Beginner’s Guide to Words With Friends

New to Words With Friends? No problem! You’ve come to the right place. Words With Friends is a lot like Scrabble but way better, because you can play with your friends online, meaning you could even play from the comfort of your toilet seat, how’s that for a selling point, baazing!

But before you can play any game you need to know the rules, so let’s get to it.

Tile Placement

The first word of every game has to have at least one tile placed on the star square. Each new word formed must share at least one tile of a pre-existing word. Words can be formed horizontally (left to right) and vertically (top to bottom).

Scoring

Each letter has a set value, so for example D is worth two points, O is one point and G is three points. If you were to spell the word DOG you would earn a total of six points. There are also blank tiles, although they carry no point value they can become any letter you wish, making them very useful for completing words that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

There are also premium squares spread across the board — DL=Double Letter, TL=Triple Letter, DW=Double Word and TW=Triple Word.

Premium squares are highly sought after, they have the potential to multiply your score greatly. For example if you were to play the word AX, A is worth one point and X is 8 points, you’d only score a total of 9 points. But if the X was placed on the TL square, that would increase the value of X from 8 to 24 points, bringing you to the new total of 25 points.

If you use all 7 tiles in one turn you earn an extra 35 bonus points, this is called a bingo. Scoring bingos can adversely affect your opponent causing them to yell multiple CW=Cuss Words (not a premium square).

The game ends once a player has used up all their tiles, whatever tiles a player still possesses when the game ends will count against them and be awarded to the opposing player. For example, if your opponent beat you to the punch and played their last tiles before you could play your remaining tiles C, A and T — C being worth four points, A one point and T one point — you would subtract six points from your total score and add six points to your opponent’s score.

The game can also end if three turns have passed with no points scored.

Now that we have the basic rules out of the way, let’s dive into some basic strategies and tactics.

Strategy

There are many ways to play Words With Friends from a strategy stand point. Some players prefer a more aggressive approach, forming long words on each turn, to get rid of tiles as fast as possible. Keep in mind that 90 tiles are shared between both players, so the more tiles you use, the less there are for the opponent. Although it can be risky at times, branching out with long words gives your opponent ample opportunities to place tiles on premium squares.

The second approach I’d like to talk about is a more conservative style of play. It’s more defensive I’d say. With this approach you’ll form both short and long words, which of the two you’ll form on a given turn depends on a few factors, the biggest one being premium square proximity.

If you can form a long word to reach a premium square then go for it, otherwise, focus on forming short words. Make sure any word you form doesn’t extend so far that it allows your opponent to branch off your word to reach a premium square. Keep forming short words (especially parallel words, more on this later) until your opponent is forced to branch out putting you within striking distance of a premium square.

Obviously not all premium squares are of equal value, so you’ll have to use your best judgement on whether you want to avoid branching out to a certain premium square or if you’re willing to take the risk.

Tactics

Use Consonants to Minimize Risk – There are ways to minimize risk when forming long words. You’ll want to avoid placing vowels next to premium squares such as DL and TL. Placing vowels next to premium squares creates an easy setup for the opponent, since power tiles such as X naturally come before or after a vowel in many words. So just remember if possible form words with consonants next to the premium squares to minimize risk.

Avoid placing vowels next to premium squares.

Rack Management – Keeping a good balance of vowels and consonants on your rack is important. Having all vowels or consonants can make it difficult to form long words. If you do find yourself with too many of either kind, try using your opponent’s tiles to your advantage. Say for example you have all consonants, just look around the board for any vowels you can place two or more consonants next to. Or you could use the swap option to get rid of some consonants, this option forfeits your turn, use this option sparingly.

Be a Hooker – Hooking is when you add letters to the beginning or end of a word to form a new word. Hooks can be very potent, a well placed hook can really boost your score. Check out the screenshot below for example. I used the S to hook onto the word SINE to form the new word SINES, so far I’m at 6 points, then the new word I formed horizontally SLOGS is worth 36 points, since the L (2 points) was on the TL square and the S landed on the TW square, bringing me to the total of 42 points. In that example the word I hooked onto didn’t give that many extra points, but if you do see your opponent form a word containing lots of power tiles — such as K, J, Q, Z, and X — that would be the ideal time to become a hooker.

