How to Play the Letter K in Scrabble

Scrabble buffs are always looking to build words that result in a high score such as words that start with K. Casual gamers, on the other hand, often dread drawing any of the high value letters simply because they can be hard to form words with. In addition, no one wants to get a big penalty for still having a high value letter on their rack when the game ends. But if you knew how to correctly play these letters, particularly the letter K, coupled with words that contained them, you no longer will feel like praying whenever you need to draw a tile.

The letter K, while not as valuable as the letters J, X, Q, and Z, is considered one of the pivotal tiles in the game. There is only one K in all 100 tiles and it is worth 5 points which is a considerable amount. Now, most casual Scrabble players can know a great deal of words that start with K or have a K in them. There's KISS, KITE, SMOKE, KARMA, RISK, CASKET, KEYPAD, KIDNAPPERS, and the list goes on. However, knowing a lot of K words does not equal to being able easily recall them once the tile is in your hands. Because the letter K often follows the letter C in many English words such as THICK, BRICK, and RACK, there is a tendency to limit our thinking to only these kinds of words. In addition, we often forget that not all words starting with K have the /k/ sound. Think KNOW, KNIGHT, and KNOT. Thus, they always think of /k/ sounding words, missing out on other possible word formations that could bring in the high score. To avoid this, we should always keep in mind the letters that have an affinity to the letter K such as KA-, KI-, KE-, KU-, KL-, KN-, KR-, -CK, -SK, -LK, and so on. Being aware of these letter combinations will give us more word options based on what we currently have on hand.

Another problem we can encounter is that even if we were able to easily recall words starting with K or containing it, we often forget to play it to its maximum potential. Since it is a high value letter, most players think of disposing of the letter as quickly as possible. The thought of scoring big with such a letter quickly goes out the window in our haste to get rid of it before the game ends. This is quite understandable as the penalty can cause a player to lose the game. So, how does one utilize the letter K for optimum results? Because it has a high value, any player who draws this letter should be thinking of how he or she can use it on a premium square. A double letter score can give you 10, a triple letter will result in 15, and the list goes on. Using it to build a low scoring word on normal squares is a waste of a good opportunity. Another way to maximize the K's potential is to use it in forming parallel words with the two 2-letter words that start with K: KI and KA. The great thing about these is that they can also be used to form longer words later on, resulting in you racking up even more points.

If you know how to play the letter K the right way, you can be sure that it'll not only keep you from losing, it'll also make you a better Scrabble player.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   A Book As A Chess Teacher   How to Choose an Electronic Chess Board Game   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea   

The Health Benefits of Scrabble

Scrabble is a popular family game for all ages, this article looks at the benefits of scrabble for kids and adults alike.

Scrabble was invented by Alfred Mosher Butts back in nineteen forty-eight, and since then it's been a favorite game for generations of families. Not only is Scrabble a great educational tool to build word ability and comprehension, but it aids in lateral thinking and vocabulary enhancement.

Scrabble has surpassed several other competing word games in popularity over the years, and has found a new life in online word game such as Words with Friends for entirely new generations of people. With the advent of the internet, a whole range of additional tutorial, tip, and tricks have found their way into common availability. There are several experts who devote their time to producing a scrabble dictionary, word lists or cheat hints to develop players from beginners into advanced gamers who can compete in tournaments and online competitions.

The health benefits for children are numerous, from developing an excellent vocabulary to the ability to critically weigh different strategies. It's a great skill to teach a child to think beyond the immediate gratification of creating a word now, versus holding your letters in order to play a longer and higher scoring word later. In addition to these benefits, the ability to patiently see a game through to the end is an invaluable asset which will help a child in life in general.

The mental concentration required to puzzle through different word options in Scrabble also puts the brain into a meditative state much like taking a class of yoga or meditating. Taking this time to deliberately relax and engage in some mental exercise is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. Although this is great for general relaxation in the evening, one recommendation that has been made is that you should not play scrabble too soon before retiring for the night, as it'll leave your brain in a 'puzzle' state for an hour or two and make it more difficult to sleep. Scrabble is a very analytical game which is similar to solving a Sudoku puzzle or playing a pen and paper game such as hangman. Gradually absorbing the rules, and knowing when to consult the Scrabble dictionary builds confidence and vocabulary.

