Words with Friends is an app that basically functions as an online version of the game Scrabble. If you know how to play the classic word search game, chances are you'll quickly understand the rules of playing Words with Friends. However, whether you are a "veteran" of Scrabble or a newbie to this kind of game, there are various tips and strategies that can be used to maximize the points earned in each game session.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Accessing the Game
Step 1. Download the Words with Friends mobile app if you want to play it on your phone
Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play store (Android). After that, do a search with the keyword “Words with Friends” and click the “Get” button to download the game to your phone.
Once the app is downloaded to your phone, just click on the Words with Friends icon to open and play it
Step 2. Use Facebook if you want to play Words with Friends on a computer
Log in to your Facebook account and visit the “App Center” section in the menu on the left side of the feed page. On the left sidebar, search for “Words with Friends” and install the app.
Click “Play Game” to start a new game once the app is downloaded
Step 3. Touch the “+” icon in the top right corner of the screen to start a new game
Once the game starts, you can play with your Facebook friends, random other users, or whoever you're with. If you choose the latter option, you will need to give the phone to another player after your turn is complete. This means that the game can only be enjoyed on your phone.
- If you download Words with Friends 2, you have the option to play with the computer as a co-star.
- Words with Friends will suggest friends you can play with. However, you can start the game with anyone if you want to play with random opponents.
Method 2 of 3: Playing the Game
Step 1. Click and drag the letter pieces onto the board to play them and make words (in English)
You can make words by placing letter pieces, either vertically or horizontally, on the board. However, you should not play with words that are self-names, abbreviations, and prefixes or suffixes, as well as words that require hyphens or apostrophes.
- When playing, you must use at least one letter chip that is already on the board, except for the first word played by the first player.
- Keep in mind that you can't play a word if it results in words that have no meaning when combined with other letters. For example, you can't play the word “CAT” (cat) if the letter “T” is placed next to another “T” because “TT” is not a legal word in English.
- When you use letters, you earn points according to the number shown in the upper right corner of each chip. Therefore, when you play a word, you will get the number of points from all the letters that are issued to form the word.
Step 2. Play the word with at least one letter in the center of the board to start the game
Whoever plays first in the Words with Friends round must place at least one of the letters of the word he created in the star box in the center of the board. Keep in mind that you can place any letter in the word. In other words, the word being played does not have to start from the star box.
For example, if the first word you play is “CAT” (cat), you can place the letters “C”, “A”, or “T” in the star box
Step 3. Create a new word from the available letters on the board when it is your turn
If you get the first turn, your opponent will issue another word connecting his letter pieces with your first word on the board. When you get your turn again, place the word with the puck that connects to both your first word and your opponent's new word.
Keep in mind that before it's your turn, you'll get new pieces so you always have 7 letter pieces on the shelf
Step 4. Play alternately until the game ends
The Words with Friends game session ends when one of the players has used all of their pieces and no other pieces can be used. At this stage, each player's score is calculated and the player with the highest score wins the game.
Keep in mind that if the player has any remaining letter pieces at the end of the game, the final score will be reduced by the sum of the scores on the remaining letter pieces
Method 3 of 3: Earn More Points in Game
Step 1. Place the letter pieces in places that limit your opponent's ability to score big
To win Words with Friends, you'll need not only to earn points for yourself, but also to defend yourself and prevent your opponent from scoring big. When playing words, place the pieces strategically so that your opponent can't occupy the advantageous colored squares on the board.
Don't place your words next to boxes with double or triple scores. While you'll be playing lower-scoring kata elsewhere, at least your opponent can't use high-value squares
Step 2. Memorize 2 letter words in English that you can play with other words
With 2-letter words, especially high-scoring letters, you can increase points using only 2-4 squares. In addition to being more efficient, this strategy also makes it difficult for your opponent to play using the words you put out.
Some 2-letter English words you can play with are “XI” (fourteenth letter in the Greek alphabet), “EX” (former spouse), and “PI” (the transcendental number “3, 14”)
Step 3. Find an opportunity to play all the letters through the colored squares
You can earn extra points by strategically placing letters past the colored squares on the board. The squares allow you to earn double or triple points, either for the letter placed in the box (double letter or triple letter) or for one word played in its entirety (double word or triple word).
- The word score multiplier boxes, both double (double word or DW) or triple (triple word or TW) are usually the most valuable colored squares on the board.
- If you have high-scoring letter pieces such as “X” or “Z”, you can increase your score by placing the pieces in the letter score multiplier box, either double (double letter or DL) or triple (triple letter or TL).
Step 4. Play all seven letter pieces at once if possible
This strategy is known as “Bingo” and allows you to get all the points of all seven letters, plus an additional 35 points. Memorize a few 7-word letters or play Words with Friends as many times as you want until you're more proficient at finding opportunities to get "Bingo".
Step 5. Place the letters next to the words already on the board to earn more points
For example, if you want to play the word “POWER” (power) and the word “AROSE” (appear, past tense) is already on the board, don't place the word “POWER” vertically using the letter “R” in the word “AROSE”. Play your word lengthwise over “AROSE” so that you can also form the words “PA” (a nickname for dad), “OR” (or), “WO” (an archaic form of the word woe meaning sadness), “ES” (letter “S”), and “RE” (second note on the diatonic scale).
