Take Two (or Speed Scrabble)
Take Two is a speed word game that can be tailored for children or adults. Children as young as 8 (younger if they are paired with an adult) can play successfully. You will need a set of letter tiles from a scrabble set or equivalent, a pencil and a scoring pad, a dictionary if arguments are likely to arise (a scrabble dictionary and scrabble word rules apply). One scrabble set is adequate for 2-6 players.
1. Spread the letters on the table, turn them all upside-down.
2. Seat players evenly around the letters so that each has space in front of them to create their words.
3. Each player takes 5 tiles, leaving them upside-down until ‘go’ is called.
4. At ‘go’ each player individually tries to create words in front of them that link like a crossword puzzle. Each player can change or rearrange their letters and words at any time through the game.
5. When one player has used all their letters in their crossword they immediately call ‘take two’ and all players take two more letter tiles to incorporate into their crossword.
6. Continue Step 5 until all the centre tiles have been used (the last call might be ‘take one’ depending on the number of players and/or the number of tiles remaining).
7. The first player to use all their tiles calls ‘stop’ and play stops.
8. Players then score their crossword by adding the number value on each tile. If a tile is used twice then it is added twice. Leftover tile values are deducted from the final score.
9. The player with the highest score wins.
TIPS:
• Take care rearranging your crossword puzzle as it might be a slow process and this is a speed game.
• Small words are quicker to create but 2 or 3-letter words can be difficult to ‘hang’ other words from.
• Aim for speed rather than high word scores.
• Do not count out loud when adding scores as this confuses other players.
• The speed can be adjusted to the players’ abilities. It can be completely competitive or players can decide to help others on the table if abilities or experience of the game differ widely. Helping players and negotiating rules when required are acceptable behaviours.
For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_variants
