 46, plus 50 points for using all his tiles, and Yorra was

off to a galloping start with a score of 106.

In that same record-setting 2006 game mentioned on the previous page, which took place in a church

basement, winner Michael Cresta stunnedScrabble fans with the permitted word "quixotry." It means a

visionary scheme, action or thought and is derived from the fictional character Don Quixote, whose

visions led him to joust with windmills.

Cresta, a carpenter by trade, stretched the word between two triple word squares. With a double letter

square under the "x," he initially scored 35. Two triples multiplies that by nine for 315. Add 50 for the

bingo, and Cresta ended with a score of 365, a North American record for a single word. The two men

went on to set two more records: Cresta's final score of 830 was the most points in a game by one player.

Combined with Yorra's 490, the players set a record for most total points at 1,320.

13. zax

Learning just a few useful words might give you the edge over your friends in Scrabble.

John Gichigi/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

You can say you don't care if you win or lose at Scrabble, but you may very well be in the minority. Even

PresidentBarack Obama,one of United States' most high-profileScrabbleenthusiasts, isn't above

boasting about his wins. "It's his favorite game to play," said White House communications director

Robert Gibbs in a 2008 interview reported in The Independent. "He'll play with his family and particularly

his sister. And the winner gets bragging rights for a long, long time" [source:McSmith].

And Obama's not the only famousScrabble devotee. President Richard Nixon was an avid player. So is

actor Mel Gibson, who plays the game while waiting on the movie set. Author Vladimir Nabokov, famous

for his novel "Lolita," was a skilled player. Even Queen Elizabeth II is reported to enjoy a royal game of

Scrabble [source:McSmith].

Not bad for a pastime invented during the Great Depression. In 1931, out-of-work architect Alfred Mosher

Butts came up with a game that he first called Lexiko, then Criss Cross Words. He spent several years

tinkering before settling on the rules, now familiar to all Scrabble players: You draw seven letters and try

to make words on a board with a 15-by-15 grid. Each letter scores specific points that roughly go along

with how hard it is to fit the letter into a word. If an opponent challenges an unusual word, it had better bein the dictionary, or you'll have to remove it and lose a turn.

Butts's game didn't meet with much success initially. But in the 1940s, another game maven, James

Brunot, took over. He renamed the game Scrabble and by 1952, it had become a sensation

[source:NPR].

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htm

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Scrabble aficionados, like the ones mentioned above, may memorize long lists of unusual words to win

their bragging rights. But casual players can improve their games by learning just a handful of useful

entries. You can impress -- and even beat -- your friends by blitzing them with high-scoring words, or by

sneaking in common but strategic words that get rid of unwanted letters. Remember to make use of the

double and triple squares to leverage your score on almost any word. And always look for what players

call a "bingo," the 50 extra points you get for using all your tiles on one play.

Now let's look at 20 words that every Scrabble player should know.

Challenge! That might be your first instinct, thinking there's no way this is a word. But "za" is now

accepted as slang forpizzaand appears in the Official Tournament and Club Word List, the final authority

for acceptable words in the U.S. and Canada. It's not much to look at, but "za" packs a big punch: With 10

points for the "z," it'll earn you least 11 total. Hit a triple letter square and you can score 31. Add

pepperoni and you've got a meal.

The word for Russian peasants can make you rich in points.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

Muzjiks are Russian peasants -- or so they were called under the tzar (another handy word to know).

InScrabble,"muzjiks" gives you the highest possible opening play. Put the "z" on the double letter square

for an initial score of 39. All opening plays score a double word -- that makes 78. Add 50 for a bingo,the

use of all seven letters in your rack. With a total of 128, you're off to a terrific start.

An aerie is an eagle's nest located on a cliff or some other high location. InScrabble,the word is a handy

way to get rid of four vowels in one fell swoop. You only score five points, but it beats turning your tiles in

for new ones and losing a turn in the process.

Dr. Karl Khoshnaw set the 1982 record for the highest single word score with "caziques."

