Seattle Scrabble Club

When and where do you meet?

Since June 2004, the Seattle Scrabble Club has been meeting every Tuesday at:

University Friends Meetinghouse Google Map of UFM
Social Hall
4001 9th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105

The UFM is just west of the north end of the University Bridge. It is easily accessible by bus or bicycle (just off the Burke-Gilman Trail) (see UFM website for map with bus routes & stops listed). While there is limited on-street parking at this location, there are some free spots in the UFM parking lot, and there is a pay lot across the street (see map at UFM website for details). The UFM website also has Driving Directions.

All levels are welcome, from beginner to expert. The first time is always free, but subsequent visits require a $4 fee, collected during the first game. Games begin at 6pm--don't be late!

Do I have to register or call before I come to club?

No, just show up when you want to play. Try to arrive by 6pm your first time, so we can explain how things work. [Note: you can start with the second game, in which case you should try to arrive by 6:45pm]
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How can I take the bus to club?

From downtown Seattle:

Get on the #70 Metro bus heading northbound [Note: buses on 3rd Avenue only use every other bus stop--make sure #70 is listed on the kiosk at the busstop]

Get off on North East Campus Parkway--the first stop after the University Bridge (tell the driver)
[pay when you get off $1.50]

Cross the street to the north side of the NE Campus Parkway and walk back under the bridge (about 1 1/2 blocks)

Cross 9th NE, turn right and the University Friends Meetinghouse is on the left about 100 feet.

You'll want to catch the 5:30pm bus (from 3rd & Spring/Seneca) to make it to the first game...but you could arrive later and start with the second round.

My 12-year-old likes SCRABBLE®; is there an age limit?

Players of all ages and abilities are welcome at club, but be aware that all players are expected to keep score for themselves, play by the rules, and use a clock (game timer). Also, the official word list is NOT abridged, so some words that may be "offensive" are acceptable for play (see expurgated word list for words acceptable for club & tournament play that are not listed in the OSPD4).
Please use your own judgment to determine if your child is mature enough for this environment. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
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Do I need to bring my own board?

No. Deluxe boards are always welcome though, if you have one to bring.

Interested in upgrading your equipment? Check our Links Page for a list of people who sell custom boards, Protiles, clocks, etc.

What are those weird timer things sitting on the tables with the board, racks and tile bags?

Those are timers. There are several makes and models, from analog chess clocks to electronic timers made exclusively for SCRABBLE® play. It takes a while to get used to them. When you have placed your word on the board and announced your score, you hit your timer to indicate the end of your turn. The opponent's timer and turn are started.

Interested in upgrading your equipment? Check our Links Page for a list of equipment vendors.

Do I need to bring Score Sheets?

No. Score sheets are provided at club. However, we do recommend you bring your preferred writing instrument.

There are lots of different score sheets available, yet some folks get by using just a blank piece of paper. If you want to track tiles or record your racks, having a pre-printed score sheet is a big help. Experiment with different ones, pick one you like, or design your own. Whichever you choose--once you've become accustomed to one design you should see your game improve because tracking and scoring will become second nature.

You can print out your own copies of the Club Score Sheets if you wish. We provide two versions: Horizontal Score Sheet [pdf] and Vertical Score Sheet [pdf]. They are formatted 2 games per page (print double-sided for 4 games per sheet). For links to lots more Score Sheets, check the Forms section on our Links page. Note: some folks print out a few hundred score sheets and have them bound into a book for easy transportation and organization.
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How long is each game played for?

Usually a little under an hour. Each player in a two-player game is allotted twenty-five minutes to complete all moves. Players are penalized ten points for going overtime up to one minute; every minute after that an additional ten points. How long games really last are up to you and your opponent. Someone "doubling up" by taking two opponents on at once is untimed, while the opponents are given their typical twenty-five minute allotment (although this rarely happens anymore--now that we have one person sit out if we are uneven)

Up to how many games may we play in one evening?

If you limited yourself to one opponent at a time, up to four.

Is it still $4 if I play fewer than 4 games?

Yes, it's $4 even if you just play one game. The costs for the club are the same whether you play just one game or all four--you still use a score card, a score sheet, and use the room. If we lowered the rate for players who only play 1 or 2 games, we'd have to raise it for the rest, and that wouldn't be fair. Remember, it's still a bargain.
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CLUB PRIZES, STATS, HISTORY, ETC.

What's the "Bingo Bonus"? What's the "CategoryWord"? Are there other prizes?

We give out several prizes during the evening.

For the first three games a Category is chosen and whichever play best fits the category wins the prize. Sometimes the category is a theme (e.g., "Halloween", "sports", "food", "things that are yellow", "something you wouldn't want to find in your house", etc.), other categories are for the highest scoring play of certain type: "high Q", "high out-play", etc.

The Bingo Bonus is awarded to someone who plays 3 bingos in a row in a game (Blue Card players only have to get 3 bingos in a game). The Bingo Bonus starts at $3 and increases by $1 per week that it has not been won. [Note: until a player has an established club average (i.e., has played at least 9 club games), the Bingo Bonus is only awarded for 3 bingos in a row in a game.]

Category word: $4

75+ non-bingo: $1

100+ play: $1

500+ game: $1

600+ game: $2

700+ game: undying awe and respect of your peers

Bingo Bonus: $3+ [Blue card: 3+ bingos in a game, white card: 3+ bingos in a row]

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Even though I have no way of knowing this without attending, I somehow feel compelled to ask about "cards." Would you please explain "cards" to me?

Our club pairings are based on a tier system. Blue cards are for members who average under 365 points a game (based on a twelve-game average). White cards are for members who average at least 365 points a game. Members who average under 365 points a game may choose to "play up" by having "white card" people as opponents, but "white card" people may not elect to play blue card people for the rest of the evening: it makes the blue card people kittenish. The first game is not subject to pairing, so you'll see blue card and white card people play each other then.

Average score is computed for the calendar year, and starts over January 1st. You can find your average (and that of anyone else who has played at least 12 club games) on our Stats Page.

Cutoff history: it was 350 until 2002 or 2003, when it was raised to 360.
The next change was February 2006, when it was increased to 375 (in anticipation of higher scores with the addition of QI and ZA to the word list).
The most recent change (from 375 down to 365) became effective 1 January 2007.
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I think I might get thrashed if I attended your club for the first time. What pointers could you give me that will give me some initial preparation?

I will gently tell you that each of us has sustained horrible losses, and our psychological scars from our early SCRABBLE® Brand crossword game club sessions have healed. You're not an idiot if it takes a while for you to actually win a game, but you might be one if you try to tackle our experts the first time you encounter SCRABBLE® play outside of "kitchen table play", expecting to beat them. I suggest asking each regular club member how long s/he has been playing, and how s/he improved.

See our New Player Info page for an overview of the basics of club. We also have a One-Page Rules Summary [pdf] that will get you started.

Here are some selected links to word lists and "recommended texts" for you to peruse:

Word lists for competitive SCRABBLE® is a list of lists. Dead link alert: Brian Wagner's page. Compiled by Steven Alexander.

Bob's Bible is a 212-page book of all 2-8 letter Official Tournament and Club Word List words and their anagrams. Edited by Robert Gillis

Everything SCRABBLE®: New York: Pocket Books, c2001, 2nd ed.. 304 p. :ill. ; 24cm. ISBN:0671042181. I have no doubt that you can find your way to Powell's, Alibris, Addall, Borders, half.com, ebay.com, Amazon.com, or bn.com to purchase this book online. I'm not getting any kickbacks to lead you to these Web sites, so they are unlinked.

