The Opening Move Equation
Every opening play involves three competing factors:
- Immediate Score – Points scored this turn (typically 20-40 for openings)
- Rack Leave Quality – Bingo probability and scoring potential of remaining tiles
- Board Control – Premium square positioning and defensive setup
The best opening moves optimize all three. A 38-point play with terrible leave (Q-J-X remaining) is worse than a 28-point play with excellent leave (S-E-R-T remaining).
"I don't play my best word on the opening turn—I play the word that creates the best position for my next two turns. Opening strategy is about the first three moves combined, not just move one."
— Nigel Richards, Five-Time World Scrabble Champion
Interactive Opening Analyzer
Enter your opening rack to see optimal plays with leave analysis.
The 15 Best Opening Moves
These plays combine strong immediate scoring with excellent rack leave and board positioning.
Master These Opening Plays
18 points
Perfect leave
Keeps: S
Definition: To keep possession of.
Opening Excellence: RETAIN (R-E-T-A-I-N) scores 18 points while keeping your S—the most valuable tile for next turn. The leave is pure gold: just S alone. Common letters create flexibility. Balanced opening that doesn't commit high-value tiles. Sets up bingo potential while maintaining board control. Ideal first move.
18 points
Perfect leave
Keeps: E
Definition: A type of Persian dulcimer.
Opening Excellence: SANTIR scores 18 points keeping E—the most common vowel. Obscure word but tournament-legal. The single-E leave with six consonants used creates excellent bingo potential. Strong opening for those who know this word. Perfect balance of score and leave quality.
18 points
Great leave
Keeps: T
Definition: Elder; older in rank or age.
Opening Excellence: SENIOR (S-E-N-I-O-R) scores 18 points keeping T. Common word everyone knows. The T leave is valuable for next-turn plays. Balanced vowel-consonant distribution used. No difficult letters committed. Strong opening with familiar vocabulary.
15 points
Excellent leave
Keeps: S-E
Definition: A proportional relationship.
Opening Excellence: RATIO scores 15 points keeping S-E—two of the three most valuable tiles. The two-tile leave with S and E creates maximum next-turn flexibility. Lower immediate score but superior leave quality. Common word with strong positioning. Excellent strategic opening.
18 points
Good leave
Keeps: N
Definition: Witty criticism; mockery.
Opening Excellence: SATIRE (S-A-T-I-R-E) scores 18 points keeping N. Common literary term. The N leave is versatile for next-turn plays. Uses good balanced tiles. No high-value tiles wasted. Solid opening with decent leave quality.
18 points
Good leave
Keeps: E
Definition: Sudden enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
Opening Excellence: SATORI scores 18 points keeping E. Zen Buddhism term that's valid in Scrabble. Single-E leave creates flexibility. Uses common vowels efficiently. Strong opening for players with diverse vocabulary knowledge.
18 points
Good leave
Keeps: R
Definition: An herbal tea or infusion.
Opening Excellence: TISANE (T-I-S-A-N-E) scores 18 points keeping R. Less common word but legal. The R leave is valuable. Good vowel usage. Herbal tea vocabulary that sophisticated players know. Solid opening play with good leave.
18 points
Good leave
Keeps: S
Definition: An optical standard of wavelength.
Opening Excellence: ETALON scores 18 points keeping S. Physics term that's tournament-legal. Keeps the crucial S for next turn. Technical vocabulary that strong players memorize. Excellent leave quality with S retained.
18 points
Good leave
Common word
Definition: Older person; higher rank.
Opening Excellence: SENIOR uses S-E-N-I-O-R for 18 points. Common, recognizable word. Good tile distribution. Doesn't commit difficult letters. Maintains balanced rack. Reliable opening everyone can spot.
15 points
Decent leave
Keeps: S-E
Definition: To teach; railway transport.
Opening Excellence: TRAIN (T-R-A-I-N) scores 15 points keeping S-E—excellent two-tile leave. Lower immediate score but keeps the two best tiles. Common word with flexible positioning. Strategic opening prioritizing next-turn bingo potential.
