How to win at Stop: 12 tips and strategies

Understand the scoring

With the most common rules, an answer is worth 10 points if nobody else wrote it, 5 if another player wrote the same one, and 0 if it's blank or doesn't count. If you're the only one who filled in a category, it's worth 20. The takeaway is clear: the most obvious answer isn't always the best one.

During the round

1. Start with the easy ones. Fill in the categories that come to you right away and leave the hard ones for last. A sheet with five answers always beats one with two perfect ones.
2. Avoid what everyone thinks first. With the letter D, half the group writes "Dog" for Animal and it's worth 5. "Dolphin" or "Donkey" are more likely to be worth 10.
3. Secure the double category. If a category is worth double, fill it in as soon as you can.
4. Look for empty categories. If a category is hard for everyone, any valid answer may be worth 20. It's worth the effort.
5. Choose when to call Stop. If you've filled in everything, end the round before others finish. If you're missing many, don't rush: as long as nobody stops, you keep scoring.
6. Check before you stop. A word that doesn't start with the letter or has a serious mistake loses all its points.

Between games

7. Build a word bank. For each common category, keep two or three answers per letter in mind. Classic categories come up again and again.
8. Practice the hard letters. Q, Y and Z leave almost everyone blank, and that's your edge. See answers for hard letters.
9. Use place names. Cities, states and rivers rescue many categories.
10. Read and watch everything. The characters, movies, singers and brands you know are ready-made answers.

When there's a dispute

11. Know your group's rules. Before starting, agree on whether brands, nicknames, foreign words or spelling mistakes count.
12. Make your case. In tutti.frutti you can challenge other players' answers and accept or defend your own; if there's no agreement, the AI judge decides. A well-defended word is worth as much as a well-written one.

To practice on your own

• Daily challenge: one letter and six categories a day, the same for everyone, with a leaderboard. Great for measuring your level. More in daily challenge.
• Time attack: two minutes to score as many points as you can, round after round.
• Adventure: more than 100 levels with special rules that train your speed and memory.

And if you want to change how you play, try one of the Stop game variations.