LeXpert: a software program created and developed by Carol and M.G. Ravichandran, designed to assist word game enthusiasts in expanding their words. Customized lists can be created based on patterns, cryptograms, anagrams, number of vowels, et cetera. Versions for Windows^TM 95, Windows^TM 98, Windows^TM NT, Windows^TM 3.1, Windows^TM 3.11, and Windows^TM CE are available. Windows^TM is a registered trademark of Microsoft.

"Archives": a CD-ROM collection of both the defunct newsletter "Medleys" edited by Nick Ballard, and the republish of Champion's Guide to Winning at SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game (ASIN: 0812830091), written by 1998 Canadian National SCRABBLE® Champion and 1999 World Scrabble® Champion Joel Wapnick.

In addition, we like to help prepare first-time visitors by offering them the following "cheat sheets"*:

two-letter word list, including definitions, maintained by Rick Wong;

three-letter word list, including definitions, also maintained by Rick Wong.

*Note: these word lists have not yet been updated to OWL2. New and updated word lists are also available from our Links page.

Check out our Study Tools Page for more tools and links to word lists.
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What are the Club Stats?

The score cards you fill out each night are sent to our Statistician, who enters all the game results, high scores, triple-triples, etc., into a stats program that generates the summary for each club night, and the updated standings for the year. Data that are posted include: average score, average spread, average number of bingoes, average score of your opponent, average number of bingos by your opponents, etc.

Our Statistician is Mike Frentz (he just started end of June 2007). Filling out your card legibly, with the date and full names of your opponents makes his job easier. You might want to let him know how much you appreciate the work he does for us every week.

From January 2006 to June 2007, our Statistician was Doug Kruyt. Even though Doug was not able to make it to club much, he still did our stats every week. Not only that, but since Doug travels for work he often had his wife scan the score cards and email them to him so he could do the stats on his laptop computer on the road! Talk about dedicated. But all good things must come to an end, and Doug is happy we've found a replacement.

Our Statistician Emerita is Christian O'Sullivan. She did the stats for club every week for 7 years(!), for which we are very grateful. Next time you see her, why not share some appreciation?
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Do you people have an organizer or director or something?

Our club director is Rebecca Slivka. Rebecca directs most club sessions, updates the website, and organizes the annual Memorial Weekend tournament.

Jane Bissonnette passed the director's test in 2006 and began directing one-day tournaments for the club in 2007. Mike Frentz, our Club Statistician, passed the director's test in 2007 and co-directed his first tournament with Jane Bissonnette in January 2008. Ken Clark directs club sessions on a fill-in basis.
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Can you tell me some Club History?

The club was started in August 1985. The founding directors were Ann Ferguson and Mark Oppenheimer. Ann's mother, Bess Warren, and Ken Clark were the first people to attend. Starlite Clark and Julie Lopez became directors in 1998-1999(?). Rebecca Slivka has been the club director since January 2001.

June 2004, club moved from Fare Start Restaurant (previously called "Common Meals") to University Friends Meetinghouse.

Last held in 2003, the Northwest Bookfest provided booth space for the Scrabble Club every year. This was a great recruiting tool for the club. We miss Bookfest and hope it will return some day.

Tournament History:

First tournament held in 1988. Tournaments held every year since then (except skipped 1993)
1995 was the 7th tournament
199?-2004 tournament held at Silver Cloud Lake Union (max number players 60)
2005 tournament moved to Red Lion 5th Avenue. 109 participants makes 2005 the largest ever.
2006 tournament was also held at the Red Lion, with 102 players.
2007 first one-day tournament Feb 3rd. Jane Bissonnette plans to direct more one-day tournaments.
2008 will be the 20th annual tournament. It will be held in downtown Seattle at the Grand Hyatt.
See our Tournament Page for complete details.

Curious about our Memorial Weekend Tournament, 24-26 May 2008?
Read all about it on our Emerald City Tournament Page. You can get all the details, see who else has signed up, and register on-line.

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WORDS, WORD LISTS, RULES, ETC.