Counting Cards errr… Tiles – Now it may seem a bit extreme to keep track of what tiles have been played, but it’s actually very useful, I’ll give an example to illustrate why. If you were trying to reach the premium square TW by first spelling the word DOG vertically and then spelling the word SEA horizontally, where the S connects with DOG to form DOGS. In order for this tactic to work, you need to be sure that the opponent has no blank or S tiles to connect with the word DOG, making it impossible for them to use the TW tile against you. Letter distribution can be found at the end of the guide.

Bingo Stems – As the author of this guide, you may think I score bingos quite frequently, I assure you I do not. That actually makes me unqualified to write this next tip. But if you’re a big believer in the blind leading the blind, please by all means continue reading.

Bingo Stems are a group of six letters that give you the highest probability of forming a seven letter word. Try memorizing these bingo stems to improve your odds of scoring a bingo — TISANE, SATIRE and RETINA.

Parallel Words – I recommend memorizing as many two and three letter words as possible (word list at end of guide), this will allow you to form multiple words in a single turn. In the screenshot below we see the player form three words by placing them parallel to each other — PEE, PE and EL.

Have Fun

At the end of the day playing Words With Friends should be a fun experience, so don’t take the game too seriously. If you’re new, you’ll lose a lot, but don’t let it get to you, just hit the re-match button, form a word, then type in the chat box BRING IT! That’s usually how most of my games go, especially with my arch-rival Jenn K. Lee of Pocketables.net *Shakes Fist*. I hope you found this guide to be helpful, thank you for reading, and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.

Word List

Words With Friends uses the Enhanced North American Benchmark Lexicon (ENABLE) word list, containing over 173,000 words, Newtoy has made a few additions to the word list such as ZEN and QI, more will be added in the future.

To download a text file containing all the words, click here.

Letter Distribution

There are 104 tiles in Words With Friends, below is the distribution of letters.

A=9D=5G=3J=1M=2P=2S=5V=2Y=2
B=2E=13H=4K=1N=5Q=1T=7W=2Z=1
C=2F=2I=8L=4O=8R=6U=4X=1*=2

Letter Point Values

Regardless of what Thomas Jefferson may have said, not all letters are created equal.

