Use the correct score table
Words With Friends assigns different values to several letters, so a Scrabble ranking can be misleading. The examples below use WWF base tile scores before any board bonus.
Placement creates the real total
Premium letter and word squares, cross-words, and the open lane determine the score of an actual move. Test every legal placement rather than choosing from base value alone.
Protect the next position
A strong score can still expose a premium lane or leave a rigid rack. Compare immediate points with defense and the letters you will carry into the next turn.