In addition to these benefits, it's a great social outlet for older people who club together to play Scrabble. A lot of friendships have been forged by people who have met while playing Scrabble, be it in a home for the elderly or a youth group for teenagers. Taking the time to share some competitive play with another person is a wonderful ice breaker, and by carefully looking at the type of words a person makes you can determine their interests and viewpoints on the world. If you get really good you can enter tournaments, and extend your competition beyond just playing each other into the realm of expert play.

If you're having trouble with your scrabble game, be sure to check online resources which can enhance your abilities with easy to remember word lists, articles and scrabble cheats to help you get a quick advantage over your opponent.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q   The Game of Operation Turns Any Kid Into a Heart Doctor   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   

What Is a Washers Board Game?

A washers board game is something that is very popular in some parts of the country, but something that many others have not seen or heard about. In fact, you may not have ever seen anyone playing this game in the movies or on television, but it is still popular around the world.

What Is a Washers Board Game?

This is a game that is very similar to other games such as corn hole toss. It is basically a toss game that you can take with you wherever you go. It is set up with two pieces of wood, usually 10 to 20 feet apart. The length will likely depend on the age of the people playing, with little children playing on a course that is much smaller.

Each of these two pieces of wood has three holes in it and each player has a handful of washers, the number of which depends on the exact style of play that you are utilizing. This is actually one of those kinds of games where every family or area of the country has their own way of playing and their own way of keeping score.

What Do You Do?

Much like with a corn hole toss game, you simply throw the washers, which are large metal rings, and hope that they land in one of the holes in the wood. It is much harder than it looks, but one of the joys of the game is that it is as difficult for athletic people as it is for those with not one athletic bone in their body. So the playing field is equal across the genders and all age groups.

Where Is This Played?

You can play this game on sand or grass, but you probably shouldn't play it on concrete if you are using the metal washers that are usually used with the game. The washers board game is one of those games that is often played at large picnics, family reunions, and Fourth of July parties because everyone can get involved.

You can also try a washers board game that is played indoors, so you will have a game to play on cold winter nights. The only significant different with this type of game is that the washers are lightweight and will not damage flooring or surrounding furniture.

Where Can You Get It?

Although you might think that this would be a pretty easy game to put together on your own, not a lot of people have the equipment on hand to make a washers board game. Therefore, buying one online is usually the best idea. You can find a variety of different styles, some of which are designed for indoor use and some of which are better for younger children. This will enable you to make sure that everyone has a way to play.

Whether you are looking for a new challenge for your children or a game to play at an upcoming party, a washers board game is an ideal choice.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea   Best Family Board Games for 2012   Dominoes Rules   

Board Games and Their Benefits for Families

Board Games have long been known to have educational benefits, hence the use of them in many classrooms around the world. But what are the main benefits and do they apply to playing in the home and family setting?

Let's look at a four of the main educational benefits of board games and how they can encouraged in family game time.

The basic skill required to play is co-operation. Even competitive games actually teach co-operation as well. This is because of the fact that board games generally require more interaction than video games and movie watching. This interaction is in the forms such as talking, taking turns and even waiting for others. There is quite different from a video game, where play just keep on going, no matter what as happened to your opponent, you never stop and wait for them!

As stated above, co-operation is the basic skill board gaming teaches and it is from the co-operative interaction of playing a board game that many of the other educational benefits of playing board games arise.

The talking or conversation that occurs during game play enhances communication and families would do well to encourage children to talk about their gameplay. To explain why they moved, to voice concerns at other's moves and even to point out possible cheating!

Taking turns, and the waiting involved in this process, while another player takes their turn teaches both patience and respect for others. It seems a minor thing, but learning to do something as simple as making time for someone else to play their move, teaches children to be compassionate for others. To realize that the world does not revolve around them and that other people often miss out if one person rush in and vice versa. It also teaches them that sometime in life you simply have to wait and it helps to combat the impression, given by the mass media, that constant activity is the norm.

