When I go to parties or hangouts where games are going to be played, I quickly look for the table where there is a Scrabble game, and I sit there. It is not because I love Scrabble oh so much; it is because that is the only game I know how to play. I don't know any card games. I don't know why; I just never learned, and I would feel embarrassed if anyone asked, and I had to say it out loud. I never really learned Scrabble; it was just easy to figure out.

I was at a poetry hangout over the weekend, and I played three rounds with a couple of friendly strangers. I held my end pretty well, but I also noticed that it went beyond playing meaningful English words when it got to your turn; it was also strategic and creative, really. I played my words fine, but the other guys had higher scores. Armed with this knowledge, I started targeting tiles that earned me double letters, double words, and triple words. Then I noticed the score could be a bigger number if it was well merged within a block of existing letters. I decided that I was going to get better at this.

That evening, when I got home, I downloaded Scrabble Go app and started playing. So far, your letters can form a word that is undeniably going to give you a huge score, but it's not every time it will work out as planned on the board; you have to be open-minded enough to see that multiple alternative words can come from those same letters. I also learned that there is always a better play with the exact resources that you have, so it's good to aim high. At some point, you will play basic words and that's okay; every play isn't going to be a festival of creativity and strategy. And I like to think that these lessons are applicable in real life.

Watch out, y'all, I am going to be a pro soon. I plan to learn Monopoly next. What is your go-to game, and what game can you not play?