Scrabble Scoring Trivia Quiz

Answer: 4

Aa is worth 1+1=2 points, times two for playing across the center square, which also counts as a double word square. Aa is a rough type of lava typically emitted by volcanos.

Answer: 8

The aa made across is worth 3 points (2 for the double lettered a and one for the other letter). There are also two copies of the word aa made downwards, worth 3 points and 2 points (one is on the double letter square), for a total of 8. Aa is one of those words you'll probably never see outside scrabble. It IS great for those times when you have way too many vowels on your rack.

Answer: 23

Squib is worth (1+10+1+1+3)=16 before the triple letter, which gives an extra two for a total of 18 after. The word baa is also played for a point total of 5, giving a total of 23. Squib can mean one of several things, for example a low kickoff in American football or a small firecracker. Baa of course is the bleat of a sheep or goat.

Answer: 72

Before any bonuses, pastoral is worth 3+1+1+1+1+1+1+1=10 points. The o is doubled to make the total 11, then the word is doubled to make the total 22 (Note that it is done in this order and not the other way around.) Finally, a 50 points bonus is added on for using the entire rack for a total of 72. Pastoral means referring to the simple life of sheperds or herders.

It is often used to describe poetry and music.

Answer: 36

Before the bonus, zero scores 10+0+1+1=12 (remember, the blank doesn't count as a point). The triple word bumps that up to 36. Although zero is typically used as a number, it can also refer to a setting used on firearms to help the shooter aim their weapon better.

Answer: 16

4*2+4+1+3=16 All in all not a good score given that the w is played on the top row and leaves a triple word score space open. Fortunately (?), player one had another option next turn. Whip can refer both to the thong so beloved by lion-tamers everywhere and to the method of binding a rope with twine so it doesn't fray (among other things).

Answer: 41

Ax itself is worth (1+8)*2=18 points. There are also two across words, ah (worth 1+4=5) and xi (worth (8+1)*2=18), for a total of 41. X is probably the most powerful letter in the game. Not only is it worth a lot of points (8), but it can make a two letter word with every single vowel (ax, ex, xi, ox, and xu).

It is often possible to just stick a single x on a triple letter square nestled between two vowels and score 50 points for one letter. Ax is the typical woodcutter's tool, while ah is a sound of exclamation. Xi is a letter of the greek alphabet (for the curious, xu is a monetary unit of Vietnam, while ex is a term for the letter x).

Answer: 20

The ham itself is worth 4+1+3*3=14 points (4 for the h, 1 for a, 3 for m tripled to 9 for the triple letter). Aah adds on another 1+1+4=6, for a total of 22. Ham can refer not only to the type of meat, but also to an amateur radio operator and to a style of overacting (hamming it up). Aah is just another way of spelling ah.

Answer: 33

Yawp is worth (4+1+4+3)*2=24 points. Two words of two letters each, ay (1+4=5) and ma (1+3=4) are formed, for a total of 33 points. Ay is another form of the word aye (a yes vote), while ma is an informal term for mother. Yawp is a sharp cry or yelp (If you've ever watched Dead Poet's Society, Professor Keating has one of his students demonstrate a barbaric yawp after quoting Whitman, 'I sound my barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world.')

Answer: 15

3+1+4+(1*2)+1+1+3=15 (although a seven letter word was played, player 2's rack was not emptied so no 50 point bonus is given). A nice long word, but it isn't worth nearly as much as the much shorter ax. Coverup can refer to either a strategy of hiding a scandal (especially in politics) or a loose garment worn over other clothing. For the curious, player one scored a total of 4+23+36+41+34=138 points, while player two scored a total of 8+72+16+20+15=131 points in the first five plays of this game (close match!). Thanks for taking this quiz!