How to Use Blank Tiles in Scrabble

No matter which letter you assign to a blank tile, it contributes zero points to your score for that turn, and it doesn't benefit from letter multiplier squares either (though it can still trigger a word multiplier square underneath it). This means a blank's value is entirely about which words it unlocks, not the points it adds directly.

Because a blank can stand in for any missing letter, it dramatically increases your chance of completing a seven-letter bingo for the 50-point bonus. For example, a rack of A E I N R T plus a blank can become RETAINS, ANESTRI, or many other bingos depending on what letter the blank becomes — a rack without the blank would need to draw that exact missing letter naturally.

As a rough guide, if you're one letter away from a strong bingo, it's often worth holding a blank for a turn or two rather than spending it on a smaller, immediate play — the 50-point bonus usually outweighs a modest early score.

Sometimes holding out for a bingo isn't realistic — for instance, late in the game when few tiles remain, or when your rack has no realistic path to seven-tile combinations. In those cases, using a blank to unlock a strong, board-blocking play (like landing on a triple word square or blocking your opponent's obvious extension) is usually better than holding it and never using it.

Suppose your rack is C ? A T S (using ? for the blank) plus two other tiles that don't combine well. Assigning the blank as an H gives you CHATS on a double word square for a modest score. Assigning it as an O could open CATSO in some word lists, or you might instead hold the blank and wait one more turn to see if you draw into a bigger word. WordCue's blank-tile solver can test different letter assignments against your exact rack and board position to compare the resulting scores directly.