If you love word games but can’t always find a Scrabble partner, Yahoo Games’ Literati rooms might be the answer. Literati is free to play. The only requirements are a Yahoo ID and a Java-enabled browser. It’s even possible to cheat in Literati using third-party Scrabble solvers.

Literati is a word game similar to Scrabble. Players use a set of seven letter tiles to construct intersecting words on a board, collecting points based on letter values and bonus squares.

The most obvious differences between Literati and Scrabble are the game board and the tile values. Both boards are 15×15, but the bonus squares (or, in the case of Literati, the intersections) are in different places. The letter tile point values in Literati only range from zero to five, while Scrabble has letters that are worth as much as ten points.

Once you log into Yahoo and arrive at the Literati section, you will notice that rooms are grouped into categories based on skill level. Select a skill level and then choose a room. This brings up a lobby window similar to a chat room from which you can join, watch, or start a game. The game runs in a third window, giving you constant access to the lobby. Games can be public or private and can have up to five players. When you start a game, you determine the game options, set time limits, rate your game, and block players.