What is counting a turn in Scrabble?

Verdict

The turn score is the sum of the tile values plus any premium values earned (Appendix 1); When several words are formed in one turn, each is scored, and shared letters count at full premium value in every word (Appendix 1); Playing all seven tiles in a single turn earns a 50-point bonus, added af...

Source: rule 3.5 — World English-Language Scrabble Players Association

Why people argue about this

People often think that every shared letter in multiple words should only count once for premium values, leading to arguments about which letters are considered shared across different word formations on a turn. Actually, the official rule states each word formed gets its own share of shared letters' premiums, no matter how many words are created together.

Send this to your friend — argument over.

5. Scoring & Winning

Premium Squares

A light blue square doubles the letter; a dark blue square triples the letter (Appendix 1)
A light red square doubles the word; a dark red square triples the word (Appendix 1)
Where a word crosses both kinds, letter bonuses are added first, then the whole word is doubled or tripled (Appendix 1)
A word crossing two premium word squares is doubled then re-doubled — 4× — or tripled then re-tripled, 9× (Appendix 1)
Premium squares count only on the turn the tiles are placed on them (Appendix 1)
A blank on a word-premium square still doubles or triples the word total, but on a letter-premium square its value stays zero (Appendix 1)

Counting a Turn

The turn score is the sum of the tile values plus any premium values earned (Appendix 1)
When several words are formed in one turn, each is scored, and shared letters count at full premium value in every word (Appendix 1)
Playing all seven tiles in a single turn earns a 50-point bonus, added after any doubling or tripling (Appendix 1)
Scores are kept per rule 3.5, and both players keep score under WESPA rules (3.5, 1.1(b)(i))

Ending the Game — Where WESPA Differs

Playing out occurs when, after completing a turn, a player has no tiles left and none remain in the bag (5.1.1)
A player playing out must neutralise the timer rather than start the opponent's (5.1.2)
If the opponent does not respond within about five seconds, the player may restart the opponent's timer while waiting (5.1.3(a))
Six consecutive zero-scoring turns end the game — from any combination of passes, exchanges and successful challenges (5.2)
This is the rule that replaces the standard "both players pass twice" ending, which WESPA explicitly disapplies (1.1(b)(ii), Appendix 1)

Final Tile Adjustment

WESPA's recommended procedure: the player who went out has their score increased by twice the value of the opponent's unplayed tiles, and the opponent's score is unchanged (5.1.4(a)(i))
The alternative permitted procedure is the familiar one: the winner adds the opponent's unplayed tiles and the opponent is commensurately decreased (5.1.4(a)(ii))
The standard rules describe only that second form — every player's score reduced by their own unplayed tiles, with the player who went out adding the total of everyone else's (Appendix 1)
If neither player can play out, the six-zero rule decides the ending instead (5.1.4(b), 5.2)

Time Penalties

Exceeding the assigned game time costs a penalty per minute or part thereof, measured in full seconds and not fractions (5.3)
Going 10 minutes over the assigned time is an immediate forfeit loss (5.3.3)
The non-forfeiter's final score is unchanged; the forfeiter first has 100 overtime penalty points deducted before the recorded result is worked out (5.3.3)

Recording the Result

A result slip signed by both players is final and binds the players and the Tournament Director (5.4.1)
It may be corrected only if both players agree before submission, or by petition where the winner's and loser's scores were accidentally reversed (5.4.1(a), 5.4.1(b))

5. Scoring & Winning

Premium Squares

A light blue square doubles the letter; a dark blue square triples the letter (Appendix 1)

A light red square doubles the word; a dark red square triples the word (Appendix 1)

Where a word crosses both kinds, letter bonuses are added first, then the whole word is doubled or tripled (Appendix 1)

A word crossing two premium word squares is doubled then re-doubled — 4× — or tripled then re-tripled, 9× (Appendix 1)

Premium squares count only on the turn the tiles are placed on them (Appendix 1)

A blank on a word-premium square still doubles or triples the word total, but on a letter-premium square its value stays zero (Appendix 1)

Counting a Turn

The turn score is the sum of the tile values plus any premium values earned (Appendix 1)

When several words are formed in one turn, each is scored, and shared letters count at full premium value in every word (Appendix 1)

Playing all seven tiles in a single turn earns a 50-point bonus, added after any doubling or tripling (Appendix 1)

Scores are kept per rule 3.5, and both players keep score under WESPA rules (3.5, 1.1(b)(i))

Ending the Game — Where WESPA Differs

Playing out occurs when, after completing a turn, a player has no tiles left and none remain in the bag (5.1.1)

A player playing out must neutralise the timer rather than start the opponent's (5.1.2)

If the opponent does not respond within about five seconds, the player may restart the opponent's timer while waiting (5.1.3(a))

Six consecutive zero-scoring turns end the game — from any combination of passes, exchanges and successful challenges (5.2)

This is the rule that replaces the standard "both players pass twice" ending, which WESPA explicitly disapplies (1.1(b)(ii), Appendix 1)

Final Tile Adjustment

WESPA's recommended procedure: the player who went out has their score increased by twice the value of the opponent's unplayed tiles, and the opponent's score is unchanged (5.1.4(a)(i))

The alternative permitted procedure is the familiar one: the winner adds the opponent's unplayed tiles and the opponent is commensurately decreased (5.1.4(a)(ii))

The standard rules describe only that second form — every player's score reduced by their own unplayed tiles, with the player who went out adding the total of everyone else's (Appendix 1)

If neither player can play out, the six-zero rule decides the ending instead (5.1.4(b), 5.2)

Time Penalties

Exceeding the assigned game time costs a penalty per minute or part thereof, measured in full seconds and not fractions (5.3)

Going 10 minutes over the assigned time is an immediate forfeit loss (5.3.3)

The non-forfeiter's final score is unchanged; the forfeiter first has 100 overtime penalty points deducted before the recorded result is worked out (5.3.3)

Recording the Result

A result slip signed by both players is final and binds the players and the Tournament Director (5.4.1)

It may be corrected only if both players agree before submission, or by petition where the winner's and loser's scores were accidentally reversed (5.4.1(a), 5.4.1(b))

Counting a Turn