• Scrabble FAQ - General Information (2/2)

    From m.shahroz155@gmail.com@21:1/5 to Steven Alexander on Wed Apr 3 12:28:27 2019
    [continued from previous message]

    The UK ratings are somewhat similar but simpler: the probability of
    the better player winning is taken as 50% plus the rating difference
    as a percent, but no larger than 90%.

    The Australian and New Zealand rating systems are the same as the
    North American.

    Current North American, UK, Australian, New Zealand and South African
    ratings are available in <http://http.teleport.com/~stevena/scrabble/ratings.html> <http://www.pledgor.demon.co.uk/ratings.htm> <http://www.math.utoronto.ca/~jjchew/scrabble/ratings/apsp.html> <http://www.ozemail.com.au/~rjackman/ratings.html> <http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~fostergb/rankings.htm> <http://www.ozemail.com.au/~rjackman/ratingsa.html>.


    3.3.6. Upcoming tournaments

    For a listing of upcoming North American tournaments, see the
    Appendix.


    3.4. Organizations conducting Scrabble activity outside North
    America and the UK

    Spear, which sells Scrabble sets in 31 languages and 120 countries,
    organized a Spanish and is considering organizing German and Dutch
    Scrabble tournaments. Contact Philip Nelkon (section 3.2).

    The remainder of the information in this section is about English
    language Scrabble.

    Membership in the Australian Scrabble Players Association, which is independent of the trademark holder, is $10 per year, $15 overseas.
    Its quarterly newsletter, 'Across the Board', has columns on playing
    and tournament listings. It may be reached at

    The Scrabble Enquiry Centre
    PO Box 405
    Bentleigh Australia 3204
    +61 3 578 6767

    Bob Jackman
    Australian Scrabble Players Association
    PO Box 28
    Lindfield NSW Australia
    02 9416 9881
    02 9416 9479 fax
    <mailto:rjackman@ozemail.com.au>

    In Israel, English language Scrabble is played by several clubs.
    There is a large one in Jerusalem. Tournaments are rated under a
    copy of the North American system. There are occasional national tournaments. Sam Orbaum, who once wrote a weekly Scrabble column for
    the Jerusalem Post, runs the Jerusalem club, which meets at ICCY, 12 Emek-Refaim St, Jerusalem at 7:30 pm JST Tuesdays. He can be reached
    at +972-2-587-1003 (H), +972-2-531-5678 (W), <mailto:orbaum@netvision.net.il>.

    The Thailand National English language Scrabble tournament has drawn
    as many as 885 contestants, including some top North Americans. For information on the (OSPD-based) yearly tournament usually held around
    the end of January, contact

    Mr. Ravee Joradol
    Thailand Crossword Club
    645/1 Petchburi Rd
    Payathai, Bangkok 10400
    Thailand
    (662) 252-9607, 252-8147
    (662) 252-8147 fax
    <mailto:crosword@ksc.th.com>

    In Thailand, sets are sold without regard to Spear's rights (section
    2), resulting in its players not being invited to the 1995 World
    [English language] Scrabble Championships (section 3.3.1).
    Similarly, before the change in Rumania's regime, unauthorized sets
    were sold, and in the ensuing vacuum, Rumania was invited to the 1995
    WSC only as an observer.

    Nigeria and Japan each have an active English language Scrabble
    tournament scene.

    For addresses of many English and other language Scrabble
    organizations and contacts, see the Appendix.


    3.5. Who plays with which dictionary and which rules?

    The following is a summary of which lexicon and challenge rules are
    used in competitive English language Scrabble play in various
    countries.

    OSPD, OSW and SOWPODS are described in section 3.3.3. Under single challenge, a turn is lost only by a player making an invalid word
    that is challenged, so challenges are free. Double challenge has a challenger also risking loss of turn if all the words are valid. In
    New Zealand, only one word may be challenged at a time. Under
    Singapore's rule, often discussed as a basis for unification, the
    maker of a bad challenge loses five points. (Sweden uses ten.)

    There is a movement afoot, especially strong among top players who
    have played or have some prospect of playing in the World [English
    language] Championship (section 3.3.1) (at which SOWPODS and single- challenge have been used to date), toward merging the rules. Most suggestions center on using SOWPODS and some kind of middle-ground
    challenge rule, such as Singapore's or one penalizing a challenger
    only for the second and succeeding bad challenges in a game.
    However, there is not agreement that convergence is desirable.

    OSPD OSW SOWPODS

    double-challenge Canada
    Israel
    Mexico New Zealand
    Thailand
    US
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    10pt-challenge Malta* *
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    5pt-challenge Singapore
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    single-challenge Ireland Australia
    UK Bahrain
    Malaysia
    Philippines
    Sri Lanka
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    unknown Bermuda
    Ghana
    Hong Kong
    India
    Japan
    Kenya
    Kuwait
    Nigeria
    Oman
    Pakistan
    Qatar
    Saudi Arabia
    South Africa
    Trinidad
    United Arab Emirates

    * Malta is in transition from OSPD to SOWPODS. A few more, and you
    could appropriately call it a movement.

