Frequently Asked Questions
- Where and when does the club meet?
- What is a night at the club like?
- Do I need to bring anything?
- Chess clocks? What are those doing in a SCRABBLE® game?
- I just scored 400 in my last game. Would that be a club record?
- “Bonus-Bingo” — what’s that?
- How do I know if a word is really a word?
- Where do I go for more information?
Where and when does the club meet?
Interested players are invited to attend the weekly club meeting that takes place at the Erin Mills Church Centre, 3535 South Common Court. We play three games every Thursday starting at 7:30 p.m. Entry is $4, not bad for a night of SCRABBLE® challenge and fun.
The nearest intersection is Erin Mills Parkway and Burnhamthorpe Road West. South Common Court is located one block west of Erin Mills Parkway on the south side of Burnhamthorpe. After you pass the light at the Mall Entrance, look for “South Common Court” on a corner signpost. The Erin Mills Church Centre is at the end of the court. Enter by the row of four doors and the first room you will see is the SCRABBLE® room, no doubt filled with a few early birds who have set up their boards and clocks.
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What is a night at the club like?
Around 30 players come out each week, encompassing all levels of playing skill. We have players who are novices as well as Canadian National Championship players. Everyone is welcome. The age of club members ranges from 10 – 92.
The Director will match players one-on-one for the night’s three games. (There are no three- or four-person games.) The Director generally likes to match players based on their level of playing skill.
There are three groups based on skill level, aptly named Groups A, B and C. The Director will assign you to a group based on your comfort level of play. Players are not restricted to the confines of play within a certain group, however, and crossover play requests are always honoured.
New players receive the list of all acceptable two-letter and three-letter SCRABBLE® words, and they are allowed to play with this list on their first day. If you want, you can download this word list yourself here. New players may also challenge without penalty on their first day.
Coffee, tea, cookies and goodies are provided.
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Do I need to bring anything?
Please bring your board, tiles and chess clock if you have them. The entrance fee is $4 just to cover club costs.
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Chess clocks? What are those doing in a SCRABBLE® game?
Many of our members play with a clock. Some use a chess clock and some use a
digital model. The clock regulates play time and ensures that games have the same start and finish. The standard time allotment in club play is twenty-five minutes for each player. Newcomers to the club are not obligated to play with a clock, but we encourage you to try it.
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I just scored 400 in my last game. Would that be a club record?
The Mississauga SCRABBLE® Club keeps track of the highest scores based on each club division. At the end of each yearly club session we award divisional prizes for the highest game score of the year, as well as prizes in categories for highest score in a single turn, highest loss, most bingos played in one night, most outrageous phony not challenged and for most improved player.
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“Bonus-Bingo” — what’s that?
Each week a club player selects one vowel and one consonant from a full bag of 100 tiles. The player scoring the highest bingo (a word that uses all seven tiles from one’s rack) that employs both chosen tiles wins a prize.
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How do I know if a word is really a word?
SCRABBLE® clubs and tournaments have their own lexicon, the Official Tournament and Club Word List. This lexicon differs slightly from the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, Fourth Edition. If you are in doubt over the validity of a word, you may challenge it. The Director will consult the official word list and make a ruling. Players may not consult the lexicon during a game. At our club, we usually use a computerized dictionary, which can be downloaded for free at www.zyzzyva.net.
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Where do I go for more information?
See the Contact page for details on how to reach us.
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