Scrabble (real Scrabble) rule question?

Question

I understand Holds, Challenges and the Coutesy Rule in a 2-person game. The problem arises in a 3-person game. Suppose Alex plays a word that Bob and Cindy think is dubious. Alex has been known to try bogus words, but he's also good and knows a lot of Scrabble words. Bob wants to challenge the play, but he has a small lead and does not want to take the risk of being wrong and losing his turn, so he tries to convince Cindy to challenge it. Cindy thinks it's a good word so she's afraid to challenge it, but it's wrecking a high-scoring play for her, so she wants Bob to try to get it off the board. They debate and argue for three minutes and then it's too late. Alex later wins the game and smirkingly notes that QUZEX was just a bunch of letters.

I have a book on Scrabble strategy and it has a whole chapter about bogus words and challenges, but only for 2-person games. Who can/should challenge a dubious play in a 3- or 4-person game?

Dawn G · Accepted Answer

The next to play has the first right to challenge, if he or she does not, than the next one may and if that one does not, the third.

BUT there should be NO discussion, and anyone who challenges MUST do so before the next play is made. 

So, no  matter where you are in the playing order, call "Hold" if you are thinking you might want to challenge.  As you know, but others reading might not, that means the player whose play you are considering challenging cannot draw replacement tiles until you release the hold, which will also keep other from playing

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Scrabble (real Scrabble) rule question?

1 Answer