Yes, it does these things on a small scale and it only involves small time frames, but that is how teaching works. That is how the educational benefits of board game playing are passed on to children. Teachers know that most people only concentrate fully in small chunks, often somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes and for some people even less. So effective teaching often takes place in short bursts. Having to wait and observe for a few minutes between turns and then, when it is your turn, having a short period of decision making is a great way of educating and learning in small but powerful bursts.

Board Games then have at least four main educational benefits that are easily transferrable to home and family gameplay. Those four being; Co-operation, Communication, Patience and Respect.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Best Family Board Games for 2012   Dominoes Rules   Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q   The Game of Operation Turns Any Kid Into a Heart Doctor   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   

Vintage Board Games

For many of us, one of our favorite memories is of the simple games of our childhood...pickup sticks, dominoes and board games. Games like Sorry, Monopoly and Parcheesi kept us entertained for hours.

Many people today collect vintage board games for the very reason that those games hold a sentimental value for them. At the same time, collectors also value the financial investment they make in their collections. If you're a collector, it's quite likely that you enjoy both of these benefits.

You probably love the games of yesteryear because they remind you of your childhood and hold a fascination for you as well. You also likely recognize that these games, like any other antiques, can be very valuable and protecting your investment is an important part of being a collector. Following are some tips related to the hobby of antique board game collecting. These tips will help you make good buying choices and assist in protecting your investment.

Mint Condition Vintage Games

Of all the vintage board games that can be found in the antique market, those which are in mint condition garner the highest prices. Mint condition games are undamaged. They are in their original boxes and the boxes are also in perfect or near perfect condition.

Mint condition games additionally contain all of the components that came with the original game. Not a single piece can be missing if the game is truly mint. You should expect a mint condition board game to cost a pretty penny.

Buying Pieces and Parts

It's extremely common for pieces or parts of games to get lost over the years. For this reason, many of the vintage games offered by vendors will be marked down due to their incomplete nature. Many collectors decide to purchase multiple games in order to get one complete game which contains all of the components and parts necessary for rounding out the vintage board game.

If you decide to go this route with items in your own collection, just make sure that the different ones you buy all coincide according to the model or manufacturing year so your final, complete game contains all the right pieces and parts in the right design for creating a full set.

Protecting Your Collection

Any antique collection must be stored in the proper manner to maintain the condition of each item in the collection. The same is certainly true for a vintage board game collection.

Most games come in cardboard boxes. The game boards themselves are usually made from heavy or thick cardboard or paperboard, as well. These materials can be damaged quite easily by moisture. It is therefore critical that you store your vintage games in a cool, dry place.

Light exposure can also play a role in deterioration of board game components. Keep your vintage board games out of direct sunlight to avoid this problem.

Many collectors also have their prized possessions valued by an appraiser. The appraisal process will help you decide what the entire collection is worth so you can purchase an insurance policy to cover the value. You never want to think something will happen to your vintage board games, but having an insurance policy will at least allow you to work on rebuilding the collection if something does.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   A Book As A Chess Teacher   How to Choose an Electronic Chess Board Game   Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea   

Guess Who? The Original Game of Deduction

Guess Who is a two player guessing game. It was first created in 1979 by Ron Johnson and manufactured by Milton Bradley. The game came over from Great Britain to the United States in 1982. Since then, the game has been a favorite for many generations.

The game play is fairly simple. Each player starts with a board with profile pictures of 24 cartoon people with their names on the bottom half. The pictures are on their own tiles that you can flip up and down. They then choose one card from their own pile of cards that contain the same 24 faces. The object of the game is to guess your opponent's card before they do.

By taking turns asking yes or no questions like "Does he have a moustache?" you can eliminate the candidates who do not fit the description and put their tiles down. When you finally have a few or one candidate, you can guess your opponent's card to see if you are correct. Guess Who? is similar to Battleship, another game where you are required to guess an opponent's pieces. If you know how to play Battleship, Guess Who? will be a breeze.

