Official Game Rules: Scrabble (CSW/TWL) vs. Words With Friends

Imagine chess, but your pieces are letters, and instead of checkmate, you're laying down words that cut like a laser. Scrabble and Words With Friends are strategic battles for control of the board, the multipliers, and... your own tile rack. This guide is your arsenal: the complete rules, the critical differences between dictionaries, and tactical tips to immediately boost your effectiveness on poocoo.app.

Scrabble (CSW/TWL): Master the Classic Battlefield

Game Objective

The core mission is universal: form valid words from your tiles to score the most points. The player with the highest score after all tiles are drawn and the game ends wins (including adjustments for unplayed tiles).

• Tile Pool: 100 tiles (including 2 blanks, worth 0 points).
• Rack: Always 7 tiles (replenished after each turn, as long as tiles remain in the bag).
• Start: The first word must cover the center star, which counts as a Double Word Score (DW).
• Bingo: Using all 7 tiles from your rack in a single move earns a +50 point bonus.

Pro Tip: Treat your rack like a mini-squad – every letter needs a "job." If you leave a poorly balanced rack (too many vowels or clunky consonants), plan an exchange or a setup move.

Letter Scoring (English Scrabble - CSW/TWL)

This is the standard letter distribution and value for both major Scrabble dictionaries. Blanks are always 0 points.

• 1 point: A, E, I, O, N, R, T, L, S, U
• 2 points: D, G
• 3 points: B, C, M, P
• 4 points: F, H, V, W, Y
• 5 points: K
• 8 points: J, X
• 10 points: Q, Z

Pro Tip: Think of the 8–10 point letters (Q, Z, J, X) as your "snipers." Don't waste them. When they hit a premium square (especially a TL or TW), they can decide the entire game.

Board Bonuses (Scrabble)

Bonuses are multipliers, activated only the first time a tile is placed on them:

• Double Letter (DL) – Multiplies the letter's value ×2.
• Triple Letter (TL) – Multiplies the letter's value ×3.
• Double Word (DW) – Multiplies the entire word's score ×2.
• Triple Word (TW) – Multiplies the entire word's score ×3.

Analogous to a battle map: bonuses are the strategic high ground. Whoever controls access to the TW squares controls the tempo and outcome of the game.

Pro Tip: Before you play a high-scoring word, plan for what you leave behind. A 40-point move isn't a win if it gives your opponent an easy shot at a Triple Word score.

Words With Friends (WWF): Meet the Digital Contender

Words With Friends is the wildly popular mobile-first variant. While the mechanics are similar (7 tiles, build words), its unique rules, scoring, and dictionary fundamentally change the strategy.

Key Differences vs. Scrabble

• Dictionary: A custom, proprietary dictionary based on American English. It includes modern slang, pop-culture terms, and internet-speak not found in CSW/TWL (e.g., "BROMANCE," "SELFIE," "ZEN"). It's frequently updated.
• Tile Pool: 104 tiles (instead of 100).
• Bingo Bonus: Only +35 points (not +50). This makes hunting for 7-letter words less of a priority than in Scrabble.
• Board Layout: The premium squares (DL, TL, DW, TW) are in different locations, requiring a completely different approach to board control.

Letter Scoring (Words With Friends)

WWF uses a different points system, heavily skewing the value of certain letters.

• 1 point: A, E, I, O, R, S, T
• 2 points: D, L, N, U
• 3 points: G, H, Y
• 4 points: B, C, F, M, P, W
• 5 points: K, V
• 6 points: X
• 7 points: J
• 8 points: Q, Z

Pro Tip: Note the huge shifts! J (7 pts), Q (8 pts), and Z (8 pts) are the new powerhouses. 'X' is worth less (6 pts), and 'J' is worth more than in Scrabble. Plan your strategy around these new "snipers."

The Dictionary Showdown: CSW vs. TWL vs. WWF

Your dictionary is your rulebook. Knowing which words are "legal" is your primary advantage. On poocoo.app, you can master all three.

Pro Tip: When switching between games, treat the dictionary as the "law of the land." The same two-letter hook (e.g., "QI") might be a game-winning move in one variant and an illegal play in another.

Strategic Foundations for All Players

The Art of the Open

You start on a DW. Your goal is to take the bonus without giving your opponent an easy path to a TW. In English, a 5-letter word that can be easily "hooked" (e.g., adding an 'S') is often a strong, flexible opener.

Pro Tip: Judge your opening like a tennis serve: maximize your chance for an easy follow-up point and limit the risk of an immediate counter-attack.

Board Control

Imagine a grid of roads leading to the TW squares. Your moves should be "roadblocks" that make it hard for the opponent to get there. Don't just look at your own score; plan for what you are giving away.

Pro Tip: The "S-hook" is the most powerful weapon in English Scrabble. Control where and when an 'S' can be played to create two words at once.

Tile Management (The "Big Guns")

The 8-10 point tiles (Q, Z, J, X) are great, but hard to place. Look for Letter Bonuses (TL) and short words (like "QI", "ZA", "JO", "EX") to activate them without opening up the board.

Pro Tip: Maintain a balance of vowels and consonants. If you have a "millstone" (like a Q without a U, or clashing consonants), plan a two-turn strategy: first positioning, then the "kill shot" on a bonus.

Building a Bingo

A Bingo (+50 in Scrabble, +35 in WWF) wins games. Collect "glue": versatile letters (like A, E, R, S, T) and look for common prefixes/suffixes (like RE-, UN-, -ING, -ED, -ER) to extend base words.

Pro Tip: Train yourself to see common 7-letter "stems" (e.g., "R-E-T-I-N-A") to keep your rack flexible and spot Bingo opportunities faster.