Cheating at Scrabble
The Game
My Techie is totally dyslexic. We used to write his cheques for him because sometimes, unless carefully watched, he even got his name wrong.
He has a 100% win rate in Scrabble.
I figured he hacked the scores to turn 0% into 100%.
No.
He has a Cheat.
This cheat is so good that all he has to do is activate it, so it 'sees' the Scrabble Board. It sees his tiles. It tells him where to put the tiles. The cheat can find the 'Bingo' words, (that is a word using all the tiles in your hand) but more cleverly, know exactly where to play each tile for maximum pointage.
Wow.
I asked, 'What kind of fun is it for your computer to play a game and you to be a spectator?"
He replied that he thought it was funny.
Well, I suppose from his vantage point it is funny. But it isn't funny when you're playing Scrabble online and the other guy is running that program. Not running it because he is so dyslexic he couldn't play without it, but running it because s/he needs that no prize win.
Once There Was
There once was a really good Scrabble game on Facebook . It came with a dictionary you can use to test words and a listed 2 letter word acceptability chart.
It was up to you to set the time a game should take and how many people you wish to play with.
Selecting 24 hours between moves is the best selection. It gives you lots of time to arrange letters in your dictionary and test if they are real, but also, is the the most effective weapon you have against cheaters.
Playing with Cheaters
There are apps which allow you to put your letters in a blank space press 'make words' and in a few seconds it will toss out all possible. You can even add 'wild cards' as question marks, so that the app can extend horizons beyond your rack of letters.
As cheating, this can be debated. With 24 hours between movies and the little dictionary available in the game, finding all the words is only a matter of time.
However, the program my techie used was a clear cheat and used to cheat.
And he wasn't the only one to use it.
On three different occasions I found myself playing Scrabble with someone who used the same program my techie did.
In the first game I played with Cheater I thought, 'well, good letters, good eye'. By the second game, I posted, (for the game allows a little chat), "You're cheating."
My opponent denied it, of course.
I posted, "I have 24 hours to make a play. It is now 5:34. My next play will be tomorrow at 5:33 and every play will be 24 hours."
He forfeited the game and logged off and I haven't seen him since.
The second cheater was, as the first, deep in denial. I told her the same thing. She forfeited and logged off, and I haven't seen her either.
As both needed 'immediate' gratification, (their lives are probably quite disgusting and the only success they know is cheating at scrabble) the idea that they would have to wait had them prefer a forfeit.
The third cheater, I just didn't have the stomach for. I posted; "Go cheat someone else," forfeited the game and refused to play a rematch, (Yeah he actually wanted a rematch).
I kept trying to comprehend what kind of fun can one possibly have when they cheat?
Here is the game.
Here is you.
Here is the cheat.
And the cheat is playing the game for you.
There's no money, no prize, nothing. If you win you get a splash screen.
Wow.
Yet there are people will actually cheat to win nothing.. They must win at all costs.
Your Strategy
When Scrabble existed on Facebook I always selected 'long' games. Cheaters need the instant win.
Long games chase the vast majority. Twenty Four Hour between plays gives you the advantage.
With real people I played as quickly as I could. But with a suspected cheater, I will take that 24.
I told a lot of the users, in those ancient days that if you think the other is cheating go for the 24 hour play. Drag out the game. See how long s/he will continue.
If you are more disgusted then angry, Forfeit.
And don't ever play a rematch.
This was my strategy until the game, which was shy I joined FB went down.
