Word Release scoring, bonus squares and nine-tile bonus

In Word Release, the best move depends on where you place a word as well as which letters you use. Your turn can score a main word, side words and bonuses.

Letter and word multipliers

• DL — Double Letter: doubles the value of a newly placed tile.
• TL — Triple Letter: triples the value of a newly placed tile.
• DW — Double Word: doubles a word formed using a new tile on this square.
• TW — Triple Word: triples a word formed using a new tile on this square.

Letter multipliers are applied before word multipliers. Two new double-word squares in one word multiply its score by four. A bonus square already covered by an old tile does not activate again on a later turn.

Side words count too

Tiles placed alongside existing letters can create additional words across your main word. These side words must also be valid in your dictionary and add to your turn’s score. The Play button previews the points before you submit a valid move.

Play all nine tiles for 40 extra points

Using all nine tiles from your rack in a single legal move adds a 40-point bonus. This is added after word multipliers. Forming a nine-letter word partly from existing board letters does not by itself qualify: you must play all nine rack tiles.

White-ball deals

Unused tiles stay in their rack positions and new letters fill the gaps. New racks have at least three vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and three consonants. Refills preserve unused tiles and maintain this balance whenever possible, otherwise getting as close as the remaining spaces allow. This applies to black and white balls. Every player, including Easy, Medium and Expert bots, starts each game with one white and one black ball, regardless of how many games they have started that day. The initial white ball counts for turn 1; add black balls before personal turns 2, 4 and 6, and white balls before turns 3, 5 and 7. A black ball gives random letters within that balance. A white ball first tries to complete a playable nine-letter anagram while keeping every leftover tile. If that is not possible, it tries the unclaimed words from your bonus phrase from longest to shortest, supplying letters for the first one that legally fits the rack and board. Either success uses the white ball. If an opponent blocks every nine-letter anagram in that rack before your next turn, the white ball is returned to your bag once at the start of that turn; your letters stay the same. If neither is possible, the white ball stays in the bag and the rack is refilled normally. You earn the word and phrase points when you play the word.

Bonus phrases

A new game includes a short bonus phrase. Each occurrence of a target word in a word formed this turn earns 10 bonus points per target letter, including inside a longer word: BE in BEE or BELIEVE earns 20 points. The target letters must be consecutive and in order. All occurrences in the same turn count, but neither player can earn that target on subsequent turns. Press B on the board to see the phrases and progress. British and American English share a phrase; players using different languages have separate targets in their own languages.

Wordometer and hints

Enable the wordometer for free in practice or against a known bot. Against a human, or while awaiting an online opponent, enabling it costs one credit for all your turns in that game. If a bot later joins, that credit is not refunded. It compares your legal move with the best available legal placement and stays grey until enabled. A new game requires its own unlock.

Hint costs one credit to reveal a word. In eligible practice and bot games, Super Hint then costs two additional credits to reveal the best word. Super Hint is unavailable against human opponents and on the opening online turn before an opponent is known.

Learn the placement rules in How to play, or check how your chosen dictionary works.

For full details, read Hints and Super Hints.

Earn and use letter swaps

Playing a bonus-phrase word earns one letter swap per bonus letter, alongside the usual 10 points per letter. For example, THE within THEM earns 30 bonus points and 3 letter swaps. Each awarded occurrence counts. Swaps belong to that player in that game and do not carry to other games.

When you have swaps available and it is your turn, a Swap button appears after End Game. Open Swap Letters, select rack letters up to your available balance and confirm. Each replaced letter uses one swap. It costs no credits and does not use your turn, so you can still play a word afterwards. Unselected letters keep their rack positions. Replacement letters are random; this does not draw a ball. A changed rack clears the current hint; any new hint purchase is for the new rack.