BananagramsKeeping the grid open
Updated September 4, 2026 · 2 min read
A grid stops accepting letters when it is built as a finished crossword rather than a flexible working area. Peel forces a fresh tile into your hand every time any player empties theirs, so an arrangement that only accepts one exact letter will jam as soon as new tiles arrive.
The short version
- Rebuild your grid freely at any point during the game to create space for new tiles.
- Call Dump to trade one unusable letter back to the bunch for three new tiles.
- Add plurals, verb endings, and comparatives to existing words to extend open lines.
- Keep open attachment points ready across your layout for incoming Peel draws.
The grid stays flexible for the whole game, and every player works at their own pace. When any player uses their last tile, they call Peel out loud. That single call forces every player at the table to draw one fresh tile from the bunch immediately. If your layout cannot absorb an unexpected letter, those incoming tiles simply sit in your hand.
Straight from our own play notes
“The grid stays flexible for the whole game, and every player works at their own pace.”
You may pull your own grid apart and rebuild it at any moment. Doing this costs nothing at all. Words must read left to right and top to bottom, and every tile you hold must belong to a valid word in every direction it runs. Rebuilding lets you open up new attachment points across the table whenever incoming letters stop fitting.
A difficult tile can also be exchanged instead of forced into an awkward spot. Calling Dump allows you to return one unusable tile face down to the bunch and take three new ones in return. This increases your total count by two tiles, but it frees your layout when a specific letter blocks your progress.
The mistake to avoid
The mistake is to leave an awkward grid intact while waiting for one specific tile. Rebuilding costs nothing, and every tile must connect validly in both directions, so dismantle tight sections as soon as they stop accepting incoming letters.
Questions that keep coming up
Can I rearrange letters after placing them?
Yes, you can pull your grid apart and rebuild it at any moment during the game without penalty.
What happens when another player calls Peel?
Every player takes one fresh tile from the bunch immediately, including the person who made the call.
How does the game conclude?
The game ends when the bunch holds fewer tiles than there are players and someone with an empty hand calls Bananas.