WALLINGFORD - Two Scrabble teams met Thursday at the Wallingford Senior Center, as they usually do, only this time they were asked to play the familiar word game in a new way.

One group had a particular interest in learning the new rules, since it will compete under them in the annual Meriden-Wallingford Scrabble Challenge, March 18 at the Chevrolet Theatre, which benefits Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven.

The event raised $17,800 last year to help the organization tutor some 500 people in English in New Haven County.

Under the new rules, introduced by players from New Haven, each group receives a sample letter grid and starts off with the same sequence of tiles. Teams are also allowed 45 minutes rather than the usual 30 to play.

"It levels the playing field," said Doss Venema, the organization's executive director.

In the old format, players created words in advance and would store them in their mind, she said. The new way prevents such an advantage by starting everyone off with the same individual lettered tiles.

The senior center team spent more time than usual setting up to play. One team member read letter arrangements out loud while others filled in the sequence before the game began, previewing what will take place at each of the 50 tables at the competition.

Groups from Wallingford will square off against teams from Meriden for local bragging rights. Teams of students and family and friends will also compete.

Each team will pay $100 a table, or $25 per person, with sponsors paying anywhere from $500 to $5,000.

Halfway into the game Thursday, players were adjusting to the rules and sharing their sentiments and frustrations.

Marge Kleemann was playing with the group that decided not to compete, but she's preparing as an alternate for the competing team.

"I like it because I think that it's fairer than the old way," she said. "I thought it was highly unfair that you could make up all these long words."

But Gary Morgan of the competing team said it takes some time to get used to, and even though the group has already practiced a few times under the new rules, it wasn't enough yet.

"We are slow," said Morgan, after he spelled out the word "taw," which no one else seemed to know. "When I was a boy, that was a marble."

To register for the tournament, visit www.lvagnh.org or call (203) 776-5899.

shernandez@record-journal.com

(203) 317-2266