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

When Spanish explorers first reached the West Indies, they found tribes of Indians who described their

chiefs using this word. The conquistadors applied the word, which can also be spelled "caciques," to all

native chiefs. It also refers to a tropical bird similar to an oriole. In a game in England in 1982, Dr. Karl

Khoshnaw set the record for the highest single word score inScrabblecompetition. He played "caziques"

across two triple word squares for a total score of 392.

"Q" is the best of letters and the worst of letters. It gives you 10 points when you use it, but drags down

your score if you end the game holding it. Thinking of "q" words is always a challenge. That's why it's a

good idea to keep "faqir" in mind.

Faqirs were originally monks in the Sufi sect of Islam, who took vows of poverty. (The word came from the

Arabic for "poor man.") The term is now used to refer to any Muslim or Hindu holy man. On

theScrabbleboard, "faqir" earns you a generous 17 points. And it's an ideal way to use a "q" if you don't

have its usual partner, the letter "u."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htm

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InScrabble,"queue" earns a minimum score of 14, nothing to sneer at. Even better, it clears your rack of

a bunch of awkward vowels. And, of course, you lose the "q," a letter you don't want to be saddled with at

the game's end.

10.chutzpah

The writer Leo Rosten said chutzpah was when a man murders his parents, then throws himself on the

mercy of the court as an orphan. The word reaches us from Hebrew through Yiddish. It can mean either

extreme self-confidence or shameless impudence.

You'll score at least 27 points with chutzpah anywhere on the board. Fit it into either the upper right or

lower right corner going across, and you'll do better -- much better. That puts the "z" on the double letter

square, giving you an initial 37. It also lets you hit two triple word squares, which multiplies your score by

nine. Add 50 for abingo.You'll wind up with a phenomenal 383 points and a major boost to your self-

confidence.

9.xi

Xi is the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet, falling between nu and omicron. In English, it's pronounced

something like "sigh."

You may let out a sigh of relief when you make this play in Scrabble,because it clears your rack of the "x,"

which will subtract eight points from your score if you're stuck with it in the final tally. So keep "xi" in mind.

It's rare that you can't find a place to squeeze this little word in, dispose of the "x," and pick up nine points

in the process.

8.syzygy

There's no way to pronounce this word, which describes an alignment of three heavenly bodies, without

sounding like you've had too much todrink.But it's a cool and impressive word to keep in mind for

Scrabble.

To begin with, you'll score at least 21 points for "syzygy." Of course, you'll need to use a blank, because

there are only two "y" tiles inScrabble.But you can amp up your score if you bring the word into

alignment with one of the corners. Hit the double letter square with the "z" and end on a triple word

square, and you'll have a total of 93. A great move when you're short of vowels.

7.wagyu

his Japanese breed of cattle provides gourmets withKobe beef,which sells for $100 a pound and up. The

lucky beeves are given a ration of beer and a massage every day.

In 2011, "wagyu" was added to the Scrabble word list for play outside the U.S. and Canada. That fact

points out a great divide in the Scrabble world. In North America, the Scrabble brand is controlled by

Hasbro, which rules on the words that are permissible in tournaments. In the rest of the world, Scrabble is

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/alcohol.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/alcohol.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/alcohol.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/alcohol.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htm

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marketed and overseen by Mattel. Different official word lists apply. For casual games, players can

choose an ordinary dictionary as the last word in what words can be used.

With the combination AYWUG on your rack, you might be left scratching your head. But remember

"wagyu," and you'll score at least 12 points initially, with a chance for more with double letter squares -- if

you live outside North America.his Japanese breed of cattle provides gourmets with Kobe beef,which sells for $100 a pound and up. The

lucky beeves are given a ration of beer and a massage every day.

In 2011, "wagyu" was added to the Scrabble word list for play outside the U.S. and Canada. That fact

points out a great divide in the Scrabble world. In North America, the Scrabble brand is controlled by

Hasbro, which rules on the words that are permissible in tournaments. In the rest of the world, Scrabble is

marketed and overseen by Mattel. Different official word lists apply. For casual games, players can

choose an ordinary dictionary as the last word in what words can be used.

