“You have nothing and you draw Norway ‘N’ twice, Egypt ‘E’…”: This is how each game of Scrabble begins in a club. Everyone knows this board game, often played with family on Sundays or after Saturday’s dinner. It brings a family together and sometimes drives them apart, with critiques about the words played and the misfortune of drawing letters. These last diatribes cannot occur in a club. Indeed, all “scrabblers” hold the same letters between their fingers. They have the same allocated time: two minutes and thirty seconds to register on a slip the word they wish to play, indicating the score and the placement. All the slips are sent to the referee who will check them during the three minutes of the next turn. These are the rules of Duplicate Scrabble. This Thursday, in the game room of the Campanile Hotel on Boulevard Risso, I take my place at table number 11 of the Nice Côte d’Azur club. Like for all beginners, the club provides me with a Scrabble game.
The first draw gives me seven one-point letters: n, n, e, l, o, i, a. I form “lionne” for fourteen points. The accepted solution is “léonin,” for the same number of points that I place on my grid. Scrabble played this way requires much more concentration. It resembles a real sport with the intent to “give” the maximum, far from family Scrabble.
So, I try to give the best of myself. Maximum concentration is required. A tactic is also needed to not appear ridiculous: even if I don’t play the “top,” finding the place that will earn the most points to limit damage is not easy. But I got into the game. Obviously, some words are unfindable for a novice (“tek,” “iwan,” “lydien,”…) but allow glimpsing the path to compete with skilled players.
Like a goal scored in football or a successful smash in tennis, I feel proud to “scrabble” or to find the top (chosen solution).
Scrabble is a discipline that combines numerous qualities: friendliness, thought, concentration, but also entertainment. Ideal for retirees but especially for active people and high school students. “We aim to attract players other than retirees. We have set up a Saturday afternoon game so that people working during the week can join us. We coach beginners by explaining a few tricks,” comments Philip Lafon, the club president.
Scrabble in schools must be developed in Nice. It allows middle school students to improve their vocabulary, memory, and attention. The French Scrabble federation supports school establishments. There is even a French school championship. So, if you children want to embarrass your parents during the Sunday afternoon Scrabble game, I invite you to experience the club atmosphere…
Vincent Trinquat
Nice Côte d’Azur, Hôtel Le Campanile (center), 58 boulevard Risso, 06300 Nice.
Monday, Thursday and Saturday, 2:30 PM. President: Mr. Philip LAFON Tel. 04.93.98.12.95
Nice Friendship, 06000 Nice. 6 Avenue Beatrix. Tuesday and Wednesday 2:30 PM, Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday afternoon. President: Mrs. Michèle AUBAUD Tel.04.93.83.08.60.
Nice Etoile Club de Scrabble, Association Spaces, Place Garibaldi (next to the Mercury), 06000 Nice. Tel.04.93.97.78.00. Monday, Thursday 2:15 PM.