My last column, Life Lessons from the Game of Scrabble — Uses of Adversity was about how playing against different skills levels of computerized Scrabble is like adversity in life — the greater the skill of my opponent, the higher my score and skill level.

Adversity brings growth. However, we are not meant to go it alone, and there are times in life when we cannot overcome adversity on our own.

Turn to a Higher Power

For this article, I ventured a little further afield and played against the level called “Champion.” I usually don't play against this level, because I fear it will beat me 100% of the time. On my own, I'm sure that would be the case. However, there is a button I can push that will give me a hint for a word I can use.

Sometimes the light goes on when it gives me a letter or two. Other times I need things spelled out a little more clearly. The bottom line is that if I choose to call on it, there is a higher power, more intelligent, capable of seeing all outcomes and point values and aiding me to be victorious, even against an opponent I feel I have no chance of beating alone.

Trade in What Isn't Working

There is an option in Scrabble to skip a turn and trade in the letters you don't like in hopes of getting better letters. Although I have always believed that “you have to play the hand that's dealt you,” I also realize that you can (and should) change things that aren't working.

I am not held captive by “fate.” I can change jobs, break a bad habit, become a better listener. In the game I often resist because I worry it will put me behind, but trade-ins usually result in better plays. Sometimes there is an element of uncertainty or some ground lost initially when we make changes, but chances are that progress will be the net result.

Make it Count

Part of the strategy of Scrabble is to play letters with high points on double- or triple-letter squares or high-scoring words on double- or triple-word squares. In her book, Take Two Chocolates and Call Me in the Morning , Emily Watts talks about the time she expended a lot of effort making Christmas “drummer boy” cupcakes for a kindergarten class and realized they would have been happy with a Twinkie with a couple of matchsticks laid across it. She counseled women to put the effort in where it matters.

Make it count. Use your energy wisely and get maximum value. Get that “Q” on a triple letter square.

Out of Small Things Proceedeth that Which is Great

Any Scrabble player worth her salt knows the complete up-to-date list of two-letter words. One of my favorites is “aa.” Pronounced “ah-ah,” it is a type of lava that we have here on the Big Island in abundance. Two-letter words can be used as a set-up for a better play the next round. They can assist you in getting a high point letter onto a bonus square. They are useful in getting rid of extra letters in hopes of drawing that much-needed last letter to complete a bonus play. At the end of the game, they can be the difference between victory and defeat.

What You Don't Use, Counts Against You

At the end of the game, the point value of the tiles left on your rack is subtracted from your score and added to the score of your opponent. Sounds kind of like the parable of the talents, doesn't it? We are meant to use the talents we have been given.

Upcoming Attraction

Stay tuned for my final installment in the Scrabble series, where we will learn about the cunning of the adversary, using my favorite opponent as the model.