With the combination AYWUG on your rack, you might be left scratching your head. But remember

"wagyu," and you'll score at least 12 points initially, with a chance for more with double letter squares -- if

you live outside North America.

6.yo

"Yo, my man!" This exclamation is used to get somebody's attention. Sounds contemporary, but

surprisingly, "yo" goes back to the Late Middle English of 1400. Soldiers inWorld War IIused it to mean

"present" in a roll call. Sylvester Stallone, in the Rocky movies, used it a lot, too. "Yo, Adrian!"

In Scrabble, it's a clever way to dump a pesky "y." It may only score you five points, but that can make a

difference in a tight game.

5.zymurgy

This is the branch of chemistry that deals withfermentation,as inwinemaking or thebrewing of beer.You

might refer to your next kegger as an experiment in zymurgy.

It's a high-octane word for Scrabble as well. For an opening bingo, put the "z" on the double letter square

and you'll brew up a score of 120. It can be terrific way to score points when you're short on vowels.

4.bezique

Learning just a few useful words might give you the edge over your friends in Scrabble.

John Gichigi/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

You can say you don't care if you win or lose at Scrabble, but you may very well be in the minority. Even

PresidentBarack Obama,one of United States' most high-profileScrabbleenthusiasts, isn't above

boasting about his wins. "It's his favorite game to play," said White House communications director

Robert Gibbs in a 2008 interview reported in The Independent. "He'll play with his family and particularly

his sister. And the winner gets bragging rights for a long, long time" [source:McSmith].

http://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/5-bloodiest-world-war-ii-battles.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/5-bloodiest-world-war-ii-battles.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/5-bloodiest-world-war-ii-battles.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/biology-terms/fermentation-info.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/biology-terms/fermentation-info.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/biology-terms/fermentation-info.htmhttp://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/5-winemaking-tips.htmhttp://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/5-winemaking-tips.htmhttp://recipes.howstuffworks.com/top-5-beer-making-tips.htmhttp://recipes.howstuffworks.com/top-5-beer-making-tips.htmhttp://recipes.howstuffworks.com/top-5-beer-making-tips.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://www.gettyimages.com/http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/barack-obama.htmhttp://www.gettyimages.com/http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/top-5-beer-making-tips.htmhttp://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/5-winemaking-tips.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/biology-terms/fermentation-info.htmhttp://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/5-bloodiest-world-war-ii-battles.htmhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/kobe-beef-define.htm

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And Obama's not the only famousScrabble devotee. President Richard Nixon was an avid player. So is

actor Mel Gibson, who plays the game while waiting on the movie set. Author Vladimir Nabokov, famous

for his novel "Lolita," was a skilled player. Even Queen Elizabeth II is reported to enjoy a royal game of

Scrabble [source:McSmith].

Not bad for a pastime invented during the Great Depression. In 1931, out-of-work architect Alfred MosherButts came up with a game that he first called Lexiko, then Criss Cross Words. He spent several years

tinkering before settling on the rules, now familiar to all Scrabble players: You draw seven letters and try

to make words on a board with a 15-by-15 grid. Each letter scores specific points that roughly go along

with how hard it is to fit the letter into a word. If an opponent challenges an unusual word, it had better be

in the dictionary, or you'll have to remove it and lose a turn.

Butts's game didn't meet with much success initially. But in the 1940s, another game maven, James

Brunot, took over. He renamed the game Scrabble and by 1952, it had become a sensation

[source:NPR].

Scrabble aficionados, like the ones mentioned above, may memorize long lists of unusual words to win

their bragging rights. But casual players can improve their games by learning just a handful of useful

entries. You can impress -- and even beat -- your friends by blitzing them with high-scoring words, or by

sneaking in common but strategic words that get rid of unwanted letters. Remember to make use of the

double and triple squares to leverage your score on almost any word. And always look for what players

call a "bingo," the 50 extra points you get for using all your tiles on one play.

Now let's look at 20 words that every Scrabble player should know.

