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Playing with a spirit of fun, guided by a sense of fairness
Over the years the Rules Committee has recognized the difficulties of defining "ironclad" rules. Players with a "win at all costs" attitude may find ways to circumvent the strict interpretation of rules, or play on opponents' known ignorance of them with unfair results. In some cases these players point the way to creating better rules. However, in many cases this attitude simply fosters an atmosphere among experienced players of taking advantage of the unwary. We may all try to use words that others have not yet learned, but when it comes to rules, it is more appropriate to teach the uninitiated the correct way to follow our procedures than to take advantage of them.
To enlarge our family of SCRABBLE® game players, we need to promote the sheer enjoyment of playing the game, win or lose. In keeping with this policy, we wish to clarify some "gray" areas, keeping in mind that players should be considered innocent of any willful wrongdoing until there is sufficient evidence to the contrary.
This general principle should guide Directors in unusual situations: No player should benefit by an irregularity s/he created, however accidentally, and no player should be harmed (or potentially harmed) as the result of an irregularity s/he had no part in creating.
There are certain situations that occur repeatedly in SCRABBLE® game tournaments in which players may not have a clear understanding of what is appropriate, for they may not be specifically discussed in the Rules. What follows are several guidelines: