Scrabble

I like words.  Probably that is why Scrabble is one of favourite pastimes.  The Facebook Scrabble application has made Scrabble so easy to play with your long distance relatives and friends.  Sure it is not the same as sitting down at the table with a good old fashioned board.  However it does let you get the same mental workout and on your own time (you don't have to sit and wait, while someone debates the merits of stealing the only place that you can play your Bingo.)

I found this interesting collection of Scrabble trivia on line today at  http://www.jokesandtrivia.com/

TODAY IN TRIVIA: Let’s learn more about the game called SCRABBLE!

• The inventor of Scrabble who was Alfred Butts, was not very good at it.
•  ‘Lexico’ was the original name of Scrabble.
• The original game was played with tiles only.
• Over 100 million games have been sold in 121 countries around the world.
• If all the Scrabble tiles ever produced were placed in a line they would stretch 50,000 miles – that’s twice around the world.
• It is now produced in 30 different languages and there is also a Braille version.
• It’s not possible to play Scrabble in Japanese or Chinese, but they play in English with a rule book in their own language.
• The highest number of points that can be scored on the first go is 126 – with SQUEEZY or QUARTZY.
•  The word BENZOXYCAMPHORS – a type of chemical – using this word is a sure way of victory. It will gain the highest score, 1970 points.
• Dr Karl Khoshnaw from Manchester holds the record for the highest word score achieved in a competition, scoring 392 points with CAZIQUES – the plural for a West Indian Chief.
• Philip Appleby from Lymington in 1989 – gets the highest score which 1049 for 1 game.
• The youngest winner of the UK National Scrabble Championships was 15 year old Allan Saldanha in 1993.

I discovered the following quiz at  http://www.squidoo.com/scrabble-quiz   Unfortunately I could not simply import it in.  I had to cut and paste it, question by question, and it does not function.  Still, have a go, see how well you can do.  I scored 80% (average was 56).

Test your Scrabble Game knowledge 

See what your score is. No, do not get out your board and cheat!

1. A Scrabble board is made up of how many squares?

• A. 200
• B. 250
• C. 225
• D. 275
• E. 300

• 2. Scrabble is a real word. It means "to scratch frantically".

• A. True
• B. False

• 3. A Scrabble game has how many wooden tiles?

• A. 120
• B. 115
• C. 110
• D. 100
• E. 105

• 4. What kind of wood is used to make Scrabble game tile letters?

• A. Canadian Pine
• B. Ash
• C. Vermont Maple
• D. Oak

• 5. The original Scrabble game didn't include a board. It was played with just the tiles.

• A. True
• B. False

• 6. How many of the letter Q are there in a scrabble game

• A. 1
• B. 2

• 7. What 2 letter tiles are worth 10 points each in the game of Scrabble.

• A. J and X
• B. Q and X
• C. Q and Z
• D. X and Z

• 8. A Scrabble play that uses all 7 tiles in a players rack is called a ...

• A. strike
• B. bingo
• C. jackpot
• D. full house
• E. flush

• 9. What letter tile appears the most times in a Scrabble set?

• A. A
• B. S
• C. T
• D. O
• E. E

• 10. How many points is the letter "M" worth?

• A. 2
• B. 5
• C. 3
• D. 4
• E. 1  

 And that is about all I have to say for today. Rack em up!

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.


Quiz results: 1 C, 2 A, 3 D, 4 C, 5 A, 6 A, 7 C, 8 B, 9 E, 10 D.