I sometimes hear Scrabble players say -- usually intermediate level players -- that they are concentrating on "strategy". Once they learn the words, they say, they'll be unbeatable. To which I say... nah.

Here's the problem I have with this kind of thinking.

(I'm rereading George R. R. Martin's sprawling fantasy world series at the moment. You'll see.)

The young lads wishing to become knights train in the courtyards with wooden swords. They learn fancy footwork and how to size up an opponent and what works and what doesn't work. They build their muscles and endurance. When the time finally comes for tournaments, they are as ready as they can be. They go into the ring with sword -- real sword -- in hand.

What is our equivalent? Simming, to an extent. Going over games. Arguing positions. Thinking about why one play is better than another. Open vs. closed. Sizing up opponents.

But when we go into the ring, no one hands us our real sword. If we don't have it -- we are playing in a real tournament with a wooden sword! We can dance around all we like. We can know that what we now need to do is open up this quadrant using only three tiles and preserving our best chances to bingo here AND here... but if we don't have the words -- short and long -- who cares if we know the theory? We're dead.

Craft your sword.

Learn.
The.
Words.