What are all the acceptable* 2-letter words?
		AA	AT	EF	HA	KI	NE	OS	TA	XU
		AB	AW	EH	HE	LA	NO	OW	TI	YA
		AD	AX	EL	HI	LI	NU	OX	TO	YE
		AE	AY	EM	HM	LO	OD	OY	UH	YO
		AG	BA	EN	HO	MA	OE	PA	UM	ZA
		AH	BE	ER	ID	ME	OF	PE	UN	
		AI	BI	ES	IF	MI	OH	PI	UP	
		AL	BO	ET	IN	MM	OI	QI	US	
		AM	BY	EX	IS	MO	OM	RE	UT	
		AN	DE	FA	IT	MU	ON	SH	WE	
		AR	DO	FE	JO	MY	OP	SI	WO	
		AS	ED	GO	KA	NA	OR	SO	XI
*according to the Official Tournament and Club Word List, 2nd Edition, effective 1 March 2006.

Check out our Study Tools Page for more tools and links to word lists.

Tell me about the new word list (OWL2)?

Starting 1 March 2006, the official word list for North American SCRABBLE® club and tournament use will be the The Official Tournament and Club Word List, 2nd Edition (also known as OCTWL2 or just OWL2). This update to the OWL adds 5 new 2-letter words, 44 new 3-letter words, 128 new 4-letter words, 303 new 5-letter words, etc., (over 10,000 new words!).

For lists of the new words, cheat sheets you can print out, ERRATA, etc., check out the OWL2 Transition section on our Study Tools page. Most word lists on our Study Tools have been updated to use OWL2.
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What word source do you use?

North American SCRABBLE® clubs and tournaments use The Official Tournament and Club Word List, a lexicon used from five U.S.A. (no Canadian) English-language abridged dictionaries. This word source is available only to members of the National SCRABBLE® Association. This book no longer contains word definitions, but does contain all valid root words of up to nine letters in length and their extensions.

You can order online at Word Gear (click on "Books"). By mail, send $19.20 ($14.95 + $4.25 shipping), specifying NSA membership number, to:

NSA Word Gear
P.O. Box 2113
403 Front Street
Greenport, NY 11944
(631) 477-0033

For words longer than 9 letters, the NSA publishes the "Long List" (compiled from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition). This can also be purchased online at Word Gear. [Note: plans to update the Long List are still in progress. The NSA has not yet announced which word source will be used for Long Words after the OWL2 is adopted, so at this point we're assuming the current LL, but they may also add the MW11. Waiting for official word from NSA.]

NOTE: Starting 1 March 2006, the official word list for North American SCRABBLE® club and tournament use will be the The Official Tournament and Club Word List, 2nd Edition (also known as OCTWL2 or just OWL2).

For lists of the new words, cheat sheets you can print out, ERRATA, etc., check out the OWL2 Transition section on our Study Tools page. Most word lists on our Study Tools have been updated to use OWL2.

[Note: plans to update the Long List are still in progress. The NSA has not yet announced which word source will be used for Long Words after the OWL2 is adopted, so at this point we're assuming the current LL, but they may also add the MW11. Waiting for official word from NSA.]

Check out our Study Tools Page for more tools and links to word lists.
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OSPD4, OSPD3, TWL98, OWL, OWL2, LWL, SOWPODS--what are all these?

North American SCRABBLE® clubs and tournaments use The Official Tournament and Club Word List, also called the OWL (Official Word List). The Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary (OSPD) is used for School and Recreational play only. The newest (red) OSPD (OSPD4) came out June 2005; the corresponding update to the tournament list, OWL2, was published in early 2006 and became the official word source March 1st, 2006.

OWL/OWL1 = "Official Word List" and TWL98 = "The Word List 1998" both refer to the same thing, The Official Tournament and Club Word List published by the National Scrabble Association for adjudication of challenges in club and tournament play. This list was updated in 1998. It contains words from 2-9 letter long (and their extensions).

