How to study NWL2023

A short guide for NASPA tournament players

What is NWL2023?

NWL2023 (NASPA Word List 2023) is the official word list for club and tournament play in North America. It decides which words are valid in rated games, and it is updated every few years.

Who uses it?

NASPA-rated clubs and tournaments in the USA and Canada use NWL2023. Players elsewhere usually play CSW24 — see swappo.wtf.

How to study it

  • Start small: learn all two- and three-letter words first, then high-probability seven- and eight-letter words.
  • Drill anagrams and hooks: alphagram drills train you to see every valid word in a rack.
  • Use spaced repetition: words you miss come back sooner, words you know come back later.
  • Practise endgames: knowing the words is half the job; finishing well is the other half.
  • Review your games: find the plays and words you missed and add them to your study.

How SWAPPO helps

SWAPPO is a study site built around NWL2023: anagram and alphagram drills, spaced-repetition word study, endgame practice and game review, with a history that shows your weak spots. It is free to start.

Start studying NWL2023 · About SWAPPO

Word lists are used under licence: NWL2023 from NASPA and CSW24 from HarperCollins. SWAPPO is not affiliated with any trademark owner.