18 points
Decent leave
Keeps: T
Definition: Logic; cause for action.
Opening Excellence: REASON (R-E-A-S-O-N) scores 18 points keeping T. Common word with good tile distribution. The T leave is versatile. Balanced vowel usage. Solid opening that doesn't over-commit tiles.
18 points
Decent leave
Keeps: E
Definition: To exert; tension; variety.
Opening Excellence: STRAIN scores 18 points keeping E. Uses S effectively for immediate score. Single-E leave maintains flexibility. Common word everyone knows. Practical opening with balance.
18 points
Decent leave
Keeps: S
Definition: Sale of goods to consumers.
Opening Excellence: RETAIL (R-E-T-A-I-L) scores 18 points keeping S. Commerce term everyone knows. Retains the valuable S. Good vowel distribution. Practical opening with strong leave.
18 points
Decent leave
Keeps: T
Definition: Containing salt; salt solution.
Opening Excellence: SALINE scores 18 points keeping T. Medical/chemical term. The T leave is flexible. Uses common letters efficiently. Good opening for medical vocabulary knowledge.
18 points
Decent leave
Keeps: S
Definition: To acquire or get.
Opening Excellence: OBTAIN (O-B-T-A-I-N) scores 18 points keeping S. Common verb everyone knows. Retains crucial S for next turn. Balanced tile usage. Reliable, strong opening move.
If your opening rack has an S, prioritize keeping it unless you can play a bingo or score 35+ points. S is worth approximately 8-10 points of "future value"—its ability to enable next-turn bingos or high-scoring plays. A 20-point opening keeping S often outperforms a 26-point opening using it.
Opening Strategy Principles
⚖️
Balance Score vs. Leave
Don't always play your highest-scoring word. Calculate total value: immediate score plus leave quality. A 26-point play with excellent leave beats a 32-point play with terrible leave.
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Prioritize S, E, R Retention
These three tiles have the highest "future value." Keep them when possible unless you're playing a bingo or scoring 30+ points. They enable next-turn scoring.
🚫
Avoid Committing Q, J, X, Z
Unless playing a high-scoring word (25+ points), don't commit these tiles on your opening. Save them for premium squares later when you have better support tiles.
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Target 18-24 Point Range
The sweet spot for opening plays is 18-24 points with good leave. Don't sacrifice leave quality for 4-6 extra immediate points. Think two turns ahead.
"I calculate my opening play by adding immediate score plus estimated next-turn advantage from leave. RETAIN for 18 points keeping S might be worth 18 + 12 (S value) = 30 total value, while STAINER for 21 points keeping nothing is just 21 total value. RETAIN wins."
— David Eldar, 2017 World Scrabble Champion
Opening Plays by Leave Quality
Ultimate opening plays that retain the most valuable tiles.
Strong opening plays retaining high-value common letters.
Master Opening Strategy
Put these principles into practice. In Opening Gambit, you get a 7-tile rack and pick the best first-turn play by balancing immediate score with rack leave quality — exactly what separates club players from champions.
Play Opening Gambit
Conclusion: Start Strong, Stay Strong
Opening strategy isn't about maximizing immediate points—it's about maximizing total three-turn value. The best openings balance current score with future potential. A 22-point play keeping S-E positions you better than a 30-point play leaving Q-J-W.
Master these principles and dominate from move one:
- Memorize the 15 best opening plays – From RETAIN to RATIO to SENIOR
- Calculate total value – Immediate score plus leave quality
- Retain S, E, R when possible – These tiles have 8-12 points "future value"
- Target 18-24 point sweet spot – With excellent leave quality
- Avoid committing Q, J, X, Z early – Save for premium squares later
- Think three turns ahead – Opening move affects moves 2 and 3
- Balance is key – Don't sacrifice leave for 5 extra immediate points
The next time you draw R-E-T-A-I-N-S for your opening rack, play RETAIN keeping S. That 18-point play with perfect leave positions you for a 60-point bingo next turn. That's not conservative—that's championship strategy.
Start smart. Keep gold. Win consistently.