A=1D=2G=3J=10M=4P=4S=1V=5Y=3
B=4E=1H=3K=5N=2Q=10T=1W=4Z=10
C=4F=4I=1L=2O=1R=1U=2X=8*=0

3 Letter Words

I want to give a quick shout out to my Caps Lock and Tab keys, if it wasn’t for them this table wouldn’t be possible. And thanks to Newtoy for compiling the list!
AAHAALAASABAABOABSABYACEACTADDADOADSADZ
AFFAFTAGAAGEAGOAHAAHIAIDAILAIMAINAIRAIS
AITALAALBALEALLALPALSALTAMAAMIAMPAMUANA
ANDANEANIANTANYAPEAPTARBARCAREARFARKARM
ARSARTASHASKASPASSATEATTAUKAVAAVEAVOAWA
AWEAWLAWNAXEAYEAYSAZO
BAABADBAGBAHBALBAMBANBAPBARBASBATBAYBED
BEEBEGBELBENBETBEYBIBBIDBIGBINBIOBISBIT
BIZBOABOBBODBOGBOOBOPBOSBOTBOWBOXBOYBRA
BROBRRBUBBUDBUGBUMBUNBURBUSBUTBUYBYEBYS
CABCADCAMCANCAPCARCATCAWCAYCEECELCEPCHI
CISCOBCODCOGCOLCONCOOCOPCORCOSCOTCOWCOX
COYCOZCRYCUBCUDCUECUMCUPCURCUTCWM
DABDADDAGDAHDAKDALDAMDAPDAWDAYDEBDEEDEL
DENDEVDEWDEXDEYDIBDIDDIEDIGDIMDINDIPDIS
DITDOCDOEDOGDOLDOMDONDORDOSDOTDOWDRYDUB
DUDDUEDUGDUIDUNDUODUPDYE
EAREATEAUEBBECUEDHEELEFFEFSEFTEGGEGOEKE
ELDELFELKELLELMELSEMEEMFEMSEMUENDENGENS
EONERAEREERGERNERRERSESSETAETHEVEEWEEYE
FADFANFARFASFATFAXFAYFEDFEEFEHFEMFENFER
FETFEUFEWFEYFEZFIBFIDFIEFIGFILFINFIRFIT
FIXFIZFLUFLYFOBFOEFOGFOHFONFOPFORFOUFOX
FOYFROFRYFUBFUDFUGFUNFUR
GABGADGAEGAGGALGAMGANGAPGARGASGATGAYGED
GEEGELGEMGENGETGEYGHIGIBGIDGIEGIGGINGIP
GITGNUGOAGOBGODGOOGORGOTGOXGOYGULGUMGUN
GUTGUVGUYGYMGYP
HADHAEHAGHAHHAJHAMHAOHAPHASHATHAWHAYHEH
HEMHENHEPHERHESHETHEWHEXHEYHICHIDHIEHIM
HINHIPHISHITHMMHOBHODHOEHOGHONHOPHOTHOW
HOYHUBHUEHUGHUHHUMHUNHUPHUTHYP
ICEICHICKICYIDSIFFIFSILKILLIMPINKINNINS
IONIREIRKISMITSIVY
JABJAGJAMJARJAWJAYJEEJETJEUJIBJIGJINJOB
JOEJOGJOTJOWJOYJUGJUNJUSJUT
KABKAEKAFKASKATKAYKEAKEFKEGKENKEPKEXKEY
KHIKIDKIFKINKIPKIRKITKOAKOBKOIKOPKORKOS
KUE
LABLACLADLAGLAMLAPLARLASLATLAVLAWLAXLAY
LEALEDLEELEGLEILEKLETLEULEVLEXLEYLEZLIB
LIDLIELINLIPLISLITLOBLOGLOOLOPLOTLOWLOX
LUGLUMLUVLUXLYE
MACMADMAEMAGMANMAPMARMASMATMAWMAXMAYMED
MELMEMMENMETMEWMHOMIBMIDMIGMILMIMMIRMIS
MIXMOAMOBMOCMODMOGMOLMOMMONMOOMOPMORMOS
MOTMOWMUDMUGMUMMUNMUSMUT
NABNAENAGNAHNAMNANNAPNAWNAYNEBNEENETNEW
NIBNILNIMNIPNITNIXNOBNODNOGNOHNOMNOONOR
NOSNOTNOWNTHNUBNUNNUSNUT
OAFOAKOAROATOBEOBIOCAODDODEODSOESOFFOFT
OHMOHOOHSOILOKAOKEOLDOLEOMSONEONSOOHOOT
OPEOPSOPTORAORBORCOREORSORTOSEOUDOUROUT
OVAOWEOWLOWNOXOOXY
PACPADPAHPALPAMPANPAPPARPASPATPAWPAXPAY
PEAPECPEDPEEPEGPEHPENPEPPERPESPETPEWPHI
PHTPIAPICPIEPIGPINPIPPISPITPIUPIXPLYPOD
POHPOIPOLPOMPOPPOTPOWPOXPROPRYPSIPUBPUD
PUGPULPUNPUPPURPUSPUTPYAPYEPYX
QATQISQUA
RADRAGRAHRAIRAJRAMRANRAPRASRATRAWRAXRAY
REBRECREDREEREGREIREMREPRESRETREVREXRHO
RIARIBRIDRIFRIGRIMRINRIPROBROCRODROEROM
ROTROWRUBRUERUGRUMRUNRUTRYARYE
SABSACSADSAESAGSALSAPSATSAUSAWSAXSAYSEA
SECSEESEGSEISELSENSERSETSEWSEXSHASHESHH
SHYSIBSICSIMSINSIPSIRSISSITSIXSKASKISKY
SLYSOBSODSOLSONSOPSOSSOTSOUSOWSOXSOYSPA
SPYSRISTYSUBSUESUMSUNSUPSUQSYN
TABTADTAETAGTAJTAMTANTAOTAPTARTASTATTAU
TAVTAWTAXTEATEDTEETEGTELTENTETTEWTHETHO
THYTICTIETILTINTIPTISTITTODTOETOGTOMTON
TOOTOPTORTOTTOWTOYTRYTSKTUBTUGTUITUNTUP
TUTTUXTWATWOTYE
UDOUGHUKEULUUMMUMPUNSUPOUPSURBURDURNUSE
UTAUTS
VACVANVARVASVATVAUVAVVAWVEEVEGVETVEXVIA
VIEVIGVIMVISVOEVOWVOXVUG
WABWADWAEWAGWANWAPWARWASWATWAWWAXWAYWEB
WEDWEEWENWETWHAWHOWHYWIGWINWISWITWIZWOE
WOKWONWOOWOPWOSWOTWOWWRYWUDWYEWYN
XIS
YAHYAKYAMYAPYARYAWYAYYEAYEHYENYEPYESYET
YEWYIDYINYIPYOBYODYOKYOMYONYOUYOWYUKYUM
YUP
ZAGZAPZASZAXZEDZEEZEKZIGZINZIPZITZOAZOO