The craftier the questions, the better your chances are of winning. The best strategy is to divide your opponent's tiles. In the beginning of the game, if you ask your opponent about a particular trait like the eye color or hair, you may get few results. Some of the most obvious questions can really narrow down your opponent's tiles like "Are they wearing a red shirt?" Depending on the game edition, this question can leave you with 5 tiles.

The Guess Who game was not always the red and blue tiles you see today. Earlier versions of the game had fewer women than men. In the 1987 version, there were only 5 women. The faces on the cartoons were simpler then as well. Nowadays, there are more of both genders to even the odds and the faces are more elaborated to make the game more interesting.

This game is perfect for bringing the family together. When you are all in the living room and not watching television, you can just bring out Guess Who? You and your siblings or parents can take turns playing each other and even play by teams. Each team comes up with questions to ask the opposing team.

Guess Who? also makes a great present for any occasion. Give it to a loved one on their birthday or for Christmas. The game is great if you have children who are always on the computer or playing video games. You can share your childhood with them with this simple game.

Guess Who? will be a game children will remember in their adulthood. And when they have kids of their own, they can introduce the game. A game like Guess Who is sure not to be forgotten. Go and buy it today!

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q   A Book As A Chess Teacher   How to Choose an Electronic Chess Board Game   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   

Hot Elements to Put Into Game Designs

OK, so you would like to know what are the hottest elements that you can put into your board game designs to give it a bigger chance of it being accepted or increase sales if you are planning to do it yourself?

Let's see...

There are several to consider, some recent and some old, here are a few of what I consider to be the most important ones.

• A circular path in the center of your board game or anywhere for that matter that goes around indefinitely, until a player is lucky enough to land on a particular square and wins or has a chance of winning. This was used in Mousetrap, where the plastic mice would go around the last part of the game until a player landed on a certain square, and turned a plastic wheel that ended up capturing the mice, or you won the game.

• Adding several elements into your board game designs that add value for money to the purchaser. If you have a choice of buying a snap type game and another version that also has another 2 sets of cards and a board for the same price, you will purchase the more value for money option. And it will sell much better or have a far better chance of a toy company taking it on.

• Adding more elements into the design, achieves the same result as point number two, interesting or quality graphics with plenty of color, will motivate a sale. Bland or dark colors can sometimes work, but usually the more color the better.

• A typical board game should have at least 2 sets of cards included. And each set should be at least 70 to 80 different elements to make it viable. You will sell less board games with 10 card elements each instead of 80, even though it takes more work, it is worth the effort in the end.

• The less plastic the better. Plastic extrusion, is very expensive and can typically add another $100,000 to a typical run of your board game, so keep away from plastic, unless you are developing it yourself and consider it a vital part of the concept.

• The same goes for playing pieces, dice, etc don't do a Monopoly, (car, top-hat, etc) kind of playing pieces for your board game unless you have deep pockets, or the toy company you are seeing has, it will be a lot more expensive than using off the shelf pieces.

• Also don't use charade type elements in your ideas, it may seem like a fun element, but as I have learned the hard way, most toy companies for some unknown reason won't touch anything with this element included. I spend years pushing a great board game idea relying heavily on this element, and even though the game was changed several times, no go!

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea   Best Family Board Games for 2012   Dominoes Rules   

Steps on How to Make Your Own Home Games

Using games for entertainment can be easier to do if you have games that are perfectly fitted to the different factors present around you. This is the reason why creating your own backyard games may be more fruitful that using games that other people have thought of. Here are the steps when you want to create your own backyard games:

Determine what you need the games for.

There are different kinds of games that you can introduce. However, not all of them may be appropriate for the specific situation. You should think of games that will best fit the occasion.

Special celebrations can require special games as well. For weekend affairs, you may go for easier-to-prepare games. There are games that will require a lot of time, effort and resources to have. So, for frequent get-togethers, it might not be practical for anyone to spend too much time and money for a game.

It might also be fun if you can think about themes for major celebrations when the games will be played on special dates. Themes can make your games more interesting. They can make it easier for you to choose colors for your props or topics for the main idea of your game. You can also take advantage of the mood or atmosphere of the gathering as brought about by that particular celebration.

Who will be playing?

The players will be an important factor that you have to take into account when you are selecting the right type of game. The games need to be appropriate for your player's age, sex and skill level. Older players can play more complicated games. If you are going to host games for young kids, you should have a game that is easy for them to understand. Young kid's safety should also be your priority. There shouldn't be stunts that will put them in any form or danger. For a family gathering, it might be ideal to have a game that people of different ages can participate in. The adult members of the family may be there to guide and supervise the younger members of the family.

Determine what others will think.

Solicit the participants as well as other people's opinions. This can allow you to correct negative points in your games. It will also allow you to see your plans in a different light. Listen to what they have to say and make sure that you correct any mistakes that might be present. This will give you an opportunity to take a look at the game and determine if it is playable.

Set your budget.

Most of the time, your budget is one of the biggest factors. If you need to make use of props or pre-produced materials for your games, you have to invest some amount of money. If you want to enjoy, it might not be necessary for you to spend tens or hundreds of bucks. Learn to recycle and reuse old materials that you may be able to find inside your home. You may also borrow from friends or from party supply stores.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q   A Book As A Chess Teacher   How to Choose an Electronic Chess Board Game   

The Scrabble Words You Need to Know

When it comes to Scrabble, having an enormous amount of words in your vocabulary is a good thing. Being able to recall a good number of words can help a Scrabble player quickly build words from the random letters on his rack. However, in order to win the game, a player can't just go about creating words willy-nilly. The object of the game is to earn more points than your opponent. This means forming words that result in a high score. Thus, just knowing the right words can potentially win you the game.

So, what are the most important words in Scrabble? There are actually several different lists that contain these words. The first one being 2-letter words. Now, you may think that words made up of 2 letters won't really give you a high score. After all, there are only 2 values that you can add up. But these are actually important because it can help you score high in a number of ways. If you knew certain 2-letter words that have high value letters such as 2-letter words that start with K (KA, KI), then you may be able to squeeze it in and place it on a premium square thereby doubling or even tripling your score. You can even use the same words to form parallel words which will result in a high score.

Other words that are quite important are the 3-letter words list, particularly those that can be formed using the 2-letter words already in your vocabulary. Let's say you already know the 2-letter words starting with K. It would greatly benefit you if you also knew the 3-letter words that start with K. The letter K is worth 5 points. And if you were to form words off of it twice, you automatically earn 10 points for yourself. KI and KA, as our examples, can be used to form KAS, KIS, KAF, KAT, KAY, KID, KIF, KIN, KIP, KIR, KIS, and KIT.

Words that contain high value letters should also be part of your Scrabble vocabulary. For example, you should know words that start with K, J, V, X, Q, and Z because these letters have high values. Now, it's not possible to learn all the words that start with these letters. At least not right away. So, it's best to start with shorter words. While these letters can help you score big, they can also result in a penalty if you don't dispose of them quickly. And since longer words are much harder to form, it's best to just focus first on 4-5 letter words for ease of disposal.

If you really want to become a better Scrabble player, you needn't spend so much time and effort learning all the acceptable words. With just the addition of these important Scrabble words to your vocabulary, you will definitely see a boost in your score and even in your overall gameplay.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Best Family Board Games for 2012   Dominoes Rules   

Domino Toppling: Tips and Tricks

You've probably seen it on television. Thousands and thousands of dominoes falling one after the other in an impressive display of planning, patience and meticulous execution. This is the hobby of domino toppling.

Perhaps you'd like to give it a try and see what you can do on your own? It's a great hobby and a fun pastime for parents and kids to share. You might even consider it as a team building exercise for your business or corporation.

Here are a few tips and ideas to get you started.

