Scrabble/Playing the X

Triple-letter Squares

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The letter X goes best on a triple letter score, especially if you can count that square twice. To maximize your chances of doing this, make sure you know all the two-letter words containing X:

AX, EX, OX, XI, XU

When you get an X, look for a triple-letter square that will allow you to play the X in two words simulataneously. They do not have to both be two-letter words, but the chances that one of them will have to be a two-letter word are pretty good. The X alone in this play is worth 48 points, so it's almost as good as a bingo.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O
1
WS
     
LS
        
WS
        
LS
     
WS
2   
WS
        
LS
        
LS
        
WS
  
3      
WS
        
LS
  
LS
        
WS
     
4
LS
     
WS
        
LS
        
WS
     
LS
5            
WS
        
R1
E1
A1
P3
        
6   
LS
        
LS
     
A1
X8
        
LS
  
7      
LS
        
LS
  
N1
        
LS
     
8
WS
     
H4
A1
T1
I1
N1
G2
     
LS
     
WS
9      
LS
        
LS
  
E1
        
LS
     
10   
LS
        
LS
     
R1

LS
        
LS
  
11            
WS
              
WS
           
12
LS
     
WS
        
LS
        
WS
     
LS
13      
WS
        
LS
  
LS
        
WS
     
14   
WS
        
LS
        
LS
        
WS
  
15
WS
     
LS
        
WS
        
LS
     
WS

In the example above, the X was played alongside RANGER and REAP (making the words AX and EX) for 50 points.

It is more common to find a suitable triple-letter square for this than it is to find a suitable triple-word square, partly because the triple-word squares are in the corners or at the edge of the board, and partly because they do not usually remain open for very long (as triple-letter squares do).