Word game strategy
Using X in Word Games
The X is worth 8 points in Scrabble (and 5 in Words With Friends), and it's the friendly opposite of the Q: it needs no U and slots into dozens of short words. Played well, one X can be your biggest turn of the game.
Why X is so easy to play
Where the Q is stuck waiting for a U, the X pairs happily with vowels and drops into short, common words — FOX, TAX, MIX, EXIT. That means you rarely have to hold it, and you can almost always find a spot to cash in its 8 points.
The real trick is placement. Because so many two- and three-letter X words exist, the X is the best tile in the game for building on premium squares and for playing two words at once.
The two-letter X words
Memorize these five — they're the foundation of every big X play:
The double-cross: X's biggest score
Slide the X between two existing tiles so it forms a two-letter word in both directions at once — say AX going one way and XI the other. Land that X on a double- or triple-letter square and it counts toward both words, so a single tile can score 40, 50, even 60+ points.
This “double-cross” is why experienced players guard open spots next to vowels: the X turns them into gold.
Common short X words
Your everyday plays when you just need to spend the X well:
High-scoring X words to aim for
When you have the room, these stack the X with other rich tiles:
Quick X strategy
- Hunt the premium squares. An X on a letter bonus is worth 16–24 points on its own — often more than a longer word elsewhere.
- Play both directions. Look for spots where the X can make a word across and down at the same time.
- Don't overthink it. Unlike the Q, the X almost always has a home. If nothing big is open, FOX or TAX for 12–14 points is a fine turn.
Want the complete list — every legal word containing an X, sortable by length and score?
See all words with X on UnscrambleX →