Think small and get ahead

Memorising a few two or three-letter words can easily give you an advantage over your opponents. There are more than 100 twoletter words that can be played in Scrabble so swot up on the more unusual ones. Play ‘Qat’ and ‘Qi’ early and you’re onto a winning streak!

Use magic letters

A, E, I, L, R, S and T are the most commonly used letters in words. Make these your go-tos and you’ll greatly increase your word options. Likewise, focus on prefixes such as RE, UN and OUT and equally useful suffixes including ING, ER, ED and EST.

Go low to win high

As unlikely as it sounds, having a good combination of one-point letters could help you take the lead. In the word ‘RETAINS’ each of the letters will go with almost every word in the alphabet. The letters B, W and J are less helpful, so use them up quickly.

Go for bonus squares

Where possible, play the board’s hot spots as much as you can. Using them for lower scoring words will at least stop your opponents doing the same, but be careful not to place words that other players can use to their advantage on their turn.

These Scrabble strategy tricks can boost your score and give you the winning edge…

Be savvy with S

The letter S is one of the best you can hold. It allows you to not only pluralise words, but also to make completely new words. The other star square is the blank tile, which can be played as any letter. Experts say reserve both for plays of eight points or more.

With the opening up of the economy and fewer restrictions to adhere to, the opportunity to get out and about and see loved ones has finally become possible again. But despite this greater freedom, knowing what we can and cannot do still feels very confusing. A few months ago, everyone had to follow the same rules and we knew what was going on. Now that things aren’t as clear-cut, it’s understandable that many of us are feeling apprehensive about adapting to this new way of life. We asked the experts to answer your questions and help you navigate life after restrictions. attend before lockdown – familiarity is great for reducing fear and remembered enjoyment can also help you feel calmer.

■ Remind and reassure yourself that many of the activities which are being reintroduced have been specially adapted to help accommodate social distancing and prevent health risks.

■ Set a challenge for yourself on a daily basis. Aim for an achievable goal, particularly one where there is a positive reward you can treat yourself to on completion to help you to manage and feel positive about overcoming your fears.

■ If you notice your breathing becoming rapid and shallow when out and about, deep-breathing techniques can help calm these symptoms and stop, prevent, or delay a panic attack.

“It’s important to know that feeling anxious about changing your routines is normal – sometimes it can be helpful to have these thoughts and feelings as they help us to be more aware of ourselves and our surroundings.”

QPeople are talking about a ‘second wave’ of the virus. How can I boost immunity and stay healthy?

A“With life now entering a phase, frequently referred to as the ‘new normal’, we all need to make lifestyle changes,” says Suzie Sawyer, clinical nutritionist for Alive! (www.feelaliveuk. com). “The body has in-built mechanisms to fight viruses and infections, primarily in the form of anti-microbial white blood cells that sit within the immune system. However, our immune system needs to be properly cared for and supported nutritionally to ensure it’s

AWhat can we look forward to while we can’t plan anything?

“Coronavirus has had a massive impact on all of us and it is affecting the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of so many people,” says confidence coach, Natalie Trice (www. thegoodenoughcoach.co.uk). “While we may tend to dwell on the doom and gloom of the situation, it’s good to look ahead to when normality returns.

“To help keep your spirits up, make a list of all the things you want to do when this is over. Whether it’s having your hair done or meeting up with friends or family, having things to look forward to – and envisaging them – is really important. Involve others too; call them to book in dates and firm up plans or perhaps look at organising a mini break or holiday for later in the year to remind you that better times are coming.”