The Portland Scrabble Club, Lucky Labrador Hawthorne, and Soku Sushi use a chess clock to keep games fair and moving. Each player gets 25 minutes total for all their moves (small penalty per minute over). Most players adapt within a week or two — and the clock actually makes games clearer and more exciting by making it obvious whose turn it is.

Newcomers are given 5 extra minutes of play, and allowed free challenges.

Note: you need at least 4 games in sanctioned timer-based club play before entering a local tournament.