Domino toppling as a hobby can be done using standard run-of-the-mill dominoes, although professionals use specially designed dominoes constructed of a special type of plastics. The key things to recognize is that different size and weight dominoes topple at different speeds so you can't mix different brands or types of dominoes. So, whatever you use, stick to just one type at first. Perhaps later you can use different dominoes in certain sections of your design, for a desired effect.

Obviously it's a good idea to sketch out your toppling plan beforehand. Put your vision down on paper. Then you can also mark lines on the floor or top of the table to assist in the final, accurate placement. This way you can keep lines straight and true and make sure that curves bend just the way you want them to.

Most dominoes can be placed by hand. But tweezers or needle nosed pliers are useful for difficult placements between tiles.

Here's a trick used by the pros: use safeties. A safety is essentially a block or break that will prevent all the dominoes from falling accidentally during setup. By using safeties you will at worst only lose one section of dominoes should they fall unexpectedly. The easiest way to create a safety is simply to leave gaps between sections that you will fill in during the final stage of completion. Of course, during this final stage when you remove the safeties the pressure will really be on you to stay calm and steady!

To make your setup more exciting, consider using other elements besides dominoes. For example, you could use playing cards, marbles, ramps, or anything that fits with your plan. Be creative.

Once you have a few successful topples under your belt, perhaps you can take a crack at the world record?

The single-person record for most dominoes toppled is 303,621. The team record is 4,345,027. Good luck!

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea   

Why the Board Game Go Is So Popular

Few games in the world have withstood the test of time quite like the board game Go has. People have been challenging opponents to this game of strategy, balance, and skill for centuries. While it originated in the Eastern world, it has now grown in popularity in the Americas, European countries, and beyond, too. So just what is it about this particular game that has given it the lasting power to remain popular across the generations, the centuries, and the oceans, too? Here are a few things to consider:

Skill Level: While there are numerous variations, generally, the board game Go is played on a board that is sectioned off into squares, and by laying pieces onto this board, you gain more and more control of the territory. However, the rules require the use of a great deal of strategy and planning to maintain and expand your territory, as the opponent is constantly trying to counteract your actions. The board sizes vary, and smaller sizes create less of a challenge and are more suitable for beginning players. The larger boards give those who have been playing for years plenty of a challenge, so the game truly can grow with you as your skills in strategy grow.

All Ages: Many games of challenge are simply not suitable for all ages, but the board game Go is one of those games that many parents start playing with their kids at a young age. With the beginner game sets, this can be played with youngsters who are still trying to figure out how to strategize. The skills and way of thinking involved in this game are great for the developing minds of youngsters, too. Many parents prefer their little ones to spend time enjoying this interactive and time-tested experience over the mind-numbing experience that video games can offer.

Variations: As mentioned earlier, there are many different variations that you can experiment with. When you have a game that has been around for centuries such as this one, there are sure to be variations, and that's just what you find with this one. As each different culture experienced playing this, they made their own changes to it, so you may find differences in board sizes, rules, pieces, and more in different parts of the world. However, you don't have to travel to these various parts of the world to enjoy the thrill and challenge that the variations offer. Instead, you can order different variations online to really expand your play options.

Challenging and Fun: Perhaps the most significant reason that the board game Go has enjoyed the honor and prestige of being just one of a handful of games that have not just remained popular but that have actually increased in popularity over the years is because it is just so much fun to play. The rules inspire challenge, yet it is entirely suitable and even fun for young and old to play together, too. If you don't have this on-hand at home to play, you are certainly missing out!

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Dominoes Rules   How to Choose an Electronic Chess Board Game   

Ideas For Fun Games For Kids

There are so many kids products on the market it is sometimes overwhelming when trying to choose what would be the right game for your kids! Here are just a few of the many fun games for kids out there.

As an adult, I love the game Apples to Apples. It's simple and quick to learn and so much fun! Luckily, this game comes in a Junior version for kids! Wonderful! In fact many of the great games we love as adults come in a "junior" or "kids" version. That is the first place I would look, because if it's something you love, then most likely your kids will too! And as they get older they will know the games you play and can jump right in.

