Players are dealt a hand of ten cards, each of which is a letter of the alphabet worth a number of points (there are also a few wild cards). Players try to empty their hands by spelling five-letter (or longer) words using their letter cards. They can also add letters to their own previously played words (although they cannot rearrange the letters): for example, adding S, ED, or ING to WRECK.
Each turn players draw two cards and must discard one. Players may also take letters from the discard pile, but these must be used immediately -- and all discards prior to the one they take must be taken into their hand.
A round ends when a player goes out by spelling a word plus having one card to discard. Points from exposed words are totaled; points from letters held in the hand are subtracted unless they can be dumped into words (which are worth nothing).
A complete game consists of four rounds. Highest point total is the winner. Note: spelling SHMOOZE is worth 50 points and spelling SHMOOZELED is worth 250 points -- a bit of a balance wrecker.