Challenge! That might be your first instinct, thinking there's no way this is a word. But "za" is now

accepted as slang forpizzaand appears in the Official Tournament and Club Word List, the final authority

for acceptable words in the U.S. and Canada. It's not much to look at, but "za" packs a big punch: With 10points for the "z," it'll earn you least 11 total. Hit a triple letter square and you can score 31. Add

pepperoni and you've got a meal.

The word for Russian peasants can make you rich in points.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

Muzjiks are Russian peasants -- or so they were called under the tzar (another handy word to know).

InScrabble,"muzjiks" gives you the highest possible opening play. Put the "z" on the double letter square

for an initial score of 39. All opening plays score a double word -- that makes 78. Add 50 for a bingo,the

use of all seven letters in your rack. With a total of 128, you're off to a terrific start.An aerie is an eagle's nest located on a cliff or some other high location. InScrabble,the word is a handy

way to get rid of four vowels in one fell swoop. You only score five points, but it beats turning your tiles in

for new ones and losing a turn in the process.

Dr. Karl Khoshnaw set the 1982 record for the highest single word score with "caziques."

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-bingo.htmhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/pizza.htmhttp://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/scrabble/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-sublime-joy-of-scrabble-1067061.htmlhttp://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/scrabble.htm

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When Spanish explorers first reached the West Indies, they found tribes of Indians who described their

chiefs using this word. The conquistadors applied the word, which can also be spelled "caciques," to all

native chiefs. It also refers to a tropical bird similar to an oriole. In a game in England in 1982, Dr. Karl

Khoshnaw set the record for the highest single word score in Scrabblecompetition. He played "caziques"

across two triple word squares for a total score of 392.

"Q" is the best of letters and the worst of letters. It gives you 10 points when you use it, but drags down

your score if you end the game holding it. Thinking of "q" words is always a challenge. That's why it's a

good idea to keep "faqir" in mind.

Faqirs were originally monks in the Sufi sect of Islam, who took vows of poverty. (The word came from the

Arabic for "poor man.") The term is now used to refer to any Muslim or Hindu holy man. On

theScrabbleboard, "faqir" earns you a generous 17 points. And it's an ideal way to use a "q" if you don't

have its usual partner, the letter "u."

This fairly accessible word can help you defeat your Scrabble opponents.

iStockphoto.com/bcreigh

Once upon a time, when knights jousted, they had great fun trying to knock each other off their horses

with lances. In 2006, two journeymanScrabble buffs jousted with each other in a game in Lexington,

Mass., that involved record high scores.

The loser, Wayne Yorra, opened with abingo using the word "jousted." He hit the double letter square

with the "j" for an initial score of 23. Doubled, it was 46, plus 50 points for using all his tiles, and Yorra was

off to a galloping start with a score of 106.

In that same record-setting 2006 game mentioned on the previous page, which took place in a church

basement, winner Michael Cresta stunnedScrabble fans with the permitted word "quixotry." It means avisionary scheme, action or thought and is derived from the fictional character Don Quixote, whose

visions led him to joust with windmills.

Cresta, a carpenter by trade, stretched the word between two triple word squares. With a double letter

square under the "x," he initially scored 35. Two triples multiplies that by nine for 315. Add 50 for the

bingo, and Cresta ended with a score of 365, a North American record for a single word. The two men

went on to set two more records: Cresta's final score of 830 was the most points in a game by one player.

Combined with Yorra's 490, the players set a record for most total points at 1,320.

"Jukebox" can earn you nearly 30 points, no matter where you play it.

iStockphoto.com/Graffizone

Long before the iPod playlist, there was the coin-operated phonograph. Jukeboxes brought popular music

to the world for decades and grew into colorful, bubbling neon shrines to pop and rock. The word comes

from a Gullah term meaning wicked; it originally referred to a juke house, a brothel.

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InScrabble,you need to keep in mind that high-scoring words don't have to be obscure. This common

word gives you at least 27 points. As an openingbingo,it's worth a solid 85, which is music to any

player's ears.