There are many other adult board games that come in a "kids" or "junior" version. Some fun games for kids to look for are Clue Jr., Boggle Jr., Pictionary Jr., Scrabble Jr. and Sequence for kids. If you have a board game you love, I would just Google the game title with "junior" or "kids" to see if there is a version for the younger crowd. You might be surprised by how many there are.

If you are looking for classic fun games for kids, there are plenty out there. Some that have stood the test of time are Sorry!, Guess Who?, Trouble, Connect 4, Uno, The Game of Life and Twister. These are all a blast to play, so its no wonder that they are still around.

Still not what you are looking for? Maybe you would like something more recent, or unique. In that case, you could go for the Cranium games for kids. There are several to choose from such as Cranium Cadoo, Cranium Whoonu?, Cranium Cariboo Island, and more! Even the names are fun. A great thing about the Cranium games is that there is usually something for everyone - trivia, drawing, charades, you name it!

Some other unique games for kids would be: Totally Gross The Game, You Gotta Be Kidding (The Would You Rather Game For Kids), Story Cubes, Hedbanz Game, or Scavenger Hunt For Kids. There are also a lot of games made from movies or TV as well, so if your child has a favorite, you could look for a game that goes along with that. For example, my niece loves Phineas and Ferb the cartoon. So if I Google "Phineas and Ferb board game" it came up with "Phineas and Ferb 104 Days of Summer Board Game". Perfect!

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Dominoes Rules   

Are You Searching For A New Backgammon Board Game?

For many decades, the board game Backgammon has been a popular game indeed. It is absolutely fun to enjoy this game of skill and logic with family and friends. Some people like to play every now and then while others enjoy playing on a daily basis as well as when entertaining larger numbers of people as well. If you are in the market to buy a new set for your home use, you will have plenty of different options to choose from.

Affordable Options

If you are considering purchasing a game, budget may inevitably be a factor to consider. If budget is your main guiding force, you will find that you can find an affordable board game Backgammon both online and in local retail stores. When cost is a factor, often shopping online gives you the better ability to comparison shop for price while still finding the best set for you. Often, local retail stores have a very limited selection available, so your wallet is at the mercy of the selection available.

Collector Editions

When you shop online, you can often find some truly beautiful board game Backgammon options that are collectors' items. These may be themed sets, or they may be masterfully crafted sets that are made of stone, wood, or other high-end materials. If you are looking for a wonderful set that you will have for years to come, often the collectors' edition models are the prime options to consider. These can be pricier in nature as well as harder to locate, so again shopping online is generally your best bet.

Carrying Cases

One thing you want to consider as you shop around for your new board game Backgammon is a carrying case. If you buy a cheaper option, it may just come in a traditional cardboard box. If you get a better quality set, you will have a nice leather bound or wood carrying case, or another material of a durable and attractive nature. Often, the case doubles as the board game itself, which makes it incredibly convenient to use and to transport to the homes of friends and family for even more fun times.

Finding the Right One

As you are shopping around and trying to find the right board game Backgammon for your needs, you will want to make an effort to nail down what you want out of your set. Whether you are looking for quality over cost or cost over quality is among the initial considerations. However, you will also want to consider finding a themed set, a collectors' set, or some other unique set, too. Often, local stores have a very limited selection available, so shopping online is your best bet regardless of what you are specifically looking for. With the right set, you will have the perfect game for you to play with family and friends. So take time to go online today and look around at the different sets that are available. You will easily find a wonderful set for your needs.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Dominoes Rules   Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q   A Book As A Chess Teacher   

How to Solve Hangman Puzzles

If you are looking for the best way to solve hangman or Hanging with Friends puzzles there are a few options that you can choose from. This article explores a few expert tips that can help you become a master hangman player.

Hangman is a simple yet addictive game where you get a number of blank spaces that represents word and you have to guess the letters. If you guess a letter that is not in the word puzzle, you have a 'life' deducted from you - a gallows and a stick figure man is drawn one piece at a time. If the stick figure drawing is completed before you solve the puzzle, he hangs and you lose. In Hanging with Friends, it has a somewhat more 'cute' approach in that your character (suspended by balloons over a volcano) eventually falls into the hot lava.

