It may not be as good as a 'face-to-face' encounter, but online scrabble has added new dimensions to the original board game

Pune is abuzz with words like 'hm', 'mm', 'pe' and 'qi'. The city is hosting the National Scrabble Tournament on July 5 and 6 and scrabble enthusiasts are busy polishing up their skills.

While Indian scrabblers battle it out, online players compete in daily contests at sites like The Internet Scrabble Club and The Pixie Pit.

The charm of this board game lies in the interaction between the players, the delight of scoring a 'bingo' and the thrill at being praised by your partner. Emotions that cannot be fully experienced in the online version. Yet the popularity of the online game continues to grow because of two main reasons: the dearth of partners or of players with a common skill-level.

Even those who belong to offline scrabble clubs often go online to play. Udayan Grover, a member of The Pune Zygo Scrabble Club, says prominent players from all over the world play scrabble online. 

Scrabble clubs usually meet once a week or once a fortnight. During the week, there is little or no time to play with club partners. Online scrabble helps these players sharpen their skills. As Lennie D'souza, member of the Karnataka Scrabble Association puts it, "I play scrabble online because I need the practice."

Members of scrabble associations from different parts of the world keep in touch by playing online. Says Udayan, "There is a chat column on the page through which we can exchange pleasantries. These are players we know personally, people we meet at international tournaments. Online scrabble allows us to play games against each other more often, which is not otherwise possible."

Friends and relatives spread across the world have found a great way to come together for a game. For Sheila Secrist of Virginia, USA, it's a way to keep in touch with old friends.

You can also kindle new friendships that cross continents and time zones. Says Carol, from New York, "Online scrabble gives you an opportunity to play with people from every country, colour, creed and religion. You make fast friends through the game and it's wonderful." 

Besides the 'friendship' factor, an important reason why people play online is the lack of partners to play 'across-the-board' games. Beth Cochran from England, tongue-in-cheek says, " I can't get my husband to play with me."

However, if you are keen on finding a partner to play an 'across the board' game, there are a number of scrabble clubs in India that hold regular tournaments and are trying their best to popularise the game. Udayan says, "Scrabble players organise tournaments for children, in a bid to draw them to the game." Perhaps, the online version too, will help arouse the interest of Net savvy children.

Online scrabble has many advantages, but can it capture the thrill of playing a 'face-to face' game? Gena Domek from Australia, says, "The board game is much more fun; the social interaction, having your letters in front of you and the speed of the live game makes the online version not as exciting."

The triumph experienced on seeing your partner's reaction when you play a high-scoring word and the tension that builds up are diluted online. Shifra Friedman of Beit Shemesh, Israel, who plays an 'across-the-board' game once a week, also plays online regularly. She says, "I can't see my opponent. So I can't try to 'read' his intentions."

For those who belong to clubs and participate in tournaments, the atmosphere just cannot be recreated online. Says Udayan, "Online scrabble is a good experience, almost as good as the real thing. But playing 'face-to-face' is an entirely different experience. Especially when it is a crucial game, when there is a tie and that final move is all that counts. With people watching you, there is an aura that builds up in the arena. You don't get that online."

While it may never evoke the aura of a 'face-to-face' game, online scrabble has added new dimensions to the original board game. It offers the choice of playing at your own pace, the chance to befriend scrabble players across the globe and the opportunity of connecting with friends and relatives, half a world away.

Additional Resources:

-- Scrabble history and rules

-- Tips for beginners  

-- Word List 

-- Bingo List