2 Letter Words

AAABADAEAGAHAIALAMANARASAT
AWAXAYBABEBIBOBYDADEDIDOED
EFEHELEMENERESETEXFAFEFIGO
GIHAHEHIHMHOIDIFINISITJOKA
KILALILOMAMEMIMMMOMUMYNANE
NONUODOEOFOHOIOMONOPOROSOW
OXOYPAPEPIQIRESHSISOTATITO
UHUMUNUPUSUTWEWOXIXUYAYEYO
ZA

Board Reference

Get The Latest Updates

So you’ve read my 4th grade writing and managed to reach the end without hitting the Back button on the browser, what now?

I know! You should drop by the Words With Friends Facebook page and become a fan, that way you’ll get all the latest updates about your favorite word game. And you’ll meet thousands of other people that are just as excited as you are about Words With Friends.

Don’t have a Facebook account? That’s ok too, Newtoy has you covered, they also have a Twitter page you can follow to get the latest updates on Words With Friends.

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About the Author

enjoys playing games in Mac OS X and on his iPhone, surprise surprise!

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2,114 Comments

  1. bork says:
    April 5, 2010 at 5:41 pm

    where’s the android version?

    Reply
  2. daboss says:
    April 5, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    Does anyone know how to transfer from the free words with friends to the upgraded version with no ads? Can’s figure it out while still playing the game.

    Reply
    • Georgann says:
      April 6, 2010 at 1:19 pm

      just download the version with no ads, log in to it, and it will transfer all your games in progress. Did it yesterday, no problems. Love the ad-less version.

      Reply
  3. Helpppp says:
    April 4, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    So I was playing against my cousin and then she won and it said that on her iPod. On my itouch the game wasn’t even finished helppppp

    Reply
  4. Helpppp says:
    April 4, 2010 at 8:21 pm

    So I was playing with my cousin and she beat me so on her iPhone it said she beat me. On mine the game didnt even end. It will not end. Please someone helppppp!!!!!

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      April 19, 2010 at 7:36 pm

      It should eventually go through. I’ve had games frozen for a week! Of course I hope you made sure she had a wifi connection for her iPod. And you, too! The interesting thing is, if you wait long enough, and it automatically resigns her, will both of your idevices say that you are, respectively, the winners?

      Reply
  5. Allyson225 says:
    April 4, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Is there a way to find out who you are playing when a random person starts a game with you? I know I can ask in the chat but so far they have not responded. Not a big deal, but just curious. I love the game! As a thought, it would be good to have a goodnight button, so others know you have stopped for the night.

    Reply
    • ribeyerare says:
      April 4, 2010 at 2:55 pm

      when you recieve a challenge, it tells you the name of the person challenging you and gives you the option to decline or accept the challenge. additionally, you dont “officially” accept the challenge until you play your first word.
      if you are talking about starting a random game with someone, then no, you will not be able to see their name until the game is started, thus the randomness of it all!
      additionally, if you know someones wwf moniker, you may directly challenge them. i highly suggest forming gaming relationships with good players of your ability that will play in a timely fashion to avoid playing with the many”deadbeats” out there in wwf land.
      as for your goodnight button idea, i think thats an excellent idea but you should let the developers know. i feel the best way to contact them is through their facebook page.

      Reply
    • leshiss says:
      April 5, 2010 at 4:20 pm

      that is definitely a great idea!!

      Reply
  6. Kelly says:
    April 1, 2010 at 10:12 am

    I have loaded and reloaded Words with Friends many, many times but it keeps saying “Updating this may take a few minutes.” It NEVER finishes uploading. I have tried the trick of turning off my phone after I reload the game, then turning it back on and logging on. NOTHING WORKS!!! Please help!!!