Here are some top tips to help you win at hangman or Hanging With Friends:

Learn the frequencies of letters - There are some letters that are used more than others in normal words. E is the most common vowel and S is the most common consonant. For that reason, guessing these letters can often find you at least one letter from the puzzle. If you learn the word frequencies, you can gradually go down the scale until you find enough letters to make an educated guess.

Find vowels first- Finding the vowels that are in the puzzle is one of the best first steps that you can take to solving the puzzle. This doesn't mean that you have to run through all of the vowels for every single puzzle. Instead, you will run through the vowels until you believe that you have them all. Start with E then move to A, then O, I, and finally U. If you get an E and it's at the end of the puzzle, that means that there is another vowel in the puzzle that is more strategically important and you'll have narrowed down your options from one in five to one in four.

When you have your vowels, think about the reasonable consonants - If you have several words and one is three letters and the last letter of that three-letter word is E, then it might narrow down your choices. 'The' and 'She' are candidates, so you would work from there. Similarly, there are common consonant-vowel combinations which work together such as RE, ER, ED, ES, ING - finding these patterns makes it much easier to guess the entire Hangman or Hanging with Friends puzzle.

Use an online hangman solver - If you are really stumped, then you can use an online hangman solver to help you. This kind of help can be the key to get your mind thinking of words and letters that you might not have thought about otherwise. An online hangman solver works by searching a common dictionary for the letter patterns you have entered, and returning any words that match. By using this sort of help you may get an idea of the types of words that your opponent chooses and it will help you with future games.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Dominoes Rules   Best Family Board Games for 2012   

5 Ways To Get Scrabble Help

Trying to win at Scrabble can be a challenge, especially if you are new to the game. That's why you need some help with strategies and tips. If you are playing a friend or you're playing someone online whom you've never met, there are a great many different skill levels for Scrabble. This article will explore 5 different ways to get help at Scrabble or similar games like Words with Friends.

Make sure that you are playing at your level - There is no true handicapping system with Scrabble so when you are going to play against people with more experience, you are going to be at a serious disadvantage. Don't set yourself up for failure like this. If you are just starting out, be honest and select only other players who are beginners as well before gradually building up towards playing experts.

One alternative is to request points from the beginning of the game. For example, if you are playing someone who has played for many years, ask for fifty or one hundred points right from the start of the game. That lead will quickly evaporate, but at least you will have a chance. The more times you play this opponent, you will begin to determine what your advantage should be. The idea is that you should have an equal opportunity to win.

Online Word Helpers - If you need some help finding a word, on the Internet you can find an online Scrabble helper. Enter the letters that you have and it will give you some choices of potential plays. This should not be your first resort as it's certainly going against fair rules of play, however it is a very good way to learn new words.

Join a Scrabble Club - One of the best ways to get better at something is to surround yourself with people who are better at it than you. In this case, joining a Scrabble club can be a great way to learn tips and tricks from better players. While they won't share everything they know, they are certainly willing to help out those who are new to the game and foster a friendly competition to inspire you.

Use a Scrabble Dictionary - There are several official Scrabble dictionaries, and it is an invaluable tool for helping beginners learn the words that can make all the difference between winning and losing. A Scrabble dictionary will have two and three letter words that are not common in daily usage and great high-scoring words using some of the more uncommon letters, such as Q and X. For example, two legitimate words are QAT or XI - certainly not words you'd use every day, but fantastic for racking up points.

Shuffle Your Tiles Frequently - When you shuffle your tiles, it helps to break up the letter forms that you are stuck on. Constantly moving them around has the potential to free your mind of any patterns that it is stuck in and get you to see the larger availability of words that can be made.

These are just 5 simple tips to get Scrabble help. Using more than one together will help you become a better player. Use these quick tricks to improve your game and you'll be playing at a much higher level in no time.

Understanding and Playing Checkers   Sudoku Tips and Tricks for All the Family   Mahjong Sets: Experience the Classic Game   Dominoes Rules   Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea