Welcome!
This user’s guide will help you get started playing the Handmark Scrabble game in no time. The first
section outlines the easy purchasing process – how to Put it in Your Palm for good! The next sections
describe registration, support, and easy step-by-step instructions on how to launch each game. When you
finish installation, simply use the HotSync application to sync your Palm OS device and you’re ready to
play. If you find you need help, simply tap the Information icon found on many application screens to view
additional instructions and tips, as well as game rules.
Purchasing The Handmark Scrabble Brand Crossword Game
Purchase the Handmark Scrabble game online for $29.99 by clicking the "Add to Cart" button on the Scrabble
game product page. Visit www.handmark.com/products . Once the order has been processed, you will receive
your serial number within one working day. Enter the serial number into the trial version of the Handmark
Scrabble game and the 15-day limit will be removed.
Or, you may purchase the Handmark Scrabble game at many retail locations throughout the U.S. Visit
Technical Support
If you have a software problem you can’t solve, please visit our web site and check out our FAQ section
(Frequently Asked Questions). If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, email us at
Getting Started
The Handmark Scrabble game is easy to play. To get started, simply tap the Scrabble icon on your
application screen and the Scrabble game board appears.
To begin a new Scrabble game:
1. Tap the menu icon, then tap New Game on the Game menu. The New Game dialog box appears.
2. Enter each player’s name and tap whether the player is human or if you are playing the Palm
device. If you play against the device, select the level of play on the Palm drop-down list.
3. On the Game Mode drop-down list, select whether you want to play in Friendly or Tournament
mode. If you select Tournament mode, the dictionary cannot be consulted and special rules
regarding challenges are in effect.
4. Tap to check the Allow Suggest checkbox. If you check this box, you can view suggested moves
by tapping Suggest Move on the Game menu.
5. Tap OK. The Draw for First Player screen appears.
6. Tap OK. If you are the first player, tap Show to display your tiles, then place the first word on the
board. The game begins!
While Playing the Scrabble game:
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When you have finished placing your tiles, tap Done to move on to the next player.
Tap Show to display your tiles and Hide to hide them from your opponent’s view.
Tap Undo to remove your tiles from the board and start your turn again.
Tap Trade to trade all or some of your tiles. When the Trade Letters dialog appears, tap the letters
you want to trade, then tap Trade, or tap All to trade all letters displayed.
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Tap Score to view the score for your turn. Be sure to tap Score before tapping Done if you want to
display your score.
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Tap Last and the last word placed on the board flashes quickly.
If you use a blank tile, you must assign a letter when the Blank dialog box appears. If you need a
reminder of what a blank letter is, simply tap the blank tile on the board and it is displayed.
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If you are playing in “Friendly” mode and need help finding a word, tap Suggest Move on the
Game menu and suggested words appear on the game board.
To view the board legend and plan scoring, tap Board Legend on the View menu and the legend is
displayed.
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Take advantage of the Premium Letter Squares. A light blue square doubles the score of a letter
placed on it; a dark blue square triples the letter score.
Also take advantage of the Premium Word Squares. The score for an entire word is doubled when
one of its letters is placed on a red square. See rules Scoring for more details on Premium
squares.
Rules of the Game
Object
In the Scrabble game, players form interlocking words, crossword fashion, on the board using letter tiles of
different values. Each player competes for high score by taking advantage of the letter tiles, as well as the
premium squares on the board. In a 2-player game, a good player scores in the 300-400 point range.
Game Play
1. The first player combines two or more letters to form a word, and places the tiles by selecting and
tapping on the board to read either across or down with one letter on the center square.
2. Complete your turn by tapping Done. If you want to view your score for the turn, tap Score after
the letters are placed and before tapping Done.
3. The second player, and then each in turn, adds one or more letters to those already played to form
new words. All letters played on a turn must be placed in one row across or down the board to
form at least one complete word. If, at the same time, they touch other letters in adjacent rows,
those must also form complete words, crossword fashion, with all such letters. The player gets
full credit for all words formed or modified on his or her turn.
4. New words may be formed by:
1. Adding one or more letters to a word or letters already on the board.
2. Placing a word at right angles to a word already on the board. The new word must use one of
the letters already on the board or must add a letter to it.
3. Placing a complete word parallel to a word already played so the adjacent letters also form
complete words.
5. No letter or tile may be shifted or replaced after it has been played and scored.
6. Blanks: The two blank tiles may be used as any letters. When playing a blank, you must state
which letter it represents when the Blank dialog box appears. It remains that letter for the rest of
the game. To display a blank letter on the board after it has been placed, simply tap the blank tile.
