Forest Lake Scrabble

Home
History
How We Play
Adjudication
Cost
Newcomers
Friendly Play
Challenges
NSA Play
Other Clubs
Tips for Better Play
Downloads
Disclaimer

 
NSA Rules
 
Full rules for this type of play can be found on the NSA website at:
 
 
Games at tournaments and at some other clubs are played by NSA rules.  The major differences are:
 
  • Chess clocks are used to time the games.  The chess clock, if you are not familiar with it is a double-faced clock, which, during the game, is always running for the player placing the word(s).  It can be neutralized during challenges or to settle disputes.  Each player gets 25 minutes to make all his or her plays.  You can "go over", but you will lose ten points from your score for every minute or fraction of a minute that exceeds 25 minutes.  IMPORTANT:  announcing the score for your play and then hitting the clock starts your opponent's time running -- this marks the definitive end of your turn.  Before that, you may change your play.  Once you've hit the clock, you may not.
  • Dictionaries and word lists may not be consulted during play.
  • If you challenge your opponent's play, you must wait until after he/she has hit the clock starting your time.  Then, you must say "hold" BEFORE your opponent begins to draw new tiles.  While holding you can consider whether you will accept the play or challenge.  You have time to think about it, but the clock is running while you are considering.  After considering, you may accept the word(s) or challenge the word(s).  If you are challenging, it is better to challenge all words, even those you believe are good.  Remember only one of the words needs to be unacceptable for the challenge to be good.
  • When you decide to challenge put the clock to neutral.  See Challenges for procedure.
  • Both players keep score for both players.  You can check with your opponent occassionally throughout the game, but only when it is your turn.  Make sure that you both agree on each other's scores.  You do this verification with the clock running, however, you can stop the clock to resolve a disagreement.
  • These games are always two-player games.  If there is an uneven number of players, there is an equitable system for taking turns sitting out for one game, so that each player has to sit out only a couple of games per year.
  • Players are paired randomly for the first round, and by performance for subsequent games.  Newcomers are not usually paired with the highest rated expert players until they have gotten their feet wet.
Have questions?  Contact: