Groping frantically.

Lately, I've became addicted to Scrabble. For the unfortunate few who have not been introduced to the best invention of mankind, I will just say that it is a game that challenges the mind and entertains the heart. Invented in 1938 by the talented architect Alfred Mosher Butts, it was originally named "Criss-Crosswords." The layout and rules of the game were strikingly similar to what we use today; the players would be given a limited number of letters that they would have to use in order to form words on the board for points. Due to the difficult times (it was the Great Depression after all), Butts had no luck selling his game. It wasn't until the early 1950s that Butts' game gained popularity; it was quickly renamed to Scrabble, which literally meant "to grope frantically." Interesting change, is it not?

But to play Scrabble well, you need much more than just frantic groping. The game requires a depth of vocabulary knowledge, as well as the ability to recognize words, not by their meanings, but by their appearances. There is also an underlying strategic mindset that anyone who aspires to be a Master Scrabbler must acquire. Certain blocks have special properties: some for example can double the amount of point an ordinary word would earn, and others will increase the points a word earns if the word is oriented in a special direction. Of course, the most basic rule of Scrabble is that all the words must connect with preexisting letters at least once. Although the more connections a player makes, the more points he will likely earn.

This simple game has earned international prestige, and won measureless acclaims. It has provided an intellectual pass time that is somehow fun and entertaining for the masses. What more could you want from a game? It has an universal appeal mixed in with educational value; and if you will excuse me, I will now go reward myself with a game of Scrabble.