OWL2 is the The Official Tournament and Club Word List that was just published early this year and went into effect March 1st, 2006. It is the word list currently being used in club & tournament play.
See What word source do you use? for info on purchasing OWL2.

LWL = "Long Word List" was published in 2004(about) and contains words 10-15 letters long. It is being used (along with OWL2) to adjudicate club & tournament play. No new update is expected any time soon.

OSPD# = "Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary, #th edition". OSPD is the "Official word source for Recreational and School Use". OSPD2 is very old. OSPD3 is equivalent to OWL1/TWL98 EXCEPT that about 200 "offensive" words that ARE in OWL/TWL98 were REMOVED from OSPD3. These were/are STILL in OWL/OWL2 and are valid in club and tournament Scrabble. I won't go into detail here, but suffice it to say that NSA succumbed to the pressure of censorship and removed some words.

Another difference between OSPD and OWL is that OWL has words 2-9 letters long (and their inflections), wherease OSPD has words 2-8 letters long (and their inflections).

OSPD4 was published in June 2005. OWL2 and OSPD4 are comparable (like OSPD3 and TWL98), except that not only have some few hundred "offensive" words been once again omitted from OSPD4, but there are also another hundred or so trademark words and other words that were not in the first printing of OSPD4 but ARE in OWL2 (see expurgated word list for words acceptable for club & tournament play that are not listed in the OSPD4).

Note also, that OWL/OWL2/TWL98 are all just WORD LISTS, where words are listed strictly in alphabetical order--making it easy to find whether or not a word is listed. OSPD3/4 are dictionaries (albeit with limited definitions), but they group related words and inflections. It's handy to use OSPD4 to look up a word to find a meaning (as long as you aren't looking for an "offensive" word), but it is not valid for word judging at clubs/tournaments.

All these lists are used for play in North America. Most other english-speaking countries use a UK-based dictionary (used to be Chambers, now it will be Collins) for their word adjudication, and call their word list OSW = "Official Scrabble Words". There is a large overlap between OWL/OSPD and OSW, but significant differences (words that are in one but not the other). For international (read North America + rest of the world) tournament & club play, a merged OSW+OSPD = SOWPODS word list was created. A vote among NSA membership about 5 years ago on whether to switch from OSPD-based word list to SOWPODS was defeated. So, unless you plan on qualifying for the World Championships or playing outside of North America, you can stick to OWL. For more info on the "SOWPODS" debate, I suggest a google search.

If you are playing at (or practicing for) club and tournaments, then use the OWL. If you are playing with friends, just agree before you start the game which word list you will be using.
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What if my opponent plays something that I think is not really a word on the board? Can I challenge it? How?

OLD way: Raise your hand and call "CHALLENGE!" An accredited Word Adjudicator hastens to your side to rule on the play, deeming it acceptable or unacceptable after consultation of the The Official Tournament and Club Word List. Of course, if you still are not satisfied with the rule (perhaps the adjudicator is drunk or insane or has poor reading comprehension skills), you may request a second opinion. If one word of the play has over nine letters, the Long List may be used as a word source.

New way: After you say "challenge" and neutralize the clock, you and your opponent put your tiles face down on the table and walk over to the Word Judge Computer. The player challenging the play types in ALL the words being challenged, then the player being challenged presses the Judge (TAB) key. Thanks to Michael Thelen for creating Zyzzyva - a great program both for study and word adjudications.

If you're not sure if you want to challenge or not, you can say "HOLD!" which prevents your opponent from drawing new tiles while you think about whether or not to challenge. You might want to put your hand on the tile bag to make sure your opponent understands you are holding their play. To release a hold, say "I accept the play".

Detailed rules are spelled out in II.L Challenges and Adjudications of the Official Tournament Rules.
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What is a Word Judge? How can I become one?

There is a formal procedure for adjudicating challenges (see What if my opponent plays something that I think is not really a word?). Only the Director, or designated staff, or an authorized computer program may rule on the validity of a challenged play. The guidelines for acting as word judge are detailed in Appendix D, Section 11 - Word Judging of the Official Tournament Rules.