    3.6. Crossword games on the Internet
    3.6.1. Crossword games servers
    3.6.1.1. Telnet-based

    A MUD-like server dedicated to playing crossword games (with boards configurable by the players) is available by telnet at brauer.math.utoronto.ca, port 7777 (meaning to reach it under Unix,
    type "telnet brauer.math.utoronto.ca 7777"). A FAQ for this server
    is available at <http://www.math.toronto.edu/~jjchew/doom/faq.html>,
    and for MUDS generally at
    <http://www.math.okstate.edu/~jds/mudfaqs.html>. A robot, <http://www.doe.carleton.ca/~jac/scrab.html>, normally is on-line to
    play there. A Windows graphical interface is at <http://www.math.uga.edu/~mwatkins/BobGrid.html>.

    Other MUDs having crossword-game play among their services are listed
    at <http://synge.math.toronto.edu:7777/www/dict-clients.html>.

    3.6.1.2. WWW-based

    Several servers unlicensed by the rights holders have been closed.
    Some or all were removed after letters from Hasbro's attorneys.

    Net-Scrabble, <http://yoda.cs.udw.ac.za/~ns2/>, by Hussein
    Suleman, <mailto:hsuleman@pixie.udw.ac.za>
    US mirror of N-S, <http://games.idirect.com/ns2/>
    Scrabble Zone, <http://www.virtual.net.au/~dnich/scr_intro.html>,
    by Dylan Nicholson, <mailto:dnich@noojee.com.au>
    Web Scrabble, <http://ksk.ruhr.de/scrabble/start.asp>, in German,
    Play-by-mail
    Java Scrabble, <http://www.gragsie.com/Scrabble/>, by
    Graham Savage <mailto:scrabblefeedback@gragsie.com>

    For now, at least, there is a Java Scrabble at <http://www.bredex.de/DE/bredex/scrabble/java/view.html> in German.

    Scrabble Challenge, a duplicate contest, by Kevin Cowtan, at the
    University of York, UK, is still running. <http://www.yorvic.york.ac.uk/~cowtan/scrabble/wsc.html>. Some
    mirrors of Net-Scrabble may move from one server to another
    guerilla-style. Try <http://dynamic166.pha.adelphia.net>. Scribble
    is another non-matchplay game.
    <http://www.snoot.com/cgi-bin/scribble.cgi>,


    3.6.2. Crossword games mailing lists

    The international mailing list crossword-games is open to anyone, crossword-games-pro to active tournament players, and
    wordgame-programmers to anyone interested in design of programs for
    crossword games. To join, send mailto <mailto:crossword-games-pro-subscribe@onelist.com> <mailto:crossword-games-subscribe@onelist.com>, or <mailto:wordgame-programmers-subscribe@onelist.com>. Jim Geary
    maintains a list of frequently misunderstood things for the "pro"
    list. <http://www.primenet.com/~jaygee/CGPFAQ.HTM>. There are also
    a UK-centred list and a SOWPODS list: <mailto:uk-scrabble-subscribe@onelist.com>, <mailto:sowpods-subscribe@onelist.com>


    3.6.3. Crossword games related homepages

    The Scrabble FAQ's hypertext version has an extensive list. <http://www.teleport.com/~stevena/scrabble/homepages.html>


    3.6.4. Crossword games related newsgroup

    No Scrabble-specific Usenet newsgroup exists, and all indications are
    that such a group wouldn't generate enough traffic. The best
    newsgroup for discussing crossword games is <news:rec.games.board>.
    The flat-text version of this FAQ is posted there monthly, and
    occasional questions are asked and answered there.


    3.6.5. Chat

    The Hasbro CD-ROM game (section 12.18) and Networdz (section 12.15)
    are discussed on IRC Undernet in #scrabble <http://www.effect.net.au/zuzu/scrabble/scrabble.htm> and on DalNet <http://www.dal.net> in #scrabble and #scrabbleparlor.


    4. Differences between Scrabble in North America and in the UK

    OSW and Chambers govern Scrabble play in the UK. Australia is
    moving toward "double-dictionary" play, where words from either
    Chambers or OSPD are accepted. Some clubs in North America are
    considering making this at least optional. An added impetus for
    this trend is the expurgation of OSPD (see section 3.3.3.5).

    In the UK, a player erroneously challenging suffers no penalty.

    The UK has a second form of Scrabble play that is waning: high-score tournaments, where only the total of one's own scores matters. Since
    one's "opponents'" scores are irrelevant, play in this system aims
    for open boards and encourages elaborate setups often independently
    mined by the two players.


    5. Publications on Scrabble
    5.1. Periodicals
    5.1.1. Scrabble News

    This is a publication of the National Scrabble Association (see
    section 3.1), and comes with membership.

    Puzzles, contests, gossip, intermediate and advanced tactics,
    official information from NSA and Milton Bradley, tournament listings
    and tournament results.


    5.1.2. Non-North American periodicals
    5.1.2.1. Onwords

    Billing itself as the "Scrabble Enthusiasts' Magazine", this is the
    only publication substantially written by more than one person. It
    features numerous columns, lists, analyses, letters and tournament
    reports. Subscriptions are #6 for 6 issues in the UK, #10 elsewhere.

