Letter bonuses multiply a tile
Letter bonus squares usually affect only the tile placed on that square. A double-letter or triple-letter square is most valuable when it catches a high-value tile like Q (10 points), Z (10 points), J (8 points), or X (8 points). But letter bonuses also matter when that tile participates in a cross word — the bonus applies across both words the tile is part of, not just the main play.
Word bonuses multiply the whole word
Word bonus squares apply after the letters in the word have been counted, including any letter bonus tiles in that word. If a move covers more than one word bonus, those multipliers stack — a move that lands on two double-word squares effectively quadruples the base score of that word. This is why board position can matter more than simply playing the longest word available.
Bonuses count only when the tile is freshly placed
Existing tiles on the board no longer activate their original premium squares when a new word extends through them. Only tiles placed in the current move trigger the bonus beneath them. A solver has to know which tiles are already fixed and which tiles are newly placed before it can score a move correctly — this is one reason entering the board accurately before scoring matters.
Cross words can quietly add points
A play that forms two or three valid cross words can beat a flashier main word. TileSmith scores the main word and all cross words together so those smaller overlaps are included in the final move ranking. A two-letter word formed perpendicularly through a high-value existing tile can add ten or more points to a move that looks modest on paper.
High-value tiles belong on letter bonus squares
When choosing between two plays with similar scores, look at which one lands a high-value tile on a letter bonus square. A Q on a triple-letter square scores 30 points for that tile alone. Angling for this combination — even at the cost of a slightly shorter word — often produces more points than the obvious highest-word-score move.
Defensive square control
Premium squares work for both players. A triple-word square adjacent to an open vowel is an invitation for your opponent to score heavily. If you cannot use that lane yourself, consider whether a lower-scoring move that closes the access point is worth the trade-off. Board position is as much about denying your opponent bonus opportunities as it is about claiming them yourself.
Stacking bonuses in the same move
The most powerful plays on the board combine multiple bonus types in a single move: placing a high-value tile on a letter bonus square while the whole word crosses a word bonus square. These opportunities are rare and board position rarely allows them, but when they occur they can swing a game by thirty or forty points. TileSmith surfaces these plays automatically because it accounts for every square in the scored path.