    Reply
    • ribeyerare says:
      April 4, 2010 at 2:48 pm

      i feel your pain. this is due to extreme lag. this could be caused by your internet connection, but most likely it is the overabundance of activity on the words with friends server.
      unfortunately, this will happen from time to time, until the developers update, or expand their servers.
      one thing i can say with almost complete confidence is that the game itself is not buggy.
      this happens to me and a lot of the people i play with from time to time, and usually at the same time.
      the only thing i can say is to read my advice further down on this list, and stick with it. sometimes you will have to wait upwards of an hour. one time i even put the game down for the rest of the night due to my frustration and voila! it worked fine the next day.
      at present, all of my games save one are locked up with a similar message, which caused me to forfeit the round in a tournament i’m playing in!
      i can say, this game rocks, and is worth the wait!

      Reply
  7. Diane smith says:
    March 31, 2010 at 3:45 am

    Can I change my user name on Words With Friends?

    Reply
  8. Jamey says:
    March 30, 2010 at 4:12 pm

    Sometimes in the list view there is a ballon which usually means an opponent has left a message and there is a number by it. When I check the message there is none. What does the number mean?

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      April 19, 2010 at 7:43 pm

      This number is the amount of unread messages your opponent has sent you. Weird that there’s no message bubbles. Maybe your opponent was somehow playing tricks on you!

      Reply
  9. Kathy says:
    March 30, 2010 at 3:53 am

    How do I turn the sound off without turning off the phone? I already turned off notification’s sound. But can’t seem to turn off the bubble sound while playing.

    Reply
  10. Jackye Penney says:
    March 28, 2010 at 8:23 am

    How can I load Words with Friends on my computer?

    Reply
  11. Debbie Wheeler says:
    March 28, 2010 at 7:58 am

    For 2-letter words, what about IO? It is a1) moon of Jupiter and 2) a priestess of Hera who was loved by Zeus. I could have made out big time on that one, using timpani going down and one of the i’s would have formed IO going across.

    Reply
  12. blana says:
    March 27, 2010 at 10:38 am

    I have the same problem. How do we bump off deadbeats who aren’t going to play any more and it’s their turn.

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 28, 2010 at 5:16 pm

      Being the name of a moon or a god would mean that “io” is a proper noun, and therefore, not an acceptable play. Just think of it like this…if you were writing a sentence, and the word is capitalized, or hyphenated, or abbreviated, it is not going to be an acceptable word in this game.

      Reply
      • Debbie says:
        March 29, 2010 at 4:13 pm

        OI is also an interjection of dismay or pain and is in the Webster’s Scrabble Dictionary. (There are actually 101 2- letter words in it) Why is YO acceptable?

        Reply
        • Ribeyerare says:
          March 30, 2010 at 3:58 pm

          Firstly, I don’t know whether or not “oi” is accepted in wwf because I’ve not yet tried to play it. While it is an accepted alternate spelling of “oy” in scrabble, wwf does not use the scrabble dictionary. A lot of scrabble words will not be accepted in wwf. I have learned this the hard way too many times!
          Secondly, not all of the words from the dictionary that wwf uses are acceptable because the developers did not include every word when they published the game. The list of acceptable words grows, however, every time the game is updated.
          The only way to know whether a word will be accepted is constant trial and error. There was a time when wwf was first introduced that words like “za” and “xu” as well as “Jo” were not accepted! It really sucked!
          Finally, I still stick by my previous post. As far as I am aware, “io” is a proper noun and therefore will not be a playable word anytime in the future!

  13. Susan says:
    March 26, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    What are those little eyes in the corner??

    Reply
  14. Jam says:
    March 25, 2010 at 4:20 am

    What does the number in the corner of the tile mean on the menu screen (where it lists all the games you are playing it has a number beside the letter)?

    eg if I am playing someone called sam – on the menu it will have S in the tile along with a number in the corner – what is this number? Thanks

    Reply
    • Todd says:
      March 27, 2010 at 7:50 am

      It is the first letter of the name of the person that you are playing

      Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:03 pm

      The number is simply the point value of the tile.
      In this case it is just a decoration, an icon of the first letter in your opponents name and has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the game.

      Reply
  15. Pam says:
    March 24, 2010 at 4:22 am

    If I make an error with a letter and want to get the tile back sometimes it will not let me mobe the tile and leaves a big letter on all screeens I am playing. No way can I move it. I have had to turn off my phone and it will reset it but I can’t reboot my phone constantly….Any ideas

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:41 pm

      I have run into many issues like this and apparently, according to the developers at newtoy, they are all due to users overwhelming the server.
      I suggest simply closing the app and then opening it again. If it doesn’t work, try it again. After a couple tries it should work. This can be extremely annoying, I know.
      Other problems I have run into that can be remedied using this process are as follows:
      1) when you move a tile from your rack to the board, there are tiles underneath the spot on your rack. This can be quite confusing.