This word evolved from "sax," a single-edge sword of ancient Scandinavia, and came to describe a tool

for cutting and punching nail holes in roofing slates. It also refers to the craftsman who uses the tool. It

gives the highest possiblescrabble score for a three-letter word: 19. Hit a double or triple letter square,

and you'll do even better. The bonus: You dump two problematic letters at once.

"Queue" may refer to a line of people, among other things.

iStockphoto.com/gemenacom

George Washington had one. So does your printer. "Queue" can refer to either a braid of hair hanging

down a person's back, or a line of people, print jobs or anything else. It comes from the Latin word coda,

which means tail.

InScrabble,"queue" earns a minimum score of 14, nothing to sneer at. Even better, it clears your rack of

a bunch of awkward vowels. And, of course, you lose the "q," a letter you don't want to be saddled with at

the game's end.

The writer Leo Rosten said chutzpah was when a man murders his parents, then throws himself on the

mercy of the court as an orphan. The word reaches us from Hebrew through Yiddish. It can mean either

extreme self-confidence or shameless impudence.

You'll score at least 27 points with chutzpah anywhere on the board. Fit it into either the upper right or

lower right corner going across, and you'll do better -- much better. That puts the "z" on the double letter

square, giving you an initial 37. It also lets you hit two triple word squares, which multiplies your score by

nine. Add 50 for abingo.You'll wind up with a phenomenal 383 points and a major boost to your self-confidence.

"Xi" may be short, but it's point-worthy.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

Xi is the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet, falling between nu and omicron. In English, it's pronounced

something like "sigh."

You may let out a sigh of relief when you make this play in Scrabble,because it clears your rack of the "x,"

which will subtract eight points from your score if you're stuck with it in the final tally. So keep "xi" in mind.

It's rare that you can't find a place to squeeze this little word in, dispose of the "x," and pick up nine points

in the process.

There's no way to pronounce this word, which describes an alignment of three heavenly bodies, without

sounding like you've had too much todrink.But it's a cool and impressive word to keep in mind for

Scrabble.

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To begin with, you'll score at least 21 points for "syzygy." Of course, you'll need to use a blank, because

there are only two "y" tiles inScrabble.But you can amp up your score if you bring the word into

alignment with one of the corners. Hit the double letter square with the "z" and end on a triple word

square, and you'll have a total of 93. A great move when you're short of vowels.

If you live outside of North America, this word is a good one to have in your arsenal.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

This Japanese breed of cattle provides gourmets withKobe beef,which sells for $100 a pound and up.

The lucky beeves are given a ration of beer and a massage every day.

In 2011, "wagyu" was added to the Scrabble word list for play outside the U.S. and Canada. That fact

points out a great divide in the Scrabble world. In North America, the Scrabble brand is controlled by

Hasbro, which rules on the words that are permissible in tournaments. In the rest of the world, Scrabble is

marketed and overseen by Mattel. Different official word lists apply. For casual games, players can

choose an ordinary dictionary as the last word in what words can be used.

With the combination AYWUG on your rack, you might be left scratching your head. But remember

"wagyu," and you'll score at least 12 points initially, with a chance for more with double letter squares -- if

you live outside North America.

"Yo, my man!" This exclamation is used to get somebody's attention. Sounds contemporary, but

surprisingly, "yo" goes back to the Late Middle English of 1400. Soldiers in World War IIused it to mean

"present" in a roll call. Sylvester Stallone, in the Rocky movies, used it a lot, too. "Yo, Adrian!"

In Scrabble, it's a clever way to dump a pesky "y." It may only score you five points, but that can make a

difference in a tight game.

This consonant-heavy word can earn you up to 120 points.

iStockphoto.com/Gizmo

This is the branch of chemistry that deals withfermentation,as inwinemaking or thebrewing of beer.You

might refer to your next kegger as an experiment in zymurgy.

It's a high-octane word for Scrabble as well. For an opening bingo, put the "z" on the double letter square

and you'll brew up a score of 120. It can be terrific way to score points when you're short on vowels.

Bezique was Winston Churchill's favorite card game. It's a high-scoring, trick-taking and melding contest

that employs a deck of 64 cards. Its more popular offspring is Pinochle.

InScrabble,the word "Bezique" can be a winner. You'll score a minimum of 27 points when you play it

anywhere on the board. But use it as an opening bingo with the "q" on a double letter square and you'll

score 124, one of the highest possible openings.

3.flapjack

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In America, this is another word for pancake. Cowboys washed them down with bad coffee for breakfast.

But in Britain, a flapjack is a chewy sweet made from oats.

You might overlook flapjack as a mundane word, but it can be a high Scrabble scorer. Hit a double letter

square with the "j" and you'll score 34. Stretch it between two triple word squares and you'll end up with a

sweet 356.

2.qanat

Learning just a few useful words might give you the edge over your friends in Scrabble.

John Gichigi/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

You can say you don't care if you win or lose at Scrabble, but you may very well be in the minority. Even

PresidentBarack Obama,one of United States' most high-profileScrabbleenthusiasts, isn't above

boasting about his wins. "It's his favorite game to play," said White House communications director

Robert Gibbs in a 2008 interview reported in The Independent. "He'll play with his family and particularly

his sister. And the winner gets bragging rights for a long, long time" [source:McSmith].

And Obama's not the only famousScrabble devotee. President Richard Nixon was an avid player. So is

actor Mel Gibson, who plays the game while waiting on the movie set. Author Vladimir Nabokov, famous

for his novel "Lolita," was a skilled player. Even Queen Elizabeth II is reported to enjoy a royal game of

Scrabble [source:McSmith].

Not bad for a pastime invented during the Great Depression. In 1931, out-of-work architect Alfred Mosher

Butts came up with a game that he first called Lexiko, then Criss Cross Words. He spent several yearstinkering before settling on the rules, now familiar to all Scrabble players: You draw seven letters and try

to make words on a board with a 15-by-15 grid. Each letter scores specific points that roughly go along

with how hard it is to fit the letter into a word. If an opponent challenges an unusual word, it had better be

in the dictionary, or you'll have to remove it and lose a turn.

Butts's game didn't meet with much success initially. But in the 1940s, another game maven, James

Brunot, took over. He renamed the game Scrabble and by 1952, it had become a sensation

[source:NPR].

Scrabble aficionados, like the ones mentioned above, may memorize long lists of unusual words to win

their bragging rights. But casual players can improve their games by learning just a handful of useful

entries. You can impress -- and even beat -- your friends by blitzing them with high-scoring words, or by

sneaking in common but strategic words that get rid of unwanted letters. Remember to make use of the

double and triple squares to leverage your score on almost any word. And always look for what players

call a "bingo," the 50 extra points you get for using all your tiles on one play.

Now let's look at 20 words that every Scrabble player should know.

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Challenge! That might be your first instinct, thinking there's no way this is a word. But "za" is now

accepted as slang forpizzaand appears in the Official Tournament and Club Word List, the final authority

for acceptable words in the U.S. and Canada. It's not much to look at, but "za" packs a big punch: With 10

points for the "z," it'll earn you least 11 total. Hit a triple letter square and you can score 31. Add

pepperoni and you've got a meal.

The word for Russian peasants can make you rich in points.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

Muzjiks are Russian peasants -- or so they were called under the tzar (another handy word to know).

InScrabble,"muzjiks" gives you the highest possible opening play. Put the "z" on the double letter square

for an initial score of 39. All opening plays score a double word -- that makes 78. Add 50 for a bingo,the

use of all seven letters in your rack. With a total of 128, you're off to a terrific start.

An aerie is an eagle's nest located on a cliff or some other high location. InScrabble,the word is a handy

way to get rid of four vowels in one fell swoop. You only score five points, but it beats turning your tiles in

for new ones and losing a turn in the process.

Dr. Karl Khoshnaw set the 1982 record for the highest single word score with "caziques."

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

When Spanish explorers first reached the West Indies, they found tribes of Indians who described their

chiefs using this word. The conquistadors applied the word, which can also be spelled "caciques," to all

native chiefs. It also refers to a tropical bird similar to an oriole. In a game in England in 1982, Dr. Karl

Khoshnaw set the record for the highest single word score in Scrabblecompetition. He played "caziques"

across two triple word squares for a total score of 392.

"Q" is the best of letters and the worst of letters. It gives you 10 points when you use it, but drags down

your score if you end the game holding it. Thinking of "q" words is always a challenge. That's why it's a

good idea to keep "faqir" in mind.

Faqirs were originally monks in the Sufi sect of Islam, who took vows of poverty. (The word came from the

Arabic for "poor man.") The term is now used to refer to any Muslim or Hindu holy man. On

theScrabbleboard, "faqir" earns you a generous 17 points. And it's an ideal way to use a "q" if you don't

have its usual partner, the letter "u."

This fairly accessible word can help you defeat your Scrabble opponents.

iStockphoto.com/bcreigh

Once upon a time, when knights jousted, they had great fun trying to knock each other off their horses

with lances. In 2006, two journeymanScrabble buffs jousted with each other in a game in Lexington,

Mass., that involved record high scores.

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The loser, Wayne Yorra, opened with abingo using the word "jousted." He hit the double letter square

with the "j" for an initial score of 23. Doubled, it was 46, plus 50 points for using all his tiles, and Yorra was

off to a galloping start with a score of 106.

In that same record-setting 2006 game mentioned on the previous page, which took place in a church

basement, winner Michael Cresta stunnedScrabble fans with the permitted word "quixotry." It means a

visionary scheme, action or thought and is derived from the fictional character Don Quixote, whose

visions led him to joust with windmills.

Cresta, a carpenter by trade, stretched the word between two triple word squares. With a double letter

square under the "x," he initially scored 35. Two triples multiplies that by nine for 315. Add 50 for the

bingo, and Cresta ended with a score of 365, a North American record for a single word. The two men

went on to set two more records: Cresta's final score of 830 was the most points in a game by one player.

Combined with Yorra's 490, the players set a record for most total points at 1,320.

"Jukebox" can earn you nearly 30 points, no matter where you play it.

iStockphoto.com/Graffizone

Long before the iPod playlist, there was the coin-operated phonograph. Jukeboxes brought popular music

to the world for decades and grew into colorful, bubbling neon shrines to pop and rock. The word comes

from a Gullah term meaning wicked; it originally referred to a juke house, a brothel.

InScrabble,you need to keep in mind that high-scoring words don't have to be obscure. This common

word gives you at least 27 points. As an openingbingo,it's worth a solid 85, which is music to any

player's ears.

This word evolved from "sax," a single-edge sword of ancient Scandinavia, and came to describe a tool

for cutting and punching nail holes in roofing slates. It also refers to the craftsman who uses the tool. Itgives the highest possiblescrabble score for a three-letter word: 19. Hit a double or triple letter square,

and you'll do even better. The bonus: You dump two problematic letters at once.

"Queue" may refer to a line of people, among other things.

iStockphoto.com/gemenacom

George Washington had one. So does your printer. "Queue" can refer to either a braid of hair hanging

down a person's back, or a line of people, print jobs or anything else. It comes from the Latin word coda,

which means tail.

InScrabble,"queue" earns a minimum score of 14, nothing to sneer at. Even better, it clears your rack of

a bunch of awkward vowels. And, of course, you lose the "q," a letter you don't want to be saddled with at

the game's end.

The writer Leo Rosten said chutzpah was when a man murders his parents, then throws himself on the

mercy of the court as an orphan. The word reaches us from Hebrew through Yiddish. It can mean either

extreme self-confidence or shameless impudence.

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You'll score at least 27 points with chutzpah anywhere on the board. Fit it into either the upper right or

lower right corner going across, and you'll do better -- much better. That puts the "z" on the double letter

square, giving you an initial 37. It also lets you hit two triple word squares, which multiplies your score by

nine. Add 50 for abingo.You'll wind up with a phenomenal 383 points and a major boost to your self-

confidence.

"Xi" may be short, but it's point-worthy.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

Xi is the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet, falling between nu and omicron. In English, it's pronounced

something like "sigh."

