Rating: 
Summary: Toss up but go for it
Review: First off, if you don't have a Scrabble dictionary and play Scrabble, you NEED TO buy this book. But let's say that you're like me and you have an older edition. Well the older editions had separate sections that listed all those nifty two letter words that can rack up big points (ex: aa, ae, xi, em, jo, etc). But you can find all of those words in the new one, just not listed separately. However, if you're like me and want to use all the new-fangled words like zit then you won't find them in any edition but the new one. I'm sure that there are many other new words in this edition, zit is just the only one that I've noticed so far. It's a trade-off, yoúr choice: the convenience of common-word lists in the older editions or the proff that newer words exist in the new version. I have both; maybe that's your best bet.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for casual players
Review: Glancing through this dictionary, I'm thinking it could spoil the fun for us occasional, for-fun players, especially if there are hard-core competitors in the game. If someone studied the dictionary, even briefly, and learned some of the more obscure "words," she/he could win many challenges made by normal word-lovers. Three spellings of "aargh"? Why is it even in there? And, not that I care, I even spotted a wrong definition for "yuck." It says it's the same as "yuk" (laugh) but we all know its a variant of "yucky" (disgusting). I'm going to recommend to my friends that we use a regular dictionary. All for fun and fun for all.
Rating:
Summary: How Do YOU Spell Scrabble?
Review: Here is an interesting book. It has listed legal words for the American favorite game named Scrabble (and similar word-building, letter-based games.) The third edition has dropped some perfectly legal words which would otherwise be considered vulgar. I suppose I can understand a parent's objection to inclusion of such words. I believe the Anti-Defamation League was responsible for the removal of "offensive" words. While no one should promote the use of epithets and derogatory terms, they are still useful as reference material. This dictionary lists definitions, so it can be used as a stand-in for a standard dictionary, if needed. The "Player's" dictionary cannot replace a true English Language dictionary (Mr. Webster has nothing to fear. Then again, Merriam-Webster is the publisher, so you know it IS a dictionary.) This book is geared toward the game. Words which could not possibly be used in the game are not in the dictionary (pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, for example.) Bottom line? Buy this or the "Official" word list.
While the dictionary lacks a number of words appearing in the word list, those who want to learn more than just a use for the tiles currently in their rack will appreciate the dictionary. A good educational tool and useful to decide the fate of challenges. (Then again, so is the official word list.) If you want to know what the words mean, this is the book of choice.
Rating: 
Summary: A Dictionary No Student Should Be Without
Review: I am an English tutor, and several times students will ask questions that just aren't available from modern dictionaries. Worst yet, are times when they are looking for 9-letter words with no vowels!
Having known about and used the Scrabble Players Dictionary for years, I strongly encourage my students to keep a copy on their desks, right next to their word books and dictionaries. Since I strongly advocate playing Scrabble for students all the way from first grade on up, it is important that they be aware that certain letter combinations ARE words .. something they would not know without blindly searching their dictionaries. What's more, I have come across several instances where words were in the Scrabble Players Dictionary and weren't in the students' dictionary. Because of this, the Scrabble Players Dictionary always supersedes my decisions; if a word is in there, I let it stand, as long as it's used correctly (as noted in the Scrabble Players Dictionary).
This is a book that no student (or household) should be without. I will continue to advocate this book as a standard for all students - children and adults alike, and will forever stress the importance of playing Scrabble, to increase the vocabulary and spelling (and reading) skills, as well.
Rating:
Summary: What's with the slang?
Review: I consider myself an avid Scrabble player, and never - until this book - was I aware that slang was allowed (biz, bro, etc.)...AND abbreviations. (ed, ex, bi, etc.) Don't get me wrong...it opens up a world of possibilities. So, if you thought you knew all there was to know about Scrabble, I recommend this book! I also recommend chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches on the side!
Rating:
Summary: Does not keep up with other editions!!
Review: I first ran into a scrabble players dictionary while travelling, Unfortunately the 3rd edition dictionary does not have lists of 2 and 3 letter words in it, you have to look them up normally. The former dictionary was way better as it not only had the entire list of words from a-z but also had separate sections of 2 letter words and 3 letter words, they only took up about 5 pages between them. Try to find a copy of the old version, it is better!!
Rating:
Summary: What were they thinking!
Review: I got a chance to learn "competitive Scrabble" from a friend who is a nationally-ranked player. She insisted the road to success in Scrabble (not a burning ambition with me, but interesting nonetheless) is to learn a series of two and three letter words that look like cheating but are apparently real words to the dictionary people. In the older edition, these were separated out so you could spend your time memorizing them. This edition only has them listed alphabetically. So for ending arguments that EX and EL are indeed legal words in Scrabble, it's fine, but lacks that formerly valuable tool. Well, semi-valuable. If you get too good, your casual Scrabble-playing friends and family stop playing with you. This didn't happen to me, but I've heard that it happens.So for home players who love Scrabble, this is a good reference. For competitive learning, get an older version.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Companion for Any Scrabble Player
Review: I have enjoyed playing Scrabble for many years, but it can also get very frustrating when you get a rack of tiles that seem totally useless (like mostly consanants or mostly vowels). Since purchasing the Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary, I may still get frustrated at times, but now I have a much better resource for figuring out what I can do with seemingly useless tiles. (This dictionary has been especially useful when I want to place a word parallel to an existing word on the board and create one more more two- to three-letter extra words in the process.) The font used in the dictionary is very easy to read. Words defined may be limited to between 2 and 8 letters, but at over 100,000 entries (including unusual words not defined anyplace else, like "brr"), this dictionary cannot be beat for playing Scrabble. I spent a little more money to buy the hardback edition instead of the paperback one: it's much easier to inspect the pages of a dictionary when you don't have to fight the binding to keep the book open to one place. You might need other useful resources when playing Scrabble, but none are as good as the Offical Scrabble Player's Dictionary. I give it a rating of 5 stars!
Rating:
Summary: Very useful for Scrabble players
Review: I play online and offline once in awhile. Very useful book for those finding words to spell while playing. Very easy to handle book, nicely laid out. Good buy for the low price.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, But No... Hmm.. Yes
Review: I realize my title is of vague, if not poor in meaning. My thoughts of this dictionary are like that. I love Scrabble. With an English degree, a bookwormish lifestyle and a highly verbal family, I arrogantly call it a challenge to be taken down by another player. The Scrabble dictionary is part of my confidence. This dictionary standarizes the game. What other dictionaries lack is consistency and clarity. What counts as a foreign word? This dictionary creates a boundary otherwise unavailable for word usage. If I played Scrabble in a league, I might be pickier about the words made available. But I like to play Scrabble the most with my aunt and Grandma out on a porch at a cottage on a lake, or at a coffeehouse with an editor friend of mine, highly caffeinated... enjoying family or friendship more than the game. Therefore, the Official Scrabble Dictionary is plenty for me. Tidy little definitions are provided. "Hemagog" is defined as "an agent that promoters blood flow." Lets me know I can put an "S" on the end to pluralize it, that 'hemagog' is a noun. I am happy with that, yet fully aware a hematologist could tell me a hundred more things. Profanity unfortunately is in there. All our favorite four-letter words seem to have made the cut. Yes, even THAT one. But the fact of the matter is what makes for common conversation is not always appropriate family discussion. A "legal" word in this book makes the game awkward when players with young children. I'm not saying don't buy the book. I am saying that you should be aware. I recommend this book with the caveat that if you want to know everything about a word, buy the Oxford English Dictionary. If you want to play a relaxed game of Scrabble... buy this book. Anthony Trendl
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