7. You may use a turn to exchange all, or some, of your letters. To do this, tap Trade. The Trade
dialog box appears. Tap the letters you want to trade, then tap Trade.
8. You may look up any word before it is scored (if you are playing in Friendly mode) using the
official Scrabble dictionary. Tap Lookup Word on the View menu and the Lookup Word dialog
box appears. Enter the word in question, then tap Lookup. If the word is valid, “OK” appears.
9. Ending the Game: The game ends when all letters have been drawn and one player uses his or
her last letter, or when all possible plays have been made. The winner’s name is displayed. If you
want to end the game early, simply tap New Game and either save the current game or start a new
game without saving.
Scoring
1. Scores are automatically tallied and displayed next to each player’s name at the top, right of the
screen. Tap the scores displayed at the top right to view the Score Summary for the current game
and display all player’s scores.
2. To view a score for your turn, tap Score before finishing your turn by tapping Done.
3. Premium Letter Squares: A light blue square doubles the score of a letter placed on it; a dark
blue square triples the letter score.
4. Premium Word Squares: The score for an entire word is doubled when one of its letters is
placed on a pink square; it is tripled when one of its letters is placed on a red square. If a word
covers two premium word squares, the score is doubled and then re-doubled (4 times the letter
count), or tripled and then re-tripled (9 times the letter count).
5. Letter and word premiums count only on the turn in which they are played. On later turns, letters
already played on premium squares count at face value.
6. When a blank tile is played on a pink or red square, the value of the word is doubled or tripled,
even though the blank itself has no score value.
7. When two or more words are formed in the same play, each is scored. The common letter is
counted (with full premium value, if any) for each word.
8. Bingo! If you play seven tiles on a turn, it’s a Bingo. You score a premium of 50 points after
totaling your score for the turn.
9. Unplayed Letters: When the game ends, each player’s score is reduced by the sum of his or her
unplayed letters. In addition, if a player used all his or her letters, the sum of the other players’
unplayed letters is added to that player’s score.
10 Ways to Become an Instant Scrabble Game Expert
1. Two and three letter words – Learn the 2-letter and 3-letter words. They are the building blocks
of expert play and can boost your average score by as much as 50 points per game.
2. Secret of the “S” – Use an S to form two words at once. Pluralize one word while forming
another at the same time. Hint: Use your S wisely. Don’t add it unless you can earn at least 8
points by doing so.
3. Shuffle Tiles – Shuffle the tiles on your rack frequently. Look for some common ways that letters
go together. Some of these are BR, CH, CL, DLE, ED, ENT, EST, FUL, GHT, ING, NK, KLE,
MIS, ISM, IUM, MB, MP, ND, NT, PR, PL, RE, STR, TH, UN, IVE, and OUS. As you form
these combinations, it may surprise you how words will often appear on your rack when you least
expect them.
4. Bonus Squares – Always look for ways to play across premium squares. Check especially for
premium squares next to vowels.
5. Consider Your Next Play – Make your play with an eye toward your next play. You can do so
simply by saving some good tiles. Your best odds of having a great next “rack” is to save some
combination of the letters “AEILNRST” (hint: think “starline”, ideally saving either the same
number of vowels and consonants, or just one extra consonant.
6. BINGO’S – always look for bingo’s (using all 7 tiles at once). Optimism and know-how will
mean more 50-point bonuses. Learn common word beginnings and endings and know how to
place them on your “rack”.
7. Q without U – Learn the Q-without-U words. The Official SCRABBLE Player’s Dictionary lists
these: QAT(S), QAID(S), QOPH(S), FAQIR(S), QANAT(S), TRANQ(S), QINAR(S),
QINTAR(S), QWERTY(S), SHEQEL, QINDARKA, and SHEQALIM.
8. Look for Hooks – Hooks are single letters that you can add to existing words that form other
words. We’ve already mentioned the “S hook”, but also look for words you could end with a Y,
E, R, or D. Example: HAND(Y), PLAN(E), TAME(D, R).
9. Choice of Plays – After you find a good play, if you have time, look for a better one. Always try
to give yourself a choice of plays. By exercising your decision-making abilities, you’ll likely
develop keener strategic skills.
10. Attitude – Keep in mind that anyone can beat anyone else with a certain amount of luck. Also
remember that everyone draws poor combinations of tiles at times, so when you do, take pleasure
in making the best play you can. Finally, don’t dwell on your mistakes. Everyone makes them, so
go easy on yourself and just enjoy playing!
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