How to Play Scrabble with Big Words: Strategy Guide for Families

Learn proven strategies to find and play longer, higher-scoring words in Scrabble with your family.

  1. Start with Common Word Endings. Look for tiles that make common endings like -ING, -ED, -ER, -EST, or -ION. These endings help you build longer words from shorter ones already on the board. For example, if someone played WALK, you could add -ING to make WALKING. Keep these ending tiles in your rack when possible, and scan the board for words you can extend. Practice with your family by taking turns finding extendable words on the current board.
  2. Master High-Value Letter Combinations. Learn common letter pairs that use high-point tiles effectively. QU combinations (QUIET, QUILT), words with X (TAXI, NEXT), and words with Z (ZONE, FIZZ) can create big-scoring opportunities. Teach your family these patterns: TH, CH, SH often start longer words, while -LY, -TION, and -NESS make great endings. Make it a game to collect these letters and brainstorm words together during family practice sessions.
  3. Use the Premium Squares Strategically. Plan your big words to hit multiple premium squares when possible. A seven-letter word that uses all your tiles (called a bingo) gives you a 50-point bonus, so aim for those when you have good letter combinations. Try to place high-value letters on double or triple letter scores, and position longer words to cross triple word scores. Before playing any word, count the points to make sure you're maximizing your score.
  4. Build Your Family's Vocabulary Together. Create a family word list of 6+ letter words you discover during games. Include words like FAMILY (12 points), PUZZLE (18 points), and FRIEND (10 points base score). Between games, practice anagramming—mixing up letter tiles to form different words. Use word finder apps or dictionaries to explore new words together, but save this for practice time, not during actual gameplay.
  5. Think in Prefixes and Suffixes. Teach everyone common prefixes (UN-, RE-, PRE-, IN-) and suffixes (-ABLE, -MENT, -NESS) that can transform short words into longer ones. If someone plays HAPPY, you might add UN- at the beginning for UNHAPPY. Keep a mental list of these word parts and actively look for opportunities to use them. This strategy helps younger players compete with adults by giving them concrete patterns to recognize.