It's not what you know, it's which high probability words you know.

The Tel Aviv and Jerusalem clubs are big even by global standards. I heard New Zealand has about 200 club players. We have just as many - and we're not an English speaking country.

It's one of the easiest games to learn how to play. If you're not into games, forget about Scrabble. But if you want a social game - no matter how bad you are, you're always good enough to play. There's mingling, you always play different people, and it's extremely good for thinking.

We have a lot of younger players at the club which is unusual in the Scrabble scene. We attract people from their mid-20s to eighties. Everyone, including the non-English speakers, likes the game and its social aspects.

Those are the two best words in English, 'Bidding' and 'war'.

I was 15 when I first became deeply touched by the rhythm and structure of words.