01
Just show up
There's no registration or fixed arrival time. Games and opponents are arranged informally throughout the evening.
EVERY TUESDAY · WINSTON-SALEM, NC
Good words.
Great company.
Pull up a chair and play a game! The Winston-Salem Scrabble Club welcomes everyone, from first-time players to tournament veterans.
Free to play • No sign-up needed • All skill levels
P3L1A1Y4
W4O1R1D2
F4U1N1
YOUR NEXT FAVORITE WORD IS WAITING.
01 / COME PLAY
See you Tuesday.
No reservations, no fees, no pressure. Just show up and join the fun.
WHEN WE PLAY
Every Tuesday
5:30 – 9:30 PM
Drop in anytime during the evening. Stay for a game or stay for four.
WHERE WE PLAY
Barnes & Noble
Hanes Mall Boulevard
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Find us in the café area.
Everyone has
a seat at the table.
New to Scrabble? Haven't played in years? Practicing for your next tournament? You're in the right place.
- Completely free to attend
- Informal, friendly games and pairings
- Beginners and experts welcome
- Bring your own Scrabble board
02 / WHAT TO EXPECT
Play your way.
Scrabble is a game of words, strategy, surprises—and people. We keep club nights relaxed, whether you're learning the basics or honing your competitive skills.
02
Learn as you go
Novices are welcome to play with experienced players. It's common to let beginners use the Scrabble Cheat Sheet during a game.
03
Try competitive play
Tournament-style Scrabble typically uses chess clocks, official word lists, and word challenges. You don't need to know any of that to join us—curiosity is enough.
03 / CLUB NEWS
Announcements
| Date | Announcement |
|---|---|
| Winston Salem Scrabble Club begins again! |
04 / OUR STORY
A club with
deep roots.
The Winston-Salem Scrabble Club has a history going back decades. Its longtime director, Millicent King—affectionately known as “Mother Scrabble”—built a community around a shared love of words and friendship.
Under Millicent's leadership, the club met first at Beneath the Elms, then at a Stratford Road McDonald's, and eventually at Barnes & Noble on Hanes Mall Boulevard. In a February 2003 account, she described a club that had grown to 20 members, including tournament competitors.
Following a long hiatus, the club resumed on October 20, 2026, with former co-director Will Cooper returning as director.
Read Millicent's 2003 club history
“The idea to start a Scrabble club in Winston-Salem, NC was a brain storm that I had after the death of my father 15 years ago. I needed something to take my mind off of missing him. I also felt that a city the size of Winston-Salem should have enough interested people to join.
The beginnings found the club struggling to stay alive and kicking. I found that my passion for Scrabble was not shared by as many people as I had hoped to find. But I persevered and never gave up.
The club met for the first three years at ‘Beneath the Elms’ in the downtown area. When they renovated, we moved the club play to a McDonald's on Stratford Road. When they started closing early, we migrated to Barnes & Noble on Hanes Mall Blvd. We've been there four years now, and at least eight of our members compete in tournaments. We've grown to a twenty member club.”
— Millicent King, Club Director, February 11, 2003
05 / MEET THE DIRECTOR
Hi, I'm Will.
I first joined the Winston-Salem Scrabble Club in May 2000 and later served as co-director alongside Millicent King. After about 20 years away from the game, I'm getting back into Scrabble—and bringing the club back with me.
With my kids grown up, I have more time to reconnect with the community. For me, one of the best things about Scrabble is meeting interesting people. I enjoy the strategy, the endless opportunity to learn, and the friendships that come from sitting across a board together.
I'm working toward playing in tournaments again, but I've got plenty to relearn first. Whether you're a beginner or an old hand, I hope you'll stop by for a game.
Playing competitively since 2000Favorite Scrabble word LICKERISHOutside the club Programming, two dogs & a cat
06 / KEEP LEARNING
More words.
More fun.
Want to build your vocabulary or explore the wider Scrabble community? Start here.
FREE STUDY GAME
Four Star
A fun, phone-friendly Scrabble study game created by Will. Practice anagrams and front/back hooks in short sessions, with lives, scoring, and optional leaderboards. No login needed.
Start studying →QUICK REFERENCE · PDFScrabble Cheat Sheet
A handy reference to useful short words and word patterns from the NWL23 lexicon—especially helpful when you're getting started.
View the cheat sheet →PLAYER ORGANIZATIONNASPA
Explore North American competitive Scrabble, including official information about tournaments, ratings, and organized play.
Visit NASPA →YOUR MOVE
There's a word
with your name on it.
Tuesdays · 5:30–9:30 PM · Barnes & Noble café, Hanes Mall Boulevard
07 / GET IN TOUCH
Contact us.
Have a question about the club? Send us a message below. You're also welcome to simply stop by on Tuesday evening!