The Rules
These are the official rules for Words With Friends. But before you can play any game you need to know the rules.
Overall Objective
Players exchange turns forming words horizontally or vertically on the board, trying to score as many points as possible for each word.
Tile Placement
- The first word must be placed so that 1 of the tiles is on the star in the center of the board.
- Every word following that must be placed so that at least 1 tile is shared from an existing word on the board.
- Tiles can only be placed in the same line vertically or horizontally each turn.
- Tiles can be placed so that multiple new words are formed simultaneously using neighboring letters.
- Words cannot be placed if they create an illegal word using neighboring letters.
- All words labelled as a part of speech (including those listed of foreign origin, and as archaic, obsolete, colloquial, slang, etc.) are permitted with the exception of the following: proper nouns (words always capitalized), abbreviations, prefixes and suffixes standing alone or words requiring a hyphen or an apostrophe.
Scoring
- Double the value of any tiles that were played this turn on a DL space, and triple the value of any tile that was played on a TL space this turn. Do not double the value of tiles on DL and TL spaces for tiles that were played on previous rounds.
- Add up the values of all letters in the word, even if some were played on a previous turn.
- Double the value of the word if any tiles this turn were played on a DW space (and double it again in the case were 2 DW spaces were played upon). Triple the value of the word if any tiles this turn were played on a TW space (and triple it again if 2 TW spaces were used). Do not multiply words if tiles on DW or TW spaces were used from a previous turn.
- It is possible to create multiple words with the same play. In this case, score each new word separately, including bonuses, and sum all of the new words together.
- 35 bonus points are awarded whenever a player uses all 7 tiles on their rack in a single turn.
End Game
- The game ends when one player plays every tile in his rack, and there are no tiles remaining to draw from. The game could also end if three successive turns have occurred with no scoring and as long as the score is not zero-zero.
- After the last tile is played, the opposing player will lose points equal to the sum of the value of his remaining tiles. This amount is then awarded to the player who placed the last tile.
- In the case of a tie, the player who had the highest score before the game ended is the winner.
Dictionary
Words With Friends has more than 173,000 acceptable words for use in the game. The list is based on the Enhanced North American Benchmark Lexicon (ENABLE), a public domain list used by many word games.
Also see How To Play and Cheats.
how do I use a blank tile?
how do I use swap tiles?
Does a "wild card" letter such as J count as full value. I played adjust and received only 7 points and one letter was even DL. The J was a wild letter. Someone explain this rule to me.
See this link for the rule on Blank Tiles:
http://wordswithfriendswin.com/2011/04/blank-tile-scoring/
On words with friends I had 387 points and my opponent had 387 points I used all of my letters and it said that I had lost. Please explain.
been playing this long time…one"z" always…my son must some how be cheating for he used two "z's" in one word…i'm mad!
oh just play the game and get beat again. blank letter MOM !
oops
Was it one of the two "custom" tiles in every game perchance?
I don't get how eh, de, ya, za et, er, gi, eta are acceptable I just got beat bad by this.
I agree with that, and what about using a name like Joe? I did find the rules & a dictionary but the rules are vague and I'm just starting to look at the dictionary they have out here for this game.
What are rules re: passing?
How many total tiles in a game and how many of each letter?
See this link for the answer to your question and more:
http://wordswithfriendswin.com/letters/
How can I lose with one tile left which would put me ahead of player who they said won!
Why did you accept the word AMIAS?
Why won't the "resign" key work. I have an opponet that has not responded in 3 days & I want to close out the game.
You can only resign when it is your turn.
How many games can you have going at once? I am able to accept games, but not able to rematch my opponent when I win.
what is the proper etiquette for starting a new game with someone u just finished playing with? does the loser or the winner of the game go first?
Why can't I add a "s" following a word, like "need" or "tart." I am told that incorrect placement.
When starting, is it fair to decline sets of letters offered until you
Get letters that allow you to play a 5 letter word, or are you suppose to play he letters given to you initially? I am paying with someone who resigns games before
How does WWF calculate average words on the Leader Board? Footer example, on this week's game, a player makes 311 points and his average is 62.2 which could mean he has only made 5 moves. If this player does not complete or resigns the game, his average would remain at 62.2. Shouldn't averages be calculated upon the completion of a game? Is there a fair method of calculating averages? I am very interested in how WWF calculates averages.
On preceding comment, I meant: For example…
Or, if the current average.calculation is as I've described.below, maybe some kind.of a weighted.factor could.be applied to.make the average scoring be fair across the board.
Here's one perfect example on my Leader Board. This player played only 36 points this week, and her average.is 36 which puts her on the top as #3 player. I don't see the WWF method of calculating averages is accurate, nor is it fair. Averages should be calculated on a game that has been completed, not a game currently in play or a game that has been resigned. Or, apply a weighted factor to ensure actuate scoring and fairness to players.