Scrabble Strategy for the Opening Move

Don’t Expose Double Letter Scores!

One thing to keep in mind when you are playing Scrabble is that when you are making your open move, you want to make sure you do not give your opponent an opportunity to score. By not exposing a double letter square (which is around the center square), you will not give them a chance to score some points.

If you have a tile that will give you a decent number of points (like Z or J), then maybe you can try to leave it open to give yourself a bigger score in the next turn. Obviously, this will force you to take a risk, but sometimes in life one does have to take some risks!

That Five Letter Opening Word

The first word you play on the opening turn might decide the entire game for you. Okay, we are exaggerating, but it could give your score a boost. A higher score will do wonders for your confidence, making you certainly play to the best of your ability against the other player.

Two or three-letter words are a great way to get rid of your tiles and slowly build your score against your opponent. However, why not go big for your first move? One way to do this is by using a five-letter word as your opening word. By using a five-letter opening word, you will be able to use two double word squares.

Imagine the look of jealousy on their face when you pull off a five-letter opening word and get all those points added to your score? The look would be one you would have on your face if your opponent pulled the same move.

Being Aware of Your Opponent

One tip we have for you that may seem obvious on the surface is that you need to be aware of your opponent from the start and never underestimate them. This is something you should already know, but you would be surprised how it may not occur to some people. They may get so into the game and try to figure out their own moves in Scrabble that they might forget this. It is easy to do when you have the idea of winning on the brain.

You need to pay attention to every move your opponent makes. Start with their opening move because it may give you an idea of how they could play the rest of the game. We are not saying that the opening move they make is going to give away everything. Chances are they want to reveal as little as possible at the start, but it is still a good strategy to implement in your own game play.

All sports and video games alike employ this strategy. Scrabble is no different in that regard. The only difference is instead of playing with some ball or controller, you are using titles.

Play it Smart

The biggest thing to remember when you play your opening move (and the game) is that you need to play the game smart. Always try to avoid giving your opponent an advantage. This means you need to always plan your moves out carefully in order to gain the most points possible. Do not give them a chance to get a bigger score by leaving double or triple spaces open. Same goes for leaving a tile on the board that you did not take advantage of. If you have an opportunity, then take it.

Try to keep in mind that you may play with an opponent that could be superior to you. It does not mean they are smarter. They could just have more experience with the game of Scrabble or have simply known more words than you do.

If you want to learn more words than your opponents, then you can bridge that gap by studying. There are plenty of dictionaries available in both physical and app form. Scrabble even has an official dictionary, so consider purchasing that for your future studying!

Implementing these two suggestions in your game play (and opening word) could help lead you to victory.

Final Thoughts

And there we have it, Scrabble lovers! You know why it is so important to have some sort of strategy for your Scrabble opening move. Playing the opening move first, making sure not to expose double letter scores, and trying to play a five-letter word during your opening turn are great strategies to use.

While being aware of your opponent and playing the game smart are less specific and more generalized, these two tips can still help you in the long run. Using all these suggestions may not lead to victory right away but keep at it because practice always makes perfect.