Tampa Bay Scrabble Club

Who we are:

NASPA Club #699 is dedicated to furthering the mission of the North American Scrabble Player’s Association:

“We are a community of tournament, club and avid home Scrabble players. We foster a safe environment for people of all skill levels to play their favorite game, improve their abilities and above all, meet people who share a similar love of the game.”

What we do:

We play Scrabble! We use NASPA’s official wordlist and rulebook, but rules are relaxed for new players.

When, where, and how?

May 2023

Saturday, May 13 from 1:00-4:00 PM: Barbara S. Ponce Library. 7770 52nd St N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781.

Directions from library staff: “When you come into the lobby, turn left. [Our room] will be the double doors on your left. The room does not have an official name, but you can ask at the information desk for directions to the “kitchen side meeting room” if you get lost.”

Monday, May 22 from 6:00 PM: Linda’s house. Downtown Safety Harbor (RSVP for address and directions)

FAQ

How much does it cost? Do I need to be a member to play? – Playing club games is free, no membership required, just show up! If you decide to play in tournaments, you’ll need to become a NASPA member for around $30 a year. If you feel so inclined, you’re welcomed to donate to help cover our very minor operational costs, but dues are not required at this time.
Are the rules the same as how I play at home? – Yes (mostly). The basic rules of gameplay and scoring are the same. We use the Official North American Word List as our standard dictionary, not the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary, but the main differences between playing at home and in a club/tournament are that both players are required to keep score, we use a game clock, and we have standardized equipment. Don’t worry about it, though. We relax rules for newcomers. The director and other players want you to be there and will help you out.
Why are there so many rules? – We’ve found it’s better just to agree on the dictionary, rules, and length of the game beforehand, so we do! Having a set of a rules and a director to help with them eliminates most of the common Scrabble disagreements, i.e., “It’s a word in Webster’s!” “But we’re using Oxford English Dictionary!” or some of the multitude of house rules regarding challenges, blanks, and so forth.
What should I bring? – Nothing. We’ll be happy if you just show up! But, if you have a board with raised gridlines, plastic tiles, and/or an electronic game timer (chess clock) you should bring those.
I’m a beginner and I came to club and lost every game. What should I do now? – Come back! We hope to have a good mix of players from beginner to expert at every session, but most club regulars are intermediate players and make for tough competition. The best way to ensure that you get opponents at your level is to keep coming back. No one, even the top player in the world, wins all of their games. No one loses all of them either. But win or lose, we’re here to make friends and play a game that we like.
I’m an expert and I came to club and won every time. What should I do now? – See above!
I’m a beginner or intermediate player and I want to get better. I’ve heard that people study. How do I do that? – We’ll add some resources to this site at some point. In the meantime, ask the director.
How can I get more information? – Email tampabayscrabbleclub@gmail.com or come to a club event.