Crossplay Q Words Without U

Stop waiting for a U. Every Q-without-U word with Crossplay point values, and when to exchange instead.

The Q problem

Q is worth 10 points in Crossplay — two more than in Scrabble — but it's also the tile most likely to sit on your rack for five turns while you wait for a U. There are only four Us in the bag (and the U is worth 2 here, so opponents don't dump them either). The fix is the same as in tournament Scrabble: learn the words where Q stands without a U.

The list below has every Q-without-U word of eight letters or fewer in this solver's tournament-style dictionary (31 words). Point values are base values using Crossplay's tile values.

The three you must know

QI (11) — the single most useful word in the game. Two tiles, and it hooks off almost any I on the board. On a triple-letter square the Q alone is 30.
QAT (12) — takes an S, so QATS is a four-letter option as well.
QIS (12) — the plural of QI, which means an existing QI on the board is a free hook for your S.

Short Q words (with or without U)

Every Q word of four letters or fewer, because when the bag is nearly empty you need any outlet, not a clever one.

QI (11) QAT (12) QIS (12) QUA (13) SUQ (13) AQUA (14) QAID (14) QATS (13) QOPH (17) QUAD (15) QUAG (17) QUAI (14) QUAY (17) QUEY (17) QUID (15) QUIN (14) QUIP (16) QUIT (14) QUIZ (23) QUOD (15) SUQS (14)

All Q-without-U words

Word	Length	Points
QI	2	11
QAT	3	12
QIS	3	12
SUQ	3	13
QAID	4	14
QATS	4	13
QOPH	4	17
SUQS	4	14
FAQIR	5	17
QAIDS	5	15
QANAT	5	14
QOPHS	5	18
TRANQ	5	14
UMIAQ	5	17
BUQSHA	6	21
FAQIRS	6	18
QANATS	6	15
QINDAR	6	16
QINTAR	6	15
QIVIUT	6	21
QWERTY	6	22
SHEQEL	6	18
TRANQS	6	15
UMIAQS	6	18
BUQSHAS	7	22
QINDARS	7	17
QINTARS	7	16
QIVIUTS	7	22
QWERTYS	7	23
QINDARKA	8	23
SHEQALIM	8	22

Note: the NYT curates its own list from NWL23, so a small number of entries may be rejected in-game. The board solver uses this same list and will show you exactly where each of these fits on your board.

When to just exchange

If none of these fit and the bag still has 20+ tiles, exchanging the Q is usually right: a 10-point tile you can't play is worth less than zero, because it blocks a rack slot you need for the +40 all-tiles bonus. Late in the game, when the bag is nearly empty, hold it only if you can see a guaranteed QI spot.