Whether you’re a longtime Scrabble player with a family Scrabble-playing tradition or just discovering the game through websites like the buzz-generating Scrabulous, you haven’t experienced the true depth of the game until you’ve spent time with a professional Scrabble player. A surprising number of folks make their living playing Scrabble, competing in large tournaments organized by the National Scrabble Association, and they all have interesting stories.

Back in the ‘70s, three-time National Scrabble Champion Joe Edley took a job as a night security guard for the free time it afforded, and used that time to memorize the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary. When he isn’t studying lists of words from flash cards (while driving), he’s either out playing Scrabble or helping to expand the reach of the game he loves in his role as the National Scrabble Association’s Director of Clubs and Tournaments.

You can study Edley’s gameplay in the animation above of his 2000 championship game against Brian Cappelletto. The National Scrabble Association offers hundreds of annotated Scrabble games for aspiring champions.

You can also check him out in the highly enjoyable documentary Word Wars, or better yet, take his Scrabble Master Class here at the Y November 4. We are not responsible for any Scrabble addictions that result.

[Joe Edley: A Scrabble Master Class]