How to Win at NYT Crossplay
NYT Crossplay combines Scrabble-style tile strategy with round multipliers that can turn a good play into a great score. Here are 8 proven tips to maximize your points in every game.
Use the word finder before you guess
Before playing anything in Crossplay, enter your tiles into our solver to see every possible word and its point value. You'll frequently discover 2–3x better plays than your first instinct.
Open Crossplay Solver →Target Triple Word squares above all else
A mediocre 10-point word on a Triple Word square scores 30 points. An excellent 25-point word away from premium squares scores only 25. Always look for TW access first, then choose the best word you can place there.
Save your best tiles for Rounds 4 and 5
Round 5 applies a 5× multiplier. A 15-point word in Round 5 is worth 75 points. Hold high-value tiles like Q, Z, J, and X through the early rounds when possible — just don't hold them past Round 4 or you risk never playing them.
Know your two-letter power words
Two-letter words are your secret weapon. QI (11 pts), ZA (11 pts), JO (9 pts), and XI (9 pts) let you play high-value tiles in tight spaces. Memorize at least these four and you'll always have a scoring option.
Stack letter multipliers under word multipliers
Letter bonuses (DL, TL) apply before word bonuses (DW, TW). Land a high-value tile on a Triple Letter square that's part of a Triple Word play for explosive results. A Z on TL inside a TW word = (10 × 3) × 3 = 90 points from one tile.
Calculate the Score →Play parallel words for double scoring
When you place a word parallel and adjacent to an existing word, every new tile that touches an existing tile creates a new word — and each of those new words scores separately. One play can score 3–4 words simultaneously.
Don't hoard blank tiles
Blank tiles are worth 0 points themselves — they only add value by enabling a better word. If you've held a blank for two rounds and haven't found a use, play a decent word with it now. Unplayed blanks score nothing.
Practice with Crossplay Unlimited
The single fastest way to improve is repetition. Play Crossplay Unlimited for free — no NYT subscription required — and practice premium square targeting and tile management with zero pressure.
Play Crossplay Unlimited →Common Crossplay Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
❌ Playing high-value tiles in Round 1
✓ Save Q, Z, J, X for later rounds where multipliers amplify their value.
❌ Ignoring premium squares
✓ Always check if any word in your rack can reach a TW or DW square before playing.
❌ Over-saving blank tiles
✓ If you haven't used a blank by Round 3, find a play for it — 0-point tiles hurt your final score.
❌ Playing only long words
✓ Short words on premium squares often outscore long words played in safe positions.
❌ Forgetting two-letter words
✓ QI, ZA, JO, XI, AX — learn these and you'll always have a high-value option.
❌ All vowels / all consonants
✓ If your rack is unbalanced, prioritize burning the excess tiles even at a slight score cost.
What a Good Crossplay Score Looks Like
| Score Range | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 150 | Beginner | Missing premium squares and playing low-value words. |
| 150–300 | Developing | Using premium squares occasionally, learning word patterns. |
| 300–500 | Intermediate | Consistent premium square plays and decent tile management. |
| 500–750 | Advanced | Late-round high-value plays, parallel words, strong tile control. |
| 750+ | Expert | Stacking multipliers, optimal round timing, two-letter power words mastered. |