If you want to become an authorized word judge, familiarize yourself with the rules regarding Challenges and Adjudications and Word Judging, then take the Word Judge test (ask your director).

Note: with the advent of computerized word judging, unless there is a power failure you are unlikely to even see a human word-judge again.
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What Rules do you follow?

Clubs and tournaments use the Official Tournament Rules of the National SCRABBLE Association. These rules are essentially just an extension and refinement of the rules that come in your typical SCRABBLE® game; they detail specific procedures for drawing tiles, scoring, challenging, using clocks, handling overdraws, etc.

You are responsible for reading, understanding, and following the Official Rules during Tournament and Club play. When you join the NSA you are sent a copy of the rules, but you can review them online any time.
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TOURNAMENTS, RATINGS, NSA, ETC.

Curious about our Memorial Weekend Tournament, 24-26 May 2008?
Read all about it on our Emerald City Tournament Page. You can get all the details, see who else has signed up, and register on-line.

You mentioned the National SCRABBLE® Association. Do I need to become a member?

No. If you want to play in tournaments, then yes, you'll eventually need to become a member of the NSA. However, you can wait until after your first tournament to become a Member of the National SCRABBLE® Association. For U.S. residents, the membership dues are $20 per year. With membership you receive the most recently edited version of a national club list, Official Tournament Rules, and a one-year subscription to the SCRABBLE® News.
You can also register or renew your membership online.
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What about tournaments?

To become a rated player, you must play in an NSA-sanctioned tournament. You don't have to be an NSA member for your first tournament, but you have to join the NSA to play in any subsequent tournaments. Look at the National SCRABBLE® Association's list of upcoming tournaments for all NSA-sanctioned tournaments in North America.

The Seattle Club hosts one multi-day tournament a year, over Memorial Day Weekend. This year the dates are 24-26 May 2008. Read all about it on our Emerald City Tournament Page.

Starting in 2007, Jane Bissonnette has also been hosting single-day tournaments. You cand find complete details, including online registration, for the next one-day'er on our One-Day Tournament Page.

Look on our Tournaments Page for a list of upcoming tournaments in the neighborhood. You can also find a map-based view of upcoming tournaments on cross-tables.com.
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How do ratings work?

You enter your first tournament as an "unrated" player. Your rating is computed based on your performance in an NSA-sanctioned tournament (how many wins, ratings of your opponents). Here is a more detailed explanation: John Chew explains ratings.

Your rating is used to position you in subsequent tournaments. Some tournaments use ratings cut-offs to separate divisions (like our Memorial Weekend tournament), others use fixed division sizes with people ordered by rating (like our one-day tournaments). You must have an established rating to play in the annual National Scrabble Championship Tournament—known in 2006 as the US SCRABBLE® Open—but all others are open to unrated players.

Just finished a tournament and want to know what your new rating will be? Use Steven Alexander's New Rating Calculator. Remember that the NSA rates at most 16 games at a time, so if the tournament is longer than that they will split it up and rate it in two sections (e.g., our Seattle tournament of 20 games is rated as 1-10, and then 11-20)

What's the difference between a Local Club Tournament and an Open Rated Tournament?

The National Scrabble Association sanctions two different types of tournaments: Open Rated Tournaments (ORT) and Local Club Tournaments (LCT). ORTs are fully rated, whereas LCTs are rated using 1/3 the value of an ORT. This means that your rating will only change by 1/3 as much in an LCT as it would in an ORT. Another difference is that you must have a rating in order to play in a LCT, but ORTs are open to unrated players.

Each ORT must be approved by the NSA at least 12 weeks before it is held. There is no time restriction on LCTs.
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MORE....

Where can I play SCRABBLE® online? What is ISC?

There are numerous sources for Internet SCRABBLE® play:

The Internet SCRABBLE® Club - Most popular site for NSA members (but lots of others play at ISC as well). Check out our Club Roster to see ISC handles of club members.

