Fishing
A Scrabble tactic in which a player makes a small-scoring play in order to keep or refine a strong rack leave aimed at a bingo next turn.
Why it matters
Fishing is correct expected-value play when the leave's bingo upside exceeds the score sacrificed. Misjudged fishing — or refusal to fish at all — is a major source of leaks.
Examples
- Playing a 12-point dump while holding AEINST to draw one bingo-completing letter
Best practices
- Fish only when the leave clearly raises bingo probability
- Avoid fishing when behind by a large margin
Frequently asked questions
Is fishing important for beginners?
fishing matters at every skill level, but beginners benefit most from understanding the basic concept rather than every edge case. Building a working mental model of fishing early prevents recurring mistakes in Scrabble.
How do I practice fishing effectively?
Practice fishing through deliberate isolation drills first, then through integrated play. Two short focused sessions per week will yield steady measurable gains within a month.
Where can I read more about fishing?
Cross-reference the related terms below and explore the academy articles linked from this entry; both provide deeper applied context for fishing.
Related terms
Bingo
In Scrabble and Words With Friends, a play that uses all seven tiles from the rack on a single turn, earning a 50-point bonus.
TermRack Leave
The tiles remaining on a Scrabble rack after a play has been made.
TermProbability Play
Decision-making that explicitly weighs the probability of future tile draws against immediate scoring.