Scrabble scoring, blanks and challenges: worked examples

These examples follow US Classic A8166 home play on our Scrabble rules page. Letter values are those of its US English set. Agree the dictionary before play; tournament challenge procedures are separate.

Score the opening

Place DOG with O on the centre star. D scores 2; O and G score 1 and 2. The centre doubles the word: (2 + 1 + 2) × 2 = 10.

If D is a blank declared as D, it contributes zero instead: (0 + 1 + 2) × 2 = 6. Its identity stays D after this turn.

Add letter premiums before word premiums

For a legal QUIZ placement with newly played Q on a double-letter square and no other active premiums:

Letter	Contribution
Q on double letter	10 × 2 = 20
U	1
I	1
Z	10
Total	32

For any placement covering a word premium as well, total the adjusted letters first, then apply the word multiplier. Two double-word squares in the same word multiply by four, not by three.

Score every word made

Suppose a new X on a double-letter square simultaneously completes AX across and EX down, using an existing A and E. With no other active premiums, AX scores 1 + (8 × 2) = 17, and EX scores another 17. The turn earns 34.

The same newly covered premium applies in both words. In contrast, an old covered premium supplies no multiplier when its tile is reused in a later word.

Add the seven-tile bonus last

If all seven newly placed rack tiles form READING, ordinary letter values total 9. On an opening placement through the centre, with no other premiums, score 9 × 2 + 50 = 68.

The 50 belongs to using seven rack tiles in one turn. Extending a six-letter board word with one tile does not earn it, even if the finished word has seven letters. A blank among the seven still counts as a played tile.

Resolve a challenge

Under A8166, challenge before the next player starts. If the play fails the agreed dictionary, take back its tiles and lose that turn. If it is valid, the challenger loses their next turn. Resolve disputed cross-words as well as the main word.

Use the dictionary for challenges, not to search for a move during your turn.

Apply the endgame adjustments

Suppose the bag is empty. You have 180 points and go out with a 7-point play; your opponent has 195 points and nine points of tiles left.

Step	You	Opponent
Score the last play	187	195
Deduct remaining tiles	187	186
Add opponent’s leftovers to the player who went out	196	186

You win 196–186. A blank has no leftover value. If everyone passes twice in turn instead, each player subtracts their own leftovers, with no going-out addition. A final-score tie uses the higher score before the adjustments in this edition.