You may let out a sigh of relief when you make this play in Scrabble,because it clears your rack of the "x,"

which will subtract eight points from your score if you're stuck with it in the final tally. So keep "xi" in mind.

It's rare that you can't find a place to squeeze this little word in, dispose of the "x," and pick up nine points

in the process.

There's no way to pronounce this word, which describes an alignment of three heavenly bodies, without

sounding like you've had too much todrink.But it's a cool and impressive word to keep in mind for

Scrabble.

To begin with, you'll score at least 21 points for "syzygy." Of course, you'll need to use a blank, because

there are only two "y" tiles inScrabble.But you can amp up your score if you bring the word into

alignment with one of the corners. Hit the double letter square with the "z" and end on a triple word

square, and you'll have a total of 93. A great move when you're short of vowels.

If you live outside of North America, this word is a good one to have in your arsenal.

Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Johnston/HowStuffWorks.com

This Japanese breed of cattle provides gourmets withKobe beef,which sells for $100 a pound and up.

The lucky beeves are given a ration of beer and a massage every day.

In 2011, "wagyu" was added to the Scrabble word list for play outside the U.S. and Canada. That fact

points out a great divide in the Scrabble world. In North America, the Scrabble brand is controlled by

Hasbro, which rules on the words that are permissible in tournaments. In the rest of the world, Scrabble is

marketed and overseen by Mattel. Different official word lists apply. For casual games, players can

choose an ordinary dictionary as the last word in what words can be used.

With the combination AYWUG on your rack, you might be left scratching your head. But remember

"wagyu," and you'll score at least 12 points initially, with a chance for more with double letter squares -- if

you live outside North America.

"Yo, my man!" This exclamation is used to get somebody's attention. Sounds contemporary, but

surprisingly, "yo" goes back to the Late Middle English of 1400. Soldiers in World War IIused it to mean

"present" in a roll call. Sylvester Stallone, in the Rocky movies, used it a lot, too. "Yo, Adrian!"

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In Scrabble, it's a clever way to dump a pesky "y." It may only score you five points, but that can make a

difference in a tight game.

This consonant-heavy word can earn you up to 120 points.

iStockphoto.com/Gizmo

This is the branch of chemistry that deals withfermentation,as inwinemaking or thebrewing of beer.You

might refer to your next kegger as an experiment in zymurgy.

It's a high-octane word for Scrabble as well. For an opening bingo, put the "z" on the double letter square

and you'll brew up a score of 120. It can be terrific way to score points when you're short on vowels.

Bezique was Winston Churchill's favorite card game. It's a high-scoring, trick-taking and melding contest

that employs a deck of 64 cards. Its more popular offspring is Pinochle.

InScrabble,the word "Bezique" can be a winner. You'll score a minimum of 27 points when you play it

anywhere on the board. But use it as an opening bingo with the "q" on a double letter square and you'llscore 124, one of the highest possible openings.

Remembering one of your favorite breakfast foods can score you nearly 400 points.

iStockphoto.com/cislander

In America, this is another word for pancake. Cowboys washed them down with bad coffee for breakfast.

But in Britain, a flapjack is a chewy sweet made from oats.

You might overlook flapjack as a mundane word, but it can be a high Scrabble scorer. Hit a double letter

square with the "j" and you'll score 34. Stretch it between two triple word squares and you'll end up with asweet 356.

A qanat is a tunnel used in arid regions forirrigation.It was invented in Iran, then called Persia, about

2,500 years ago and is still used today. It taps into underground water and uses the slope of the land to

bring that water to where it's needed without pumping.

A rack containing these letters can be maddening. Two "a's" and no "u" to go with the "q." But don't

despair. Qanat clears most of your letters and rids you of "q," scoring you at least 14 points in the

process.

1.aa

Solidifiedlava comes in two forms. Aa is rough like cinders. Pahoehoe, formed from hotter lava, is

smooth. Both words are Hawaiian.

The game is winding down. This could be your last play. You can fit the word in almost anywhere there's

another "a." It's only worth two points, but if they allow you to edge out your opponent, you'll be bragging

about those two points for a while.

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