This is Apptessence
Latest: Our Inaugural Tournament has concluded successfully! Check Twitter for updates.

How Tournaments Work

To be part of a tournament, you need three things. 1 to register here; 2 to join a tournament; 3 to have access to WordsBy2, our game, available on the Apple Store, free.

Tournaments happen here, on our website.... but you play them on your iOS device (how to below).

Tournments are played solo on your phone: You don't need an opponent. Your game score and moves are displayed, and so are all the other players, on a tournament leaderboard, that goes live when the tournment does. You can play any time, as often as you want.

Finding a Tournament When you're registered and logged in, any tournaments you can currently join will be listed on the JOIN page. Don't see a tournament? If it's before the tournament starts, or after it ends, you won't see one. Our Twitter feed, or the banner on the home page have the current tournment status.

Joining a Tournament When you find a tournament ready to join, just click the "View Invitation" link. That takes you to a new screen that tells you all the details of the tournament.

On the Invitation Page, you'll see a "Join Tournament" link. Clicking that will join the tournament. If it takes you to the home page, it means that you can't join the tournament right now.

Why Can't I Join? Usually, because you've already joined a game that's ready to play. If that's the case, you can go to the WordsBy2 app, and log in with the same login as you used to register. You'll see the big Game On!! button. Tap that, and you're playing in the tournament!

One More Thing… The tournament is set up to allow you to play as many games as you want as part of the tournament. So if you made a mistake and think you could do better, or if you've just lost the lead: go ahead, join again here on the website, go to the game, and play again!

How To Play WordsBy2

We Recommend You Watch the First Half, at Minimum

The video here introduces, in stages, each of the parts of the WordsBy2 game screen, and tells you what they do, and how to play using them. The main part is one minute long, which takes you through the main game play. Then, the rest is about how scoring works, and a few other details.

The simplest guide to getting started, though is this:

  • START
  • PICK 3 LETTERS
  • SWITCH
  • PICK 3 MORE LETTERS
  • SWITCH
  • TAP ON A PICKED LETTER
  • TAP A PLACE ON THE BOARD AT TOP
  • SWITCH
  • …and then, you'll be on your way.

A Few More WordsBy2 Details

Seven Things Not in the Video

  1. You can replace a letter on the board once the word is 4 letters long or more.
  2. The places you can place are indicated with highlights (blocked spaces are darker)
  3. If your rack is full of picked letters, picking a letter will empty it; and only the picked letter will be in the rack
  4. When you form a complete word, you'll get a bonus of the value of the letter placed, indicated by a little medallion, which is then added to your score
  5. You can also get the bonus by replacing a letter (see 1)
  6. If you can't place a tile on the board, there are two common reasons: first, that space may be open, but the letter you're trying to place won't form any part of a word, and second: you've already picked a letter from the pickbox, or emptied, or filled it. Remember: Pick three, or place one.
  7. You can quit the game anytime, by tapping END once your turn begins. This matters a bit, because if there's a tie on points, and on moves, the winner is the one with the shortest time.