If you play on ISC long enough, you are sure to encounter an opponent who accuses you of cheating, is a cheater himself, or is just an unpleasant jerk. Rest assured, that these people are relatively easy to avoid if you follow a few simple tips for enjoying your time on ISC:

Only play people you know, or those who identify themselves as NSA members (The antisocial jerks and cheaters usually don't identify themselves). You can view our Club Roster to see ISC handles of club members.

Avoid players who's "Number of Unfinished Games" is Medium or higher (this almost always indicates someone who will quit if they are losing)

Use the "Buddy List" feature on ISC to keep track of people you want to play with

Only play double challenge (single or void is not good practice for tournament or club play)

Set the time for 20 minutes or less (since you aren't scoring, tracking or drawing tiles, this is comparable to 25 minutes in a "live" game)

Become a "supporting" member (annual subscription of $29) of ISC to get more features (including saving and analyzing your games)

Some other sites:

playsite
The Pixie Pit
escrabble.com

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I can't get enough SCRABBLE® in my life. What suggestions do you have?

If you can't make it to Tuesday Club, there are some other informal SCRABBLE® get-togethers around the area [Note: we DO NOT organize these events, so we don't know if they actually meet every week. We just put this information here as a courtesy]:

Sunday afternoons: Several of us meet every Sunday at Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park Towne Centre (17171 Bothell Way NE, at the junction of Ballinger Way and SR522/Bothell Way NE). Games start around 2 pm (and go until everyone leaves or they close at 8pm). Usually about 8-12 people show up. Once a month, these are advertised as part of SCRABBLE® Meetup.

Wednesday evenings: Elysian Brewery on Capitol Hill (1221 E. Pike Street), starting about 7:30pm [look in the back, downstairs]. Adam Michelson organizes this.
[Note: these meetings do not occur regularly. Contact Adam to make sure it's on before you go!]
[these haven't been held for many, many months]

Wednesday evenings: Crossroads Mall (15600 NE 8TH Street, Bellevue) in the food court near the giant chess board, starting at 6pm. Richard Fields has organized these very informal meetings. They usually play three games before the 9 PM closing of the mall.
[Note: these meetings do not occur regularly. Contact Richard to make sure it's on before you go!]
[these haven't been held for many, many months]

SCRABBLE® Française: A small group meets the first Friday of every month at 7:00 PM and the third Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Alliance Française de Seattle, Suite 205, The Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North. Note that Suite 205 is the official address of the AFdeS, but actual meeting room varies. Often they meet in the library, which is kitty-corner across the hall, but it should be obvious where they are. Also, there are two parking lots on the property. For more info, contact Bob Mauritsen.

No fee for playing these games! (But be sure to bring your own equipment & score sheets)

"Game Nights"

Several bars, pubs, and coffee houses in the area have a "Game Night" where they encourage patrons to come and play various board games or quizzes (sometimes folks play SCRABBLE®). Here are some we've heard of (these tend to change, so contact the venue for more details).

Mulleady's Irish Pub & Restaurant in Magnolia has "Board Game Night" every Monday.

Wayward Coffeehouse in Greenwood encourages board game players alternate Wed/Thurs.

Rebar hosts a Spelling Bee the first Monday of the month.

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How can I talk with other SCRABBLE® players? What is CGP?

CGP is the nickname of the Yahoo Group "Crossword-Games-Pro" email list. If you join CGP, you'll get to exchange information with other competitive Scrabble® players, hear the latest gossip, find out about upcoming events, get study information, etc. As with any email bulletin board, passions can run high so tread cautiously and remember that lots of people read these posts. Sherrie Saint John is the organizer of the CGP list. To find out more about CGP (including how to join), please check out Sherrie's CGP info page.

There is also a Yahoo Newsgroup for local Seattle-area players. Click below to join:

Subscribe to seattlescrabble

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