    Allan Simmons
    Onwords Magazine
    Shilling House
    1 Woolmer Hill
    Haslemere
    Surrey, GU27 1LT
    England
    <mailto:onwordsmag@aol.com>

    5.1.2.2. ABSP Newsletter

    The newsletter of the ABSP, section 3.1.

    5.1.2.3. Forwords

    The quarterly official magazine of the New Zealand Association of
    Scrabble Players, including news, tournament results, comments and competitions.

    Jeff Grant
    Waipatu Settlement Rd
    RD2
    Hastings
    New Zealand

    5.1.2.4. Scrabble Club News

    Published by Spear, #8 for 6 issues. News about clubs in the UK.


    5.1.3. Defunct periodicals
    5.1.3.1. Letters for Expert Players

    This letter-form publication, which ceased in December 1986, still
    forms a rich mine of top expert opinion on interesting positions.
    Back issues may (possibly) still be available from:

    Albert Weissman
    11 White Rock Road
    Westerly, RI 02891


    5.1.3.2. Matchups

    Matchups specialized in detailed tournament results, while its
    supplement, Matchups Extra, picked up from the Letters in using a
    panel of experts to annotate interesting positions. Published
    1984-1991. Back issues available. See section 12.6.


    5.1.3.3. Medleys

    Probably the highlight of this well-edited, entertainingly written
    monthly were the game annotations. One game per month was annotated
    in full. Three interesting positions were analyzed by readers, with
    quotes. Word lists, study techniques, anecdotes, humor and opinions
    rounded out the publication. The only drawback was a long-running
    two-page tournament advertisement in this 12 page newsletter.

    For the 12 issues of 1991 and 1992, $34 each; for 1993, $36; plus $2
    shipping ($3 USD in Canada).

    Also, compiled from the pages of Medleys, "The Art and Science of
    Anamonics" and "Complete 7+1 Anamonics #1-2100" (section 6).

    The entire run of Medleys has been reissued as part of "Archive: Two
    Word Game Classics." See section 5.2.

    $5 and $29 respectively; plus $0, $2 shipping.

    "Expert Analysis -- Consensus Game" #1, #2, #3, #4, and "Expert
    Analysis -- Consensus Extras" vol. 1, vol. 2, $29 each; plus $2
    shipping.

    The second and subsequent least expensive items are charged half the
    above shipping costs.

    Nick Ballard
    536 Kirkham St
    San Francisco, CA 94122-3611
    (415) LOG-NICK
    <mailto:nack@netcom.com>


    5.1.3.4. Rack Your Brain

    Subtitled "Analysis of your favorite crossword game", Brian
    Sheppard's series of booklets deeply analyzed specific positions.
    By the author of the program Maven (section 12.3), which is an
    important tool for move analysis.


    5.1.3.5. JG Newsletter

    This excellent publication followed in the footsteps of Letters for
    Expert Players (section 5.1.3.1) and Medleys (section 5.1.3.3) in its thorough position analyses. Also included some puzzles.

    Jim Geary
    31 West Cochise Dr
    Phoenix, AZ 85021-2484
    (602) 943-5281
    <mailto:jaygee@primenet.com>


    5.1.3.6. Tourney News

    This provided mostly tournament results listings, with bits of
    discussion of tactics, issues and occasional word lists.

    Tourney News
    Box 2013
    Teaticket, MA 02536


    5.2. Books and CD-ROMs

    Out-of-print books listed can be located, among other ways, through <http://abebooks.com/cgi/abe.exe/routera^progName=inventoryKeys^ phase=2^titlewords=scrabble^subjectwords=scrabble>.

    Archive: Two Word Game Classics, Joel Wapnick and Nick Ballard.
    CD-ROM (for Windows 95/Macintosh), 1999. This consists of (1) a
    revision of Wapnick's already excellent 1986 "The Champion's Strategy
    for Winning at Scrabble Brand Crossword Game" in light of later
    learning and insight, plus (2) the entire run of Ballard's periodical "Medleys" (section 5.1.3.3) (which includes contributions from other players). $26 CAD + $4 shipping within Canada, or $18 USD + $3
    shipping to the US, $5 shipping overseas, (shipping in any quantity),
    from Joel Wapnick, 4851 Cedar Crescent, Montreal PQ H3W 2J1, <http://order.kagi.com/?IEF>, <mailto:archive51@hotmail.com>, <http://www.angelfire.com/biz3/archive/>,

    The Official Scrabble Puzzle Book, Joe Edley. 1997, Pocket Books.
    In bookstores, $14. Designed to increase board skills. The author
    was the 1980 and 1992 North American champion.

    One Wordy Guy, William R. Webster. 1995, WilMar Pub. A novel on
    Scrabble; includes puzzles. $6 postpaid from WilMar Publishing, c/o
    William R. Webster, Box 5023, Carefree, AZ 85377.

    Everything Scrabble, Joe Edley & John D. Williams, Jr. 1994, Pocket
    Books. In bookstores, $14, or from Cygnus Cybernetics, section
    12.1. Practical advice for finding good plays plus practice word
    puzzles on and off board.

    The Literate Puzzler, R...

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