Scrabblepro software user manual
About this manual
This manual describes the main features of the software to help you get started. It is not updated for every minor revision of the software. If you need help, see our help center and the FAQ.
This manual assumes that the Scrabblepro software is already installed. If it is not, first follow the installation guide.
About Scrabblepro
Scrabblepro is the software that lets you play Scrabble online, against the computer and against other players. It automatically syncs your scores and games with the website, so you can check your statistics and follow your ranking in the club on scrabblepro.com.Starting a Scrabble game
Creating a game
There are several ways to start a game on Scrabblepro.- The simplest is to create a game: click the New game button as soon as you are signed in. You can also use the Game menu, then New game.
- To invite an online player, click the Online button, then Show available players, select a player and click Invite.
- You can also join a game proposed by another player: click the Proposed games button, select a game, then click Join. A flashing button at the bottom of the screen shows the number of proposed games; it also opens this list.
Inviting a player by username
If you know a player's username, you can invite them directly:- Click the Online menu, then Invite a player, and enter the player's username.
- Or click the Online button to open the list of online players, start typing the username in the search box, select the player, then click Invite.
- Or click the player's username in the chat, then Invite.
Searching for a player
To search for an online player, click the Online menu, then "Search for a player", and type part of their username. For example, searching for "arc" finds all players whose username contains "arc", such as "arcangel" or "marcel".Playing against the computer
Click New game, choose computer in the game type list, then choose the computer's level.Playing with 3 or 4 players
To play with 3 or 4 players, choose 3 or 4 in the number of players list when you create the game.Playing solo
You can also play alone in a classic game: choose 1 in the Number of players list when you create the game. It is a great way to practice, try as many words as you like and beat your own records.Playing blitz
Blitz is a game mode used in competitions: time is limited per player, not per turn. Each player has 5 to 25 minutes for the whole game. A player who runs out of time loses the game. If the game ends normally without anyone running out of time, the winner is, as in a classic game, the player with the most points.To create a blitz game, choose Blitz in the game type list when you create the game.
To join a blitz game waiting for players, click the Proposed games button, then the Blitz tab, select a game and click Join.
Playing duplicate
Duplicate is a Scrabble variant in which all players have the same rack. At the end of each turn, each player scores the points of the word they placed. To see the duplicate games, click the Proposed games button, then the Duplicates in progress tab. To join one, select it and click Join. You can also create your own duplicate game and invite your friends or other players: click the Create a duplicate button in the duplicate games list window.Automatic or manual challenge
In games against the computer, all words played are checked automatically. In games between players, there are 2 challenge modes:
- Simple challenge: when a player places a word that does not exist, they are told immediately, but their opponents are not. The word is only removed if at least one opponent challenges it; the player then loses their turn and scores no points. If nobody challenges within 15 seconds, the word is accepted and the player scores its points. Challenging a valid word carries no penalty.
- Automatic challenge: when a player places a word that does not exist, the word is refused and removed from the board, and the player loses their turn. To enable this mode, tick the Automatic challenge of invalid words box.
Playing the game
Placing a word on the board
Click a letter on your rack with the left mouse button and, keeping the button pressed, drag it to the square you want on the board.
You can also place a word with the keyboard: double-click the starting square of the word, then type the word. The word is placed horizontally by default; to place it vertically, double-click the same square a second time.
Tip: dragging a letter on your rack onto another one swaps them. This is handy for looking for the right word before you play it.
Submitting a word, passing or exchanging letters
To submit the word placed on the board, click the Submit button in the right-hand panel.
To pass your turn, click Pass; to exchange your letters, click Exchange. Exchanging letters makes you pass your turn.
Challenging a word
In simple challenge mode, you have 15 seconds to challenge the last word played by your opponent: click the Challenge this word button in the right-hand panel before the countdown ends.Resigning from a game
When the game starts, the New game button becomes Resign: click it to resign from the game.
Time per turn
The time per turn ranges from 60 seconds to 3 minutes for games between players, and is 5 minutes for games against the computer. You can change it when you create the game, or when you invite a player directly.Other game options
When you create a game, click the "More options..." button to add options.
Time-limited game: by ticking the maximum game duration box and choosing a duration, you limit the total length of the game. If the game is not over when the time is up, the player with the highest score wins. It is a good way to make sure the game does not last longer than the time you have.
Unrated game: ratings do not change, whatever the final score. Ideal for passing the time or trying out new strategies without pressure.
Window monitoring: by ticking the enable window monitoring box, you are notified each time a player in the game leaves the game window for another window on their computer. Some players do this to use helper software. A player who often switches windows may look suspicious, but it is not necessarily cheating: they may, for example, be chatting with friends in a messaging app during the game.
Private game: to play with friends, create a private game and invite them to join.
Match points (PM)
Match points (PM, from the French "Points de Match") are the estimate of your Scrabble level in the club: your rating against other players (PM), against the computer (PMO) and in duplicate (PMD). This rating is adjusted at the end of each game according to your results.
- the result of the game (win or loss);
- the number and percentage of your wins;
- your level at the time of the game and that of your opponents.
It is very close to the formula used in official Scrabble competitions.
Tip: you gain more PM by beating an opponent whose PM is higher than yours, and you lose more by losing to an opponent whose PM is lower than yours.
The starting PM is 0, which means the player has not played any game yet. While PM are being calculated, some menus are disabled: you can only start a new game once your PM has been updated.
Tie-break points (PDEP)
Tie-break points (PDEP) estimate the average level of the opponents you beat.At the end of each game, points are added to your PDEP total: the winner scores the higher of the two PM, the loser the lower one. This total divided by the number of games played gives your PDEP.
Unlike PM, tie-break points do not necessarily go down after a defeat.
The PDEP is used in particular to separate two players who have the same PM.
It is also a good indicator of the level of opponents a player is able to beat. For example, a player with a PM of 6000 and a PDEP of 9000 is progressing slowly but usually beats players with an average level of 9000 or more: if your PM is below 9000, they have a good chance of beating you. Conversely, a player with a PM of 9000 and a PDEP of 8000 mostly beats lower-ranked players, with an average level of 8000.
Fair-play points
Fair-play points are calculated from the number of games played and the number of games resigned. They start at 100%, go down when you resign from games and go back up otherwise. Note: they can change very quickly while you have played few games, and much less once you have played many.Messages and chat rooms
Chat and chat rooms
You can talk with your opponents by private message and take part in chat room discussions. You must then respect the site's netiquette and the other players: no insults, no threats, no incitement to hatred, etc. Otherwise, you may be banned, temporarily or permanently.
Sending a private message
To send a message, open the Message to list at the bottom of the chat window. If your contact's username is among your recent recipients, select it. Otherwise, select the player in the list of online players and click Private message, or click their username in the chat, then Private message. Then type your message and press the Enter key to send it.
The usernames of your opponents and of the people you chat with are saved automatically in your recent recipients.
Chat rooms
Scrabblepro has several official public chat rooms whose names start with "scrabblepro", for example "scrabblepro1_fr", "scrabblepro2_fr", etc. You can join an official room at any time. You can also create or join another room, away from the main rooms.Joining or creating a room
To join another room, click the Rooms button, select a room, then click Join. To create a room, click Create a room in the list of rooms.