BRATTLEBORO — If you like words and you like games, chances are you'll love playing Scrabble on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. (or later) at Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., second floor.
Ed Liebfried created this Scrabble club late last year, having moved back to this area after a stint in Oregon. If you played when you were younger but feel a bit rusty, two-letter word (there are more than 100) and three-letter word lists are provided, as are Scrabble boards and score sheets.
New words occasionally get added and deleted, to the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, so it's not a good idea to get complacent. Try “qi” on for size. Yes, “qi” (a circulating life energy in Chinese philosophy, which can be pluralized with an “s") is now a “legal” word and is just one of several that do not take a “u” after a “q.”
Playing “rusty” will give you 8 points (not counting any individual tiles or words that are on double or triple spots on the board).
Playing “rustier,” however, uses all seven tiles and gives you an automatic 50 points (on top of the high-scoring spots on the board upon which you may have placed your tiles).
Tournament Scrabble is more challenging than what is usually played around the kitchen table, but players at all levels are welcome. The number of players has been steadily increasing and is usually in the double digits. Friends are easily made in this amiable group and complimentary refreshments are often available.
The tab for the evening is $3. Inquiries: 971-344-8730 or ed.liebfried@gmail.com.