NYT Crossplay Letter Values
Every tile in NYT Crossplay carries a point value based on how rare the letter is. Knowing these values is the first step to building a high-score strategy.
Complete Letter Point Chart
Letters Grouped by Point Value
0 points — Blank tile
Blank
Wild card — can represent any letter. Worth 0 points but strategically invaluable.
1 point — Most common letters
A E I O U L N R S T
The backbone of most words. High frequency makes them easy to use but low scoring.
2 points
D G
Slightly less common, still very playable.
3 points
B C M P
Good middle-ground tiles that appear in many common words.
4 points
F H V W Y
Less flexible but score well. F and H appear in many short, powerful words.
5 points
K
K is useful in words like QUAKE, KHAKI, and KAYAK.
8 points
J X
Rare and high-value. JO, JA, XI, and AX are excellent two-letter plays.
10 points — Highest value tiles
Q Z
Q and Z score massive points. QI and ZA are legal two-letter words worth 11 points each.
How to Use Letter Values Strategically
- Save Q and Z tiles for Triple Word squares — a single play can add 30+ points.
- Learn two-letter words with high-value tiles: QI (11), ZA (11), ZAX (19), JO (9), XI (9).
- In later rounds with higher multipliers, even medium-value letters score big.
- Use blank tiles to complete high-value words, not to prop up low-scoring ones.
- Don't hold onto high-value tiles past Round 3 — unplayed tiles don't score.