''Scribbage'' (also marketed as ''Ad-Lib Crossword Clues'') is a classic

dice A die (: dice, sometimes also used as ) is a small, throwable object with marked sides that can rest in multiple positions. Dice are used for generating random values, commonly as part of tabletop games, including dice games, board games, ro ...

word game Word games are spoken, board, card or video games often designed to test ability with language or to explore its properties. Word games are generally used as a source of entertainment, but can additionally serve an educational purpose. Young ...

published in 1959 by the E.S. Lowe Company. Thirteen dice are rolled which have various letters on each side. Each letter is given a point value depending on its frequency in the

English language English is a West Germanic language that developed in early medieval England and has since become a English as a lingua franca, global lingua franca. The namesake of the language is the Angles (tribe), Angles, one of the Germanic peoples th ...

. A timer is flipped and the player has to put the dice into words either left-to-right or up-and-down. The words must connect with each other as in crossword puzzles or ''

Scrabble ''Scrabble'' is a word game in which two to four players score points by placing tiles, each bearing a single letter, onto a Board game, game board divided into a 15×15 grid of squares. The tiles must form words that, in crossword fashion, re ...

''. The player must stop at the end of the time and points are counted. The player adds up the points of the letters used and subtracts the amount from the unused letters. ''Scribbage'' can be played with two or more players. A nearly identical game called ''Crossword Cubes'' from game maker

Selchow and Righter Selchow and Righter was a 19th- and 20th-century game manufacturer best known for the games '' Parcheesi'' and ''Scrabble''. It was based in Bay Shore, New York. It dates back to 1867 when it was founded as E. G. Selchow & Co. In 1880, to re ...

(makers of ''

'') uses 14 cubes instead of 13. Despite its name, ''Scribbage'' has nothing in common with the card game

cribbage Cribbage, or crib, is a card game, traditionally for two players, that involves playing and grouping cards in combinations which gain points. It can be adapted for three or four players. Cribbage has several distinctive features: the cribbage ...

Gameplay

Scribbage is a spelling game similar to Scrabble. The parts are a set of 13 letter dice and a timer. Each face of the dice is stamped with a letter and a number with the exception of two which show Jokers. The number represents the letter's frequency in English. Each player in turn throws the letter dice and turns over the timer. The player must make as many words as possible before the timer runs out. All words must be connected in a crossword style. The two Jokers can be used as any letter. The play is scored by adding the points in all words formed. Any letters used in two words are counted in each word. The player reduces this score by the total of the numbers on any unused letters. It is possible, if unusual, to end the game with a negative score. The game can either be played for a set number of rounds or until a certain score is reached. Scribbage is also available in modern-day on the internet through an app on Google Play, the Apple App Store and through Facebook. The letter distribution for each die is: ABESXY ACEFIZ ADEJNR ADETVW AEHLST AFGILQ BMNOSU CKNOUV DEIRS◇ EGIMP◇ EHNORT EILORT MOPUWY The point values are: A-1 B-4 C-4 D-3 E-1 F-4 G-4 H-3 I-2 J-6 K-5 L-2 M-3 N-2 O-1 P-4 Q-8 R-2 S-2 T-2 U-3 V-4 W-4 X-8 Y-4 Z-10 ◇(wild)-0

In popular culture

A game of ''Scribbage'' is played in the film ''

Midnight Cowboy ''Midnight Cowboy'' is a 1969 American drama film directed by John Schlesinger, adapted by Waldo Salt from the 1965 novel by James Leo Herlihy. The film stars Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, with supporting roles played by Sylvia Miles, J ...

'' between Joe Buck (

Jon Voight Jonathan Vincent Voight (; born December 29, 1938) is an American actor. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and four Golden Globe Awards as well as nominations ...

) and his client Shirley ( Brenda Vaccaro) in which Joe tries playing

MONY The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York (also known as Mutual of New York or MONY) was the oldest continuous writer of insurance policies in the United States. Incorporated in 1842, it was headquartered at 1740 Broadway, before becoming a ...

which he remembers seeing on a billboard and believes to be how "money" is spelled. A ''Scribbage'' box can be seen in the season 3 finale of ''

Stranger Things ''Stranger Things'' is an American television series created by the Duffer brothers, Duffer Brothers for Netflix. Produced by Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment, the Stranger Things season 1, first season was released on N ...

''.

Reviews

*'' Games & Puzzles'' *'' Games & Puzzles'' #31

References

{{Dice games Dice games Products introduced in 1959