SCRABBLE LETTER VALUES EXPLAINED
Every Scrabble tile carries a point value, and the values aren't arbitrary — they mirror how rare each letter is in English. Understanding the values, and more importantly how they interact with the board's premium squares, is the foundation of every scoring decision in the game.
THE FULL VALUE TABLE (ENGLISH EDITION)
| Points | Letters | Tiles of each |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Blank | 2 |
| 1 | E, A, I, O, N, R, T, L, S, U | E×12, A×9, I×9, O×8, N×6, R×6, T×6, L×4, S×4, U×4 |
| 2 | D, G | D×4, G×3 |
| 3 | B, C, M, P | 2 each |
| 4 | F, H, V, W, Y | 2 each |
| 5 | K | 1 |
| 8 | J, X | 1 each |
| 10 | Q, Z | 1 each |
That's 100 tiles in total. The one-point letters make up more than two-thirds of the bag, which is why racks full of them feel easy to play — and why the rare letters need a plan.
HIGH VALUE DOESN'T MEAN HIGH SCORE
A common beginner mistake is treating the Q and Z as jackpots. On their own they're liabilities: hard to place, restrictive to hold. They only become jackpots when placed on premium squares. A Z on a normal square scores 10; the same Z on a triple letter square, counting in two directions through a parallel play, scores 60 before you add the rest of the word.
THE PREMIUM SQUARES
- Double / triple letter (light blue / dark blue): multiply one tile. Made for J, X, Q, Z.
- Double / triple word (pink / red): multiply the whole word. Made for long words and bingos.
- Stacking: letter multipliers apply first, then word multipliers. A word covering a triple letter and a triple word multiplies the boosted letter, then triples the lot.
- One use only: premium squares count the turn they're covered, then become normal squares.
PRACTICAL RULES OF THUMB
- Aim the big tiles at blue squares. Getting X, J, Z or Q onto a letter multiplier — ideally scoring both across and down — is worth delaying a turn for.
- Save word multipliers for length. A triple word square under a four-letter word is a wasted triple. Under a bingo it's a 100+ point turn.
- Watch the second-best spot. If you take the best square this turn, what does your play open up for your opponent next turn? The premium squares you give away matter as much as the ones you take.
- Learn the short X and Z words. XI, XU, AX, EX, OX, ZA, ZO and friends let you cash big tiles in tiny spaces — see our two-letter words guide.