      2) when you “send” a word or a chatroom message, the “sending” message never leaves, and the word or message never gets sent.

      3) upon opening the app, the “updating” message never leaves the screen.

      4) when exchanging tiles, the game seems to freeze, never swapping the selected tiles.

      While these scenarios can be frustrating, a little patience can go a long way. After all, I think we can all agree, problems aside, this game rocks!

      Reply
  16. Andy says:
    March 24, 2010 at 3:52 am

    I get a lot of ‘not a acceptable word’ from words in list list. Example, text, view.
    Why?

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:12 pm

      My guess is that you are placing these words alongside other words and making unacceptable words in the process. I have played text and view in wwf before so I know that they are valid words. I have also played texted, texts, and texting, as well as views and viewed.
      In wwf, I notice it does not specify the word that is illegal if you make several words on one turn. Also, if you play a hook, it will only say you played one word. For instance, if you play the word sect on top of the word tern, with the s over the t making two words, sect and stern, the game will say that you played one or the other even though it credits points for both. This is a minor issue in the game, but I think it directly relates to your problem. One of your hooked words from text or view is illegal, and the game won’t specify, so naturally you would assume the word you were trying to play is illegal.

      Reply
  17. joseebunk says:
    March 16, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    i have had so many issues.

    HOW DO I START OVER WITH A NEW ACCOUNT?

    It won’t let me begin with a new name or password, I even tried using another email account.

    Reply
  18. Michele says:
    March 13, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    I play with a family member and her iTouch crashed so she had to reload all of her apps and we were in the middle of a game. It still appears on my iPhone after 9 days and I tried resending to her but it doesn’t work and I can’t get rid of it either. Any suggestions. She isn’t just a random friend so I don’t think it will disappear. I want to delete it or play it through with her but she can’t get it despite reloading the app.

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:17 pm

      Eventually, the game will be resigned. I have had unplayed games sit on my list for 14 days before they are dropped automatically. Just be patient and it should soon end.

      Reply
  19. Derek says:
    March 11, 2010 at 7:33 am

    Great guide thanks. For 2 letter words, it also accepts “fe.” This might have to do with them updating the dictionary in the newest version of the game. Any other two letter words people have been able to use that aren’t listed here?

    Reply
  20. mike says:
    March 9, 2010 at 5:18 am

    I really need help changing my user name. With 4 ipods in our family, somehow my ipod thinks I am my wife and gives me her name. Please help! Thanks. Signed: “Unable to Play”

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:30 pm

      The only thing I can think of is you and your wife use the same email account when you signed into the game.
      You can always change your name from the settings option, but this is just superficial… You will still be playing all the games you were previously engaged in.
      Wwf uses your email account to store all information for the game. This is why deleting the app and reloading will not hinder the status of your current games. The game also sends push notifications through your email, so you will not be charged for messaging.

      Reply
  21. Valerielmfao says:
    March 8, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Is there a way to change the theme/layout of the home screen?

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:50 pm

      No. This would definitely be something to suggest to the developers, though. It seems that the best way to contact them is through their facebook page. At the bottom of the games menu in wwf, there is a message bar that flashes several different messages such as, “wwf coming to ipad in HD” or “update to version x.x.x now!” one if these messages allows you to directly link to their facebook page. Of course you will need a free facebook account!
      Also, I think If you use facebooks search bar, type in “words with friends”, or ” newtoy” and you should be able to find it pretty easily.

      Reply
  22. wellthoughout says:
    March 8, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    How is it right that the person who has the first turn has an advantage to play all their tiles first and win? I was ahead of my opponent most of the game even though he had the first turn. He played his last tiles before I played mine and my remaining tiles counted in his favor, and he won?

    Reply
    • curtis says:
      March 11, 2010 at 2:32 pm

      You’ve misunderstood. If you play all seven tiles, your tray will be reloaded if there any tiles remaining in the tile pool. If there are zero tiles remaining in the pool, then the game ends when one of the players empties their tray.

