Words With Friends Strategy Guide
Words With Friends looks like Scrabble, but the tile values, the board, and the bonuses are different — so the winning strategy is different too. This guide covers how scoring really works, how to squeeze points out of the bonus squares, and the habits that separate a good player from a great one.
How Words With Friends Differs From Scrabble
- 1The seven-tile bonus is 35 points, not 50. It is still the biggest single play in the game.
- 2Tile values are different — several letters are worth more or fewer points than in Scrabble.
- 3The board layout places triple-word and triple-letter squares in different spots, so Scrabble openings do not transfer directly.
- 4The dictionary is more permissive — many words rejected in Scrabble are valid in Words With Friends, so try plays that "feel" borderline.
Highest-Value Tiles
These are the tiles worth hoarding for a bonus square. A 10-point letter on a triple-letter square is 30 points before the rest of the word even counts.
Six Habits That Win Games
Chase the bonus squares
Triple-word (TW) and triple-letter (TL) squares are where games are won. Line up a high-value letter on a TL square, or run a whole word through a TW square, and a modest word becomes a huge score.
Play parallel words
Placing a word alongside an existing one scores every new two- and three-letter word you form at the same time. A single tile laid next to a row can quietly rack up three or four scoring words at once.
Hold your S tiles and blanks
An S lets you hook onto an existing word and build your own in one move. Blanks let you complete a seven-tile bingo. Do not spend either on a small word unless it opens a very big play.
Always look for the bingo
Before you settle for a small word, scan your rack for a seven-tile play worth the 35-point bonus. Learning common seven-letter patterns from your tiles is the single fastest way to raise your average score.
Learn the short words
Two- and three-letter words are the glue of parallel plays and hooks. Knowing the valid short words lets you fit tiles into tight board positions others cannot use.
Block and defend
When you are ahead, avoid opening a triple-word square right next to where your opponent could reach it. Sometimes the best move is a smaller word that denies them a big one.
Stuck on a rack? Feed your tiles into the Words With Friends cheat to see every playable word ranked by score.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Words With Friends different from Scrabble?
The tile values differ, the seven-tile bonus is 35 points instead of 50, and the premium squares sit in different board positions. The WWF dictionary is also more permissive, so many words rejected in Scrabble are valid here.
What is the bonus for using all your tiles?
Playing all seven tiles in one turn earns a 35-point bonus on top of the word score. It is the biggest single move in the game, so always scan your rack for a seven-letter play first.
Which letters are worth the most?
Z, Q and J are worth 10 points, X is worth 8, and K and V are worth 5. Save these for a triple-letter or triple-word square to multiply their value.
What is the best overall strategy?
Target the bonus squares, play parallel to existing words to score several words at once, hold your S tiles and blanks for big plays, and always look for a bingo before playing a small word.