      Reply
    • fns says:
      March 19, 2010 at 6:04 am

      playing first doesn’t give you the advantage when it comes to tile count because on each turn you play a varying amount of tiles. even if your opponent plays most of their tiles their first turn, throughout the game every turn allows you to catch up.
      if there was a 1:1 ratio (like you could only play one tile at a time), then it would be a disadvantage. but every time you play it varies, so if you play MOIST one turn, and your opponent plays CAT, then you’ve used more tiles and are closer to having none on your stand at the end of the game

      Reply
  23. Tabitha says:
    March 8, 2010 at 6:53 am

    I have a question….I’ve been playing a random opponent and they have not made a move in 7 days…How long will the game last if they don’t move again?

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 4:53 pm

      I’ve had games stay on my list for 14 days. Eventually they will be resigned automatically.

      Reply
      • leshiss says:
        April 5, 2010 at 4:19 pm

        At present time I have games on my list for 17 & 20 days…I’ve tried messaging these ppl but no moves from them yet….I guess I could try clicking “resign” but I hate to resign when I’m winning lol

        Reply
  24. Confused says:
    March 5, 2010 at 10:43 am

    What do the eyes in the corner mean??

    Reply
  25. Barbara says:
    March 4, 2010 at 3:52 pm

    When words with friends pushes aessage to an iPhone, does it count as a text message??

    I don’t have text message service and do not want to incur extra charges. L

    Reply
  26. jenni1216 says:
    March 4, 2010 at 8:24 am

    I played a Z as a blnk tile and it only gave me 1 point? I thought a z should be 10 Anyone have that happen? It was the first z in the game.

    Reply
  27. Dingo says:
    March 1, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Thanks for the guide!!! I am a complete newb to scrabble & words with friends. My girlfriend is an master at the game and has played (scrabble) for years.

    The first time I played her I lost by 110 pts (only my 2nd game, ever). Had a rematch and 7 moves into the game she was up by 95pts. I just threw in the towel and resigned the game.

    I’m sticking to people at my own level for a while!! lol!

    Also, if I get my WWF skills all polished and finally beat her one day, I STILL lose… its a lose lose situation! hahaha!

    Reply
  28. AlexFCB says:
    February 28, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    The one who plays all their tiles is supposed to win a game where the score is level. I took this into account in a game with my wife yesterday, but won by a couple of points anyway.

    Reply
  29. shelrose says:
    February 27, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Everyone complaining needs to complain to New Toy.com…go to suggestions and feedback and enter your complaint. That is what I continue to do…it really doesn’t help, however they are the makers of the game not os x!! Maybe if they get enough complaints they will fix the app.

    Reply
    • Ribeyerare says:
      March 30, 2010 at 5:05 pm

      Methinks the best way to get a response from those guys is their facebook page.
      Newtoy is a big game developer who has worked on major titles such as halo: wars, among others. I think that this game is probably just a minor foray into the iDevice gaming scene.
      Due to their continual server problems, I dont think they were anticipating the huge number of people willing to play this game so much. I myself regularly have 20 games going at once.
      It seems the guy who monitors their facebook page is very closely involved in the development of wwf and is probably a better source for questions and suggestions etc. Than sending an email to their website, which is probably a universal department dealing with many more games and programs than this one.
      It also helps to not be audacious when making complaints. Despite it’s issues, this game rocks, and I think they probably know that!

      Reply
  30. mikemorse says:
    February 25, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    My wife and I were playing and I was ahead of her. She then played her last tile and after she got the extra points of the tiles I still held, and those points were subtracted from my score, the screen showed that we were exactly even! It then declared me the winner! Needless to say, my wife says this is not fair since we were even at the end and she was the one who went out first. What is the answer to who wins when the scores are even?

    Reply
    • Alycia says:
      February 26, 2010 at 7:32 pm

      This is a no-brainer: Your wife wins. ;-)

      Just kidding! You both win!
      My boyfriend and I have had some heated competitions with this game. He thought it was so unfair that his remaining tiles were counted against him. Duh! :-D It just hurts him that I’ve beaten him so many times. We both hold degrees in English and have extensive vocabularies, but what can I say? I’m just better at strategy. :-)

      Reply
    • RulesGuy says:
      March 4, 2010 at 9:22 pm

      Per the rulebook: “In the case of the tie, the player who had the highest score before the game ended is the winner”

      Reply
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