BananagramsWhen to dump
Updated September 4, 2026 · 2 min read
Dump is worth using early in the game when your hand is small, because the trade adds two tiles to your grid. Putting one tile back brings three fresh tiles from the bunch, which makes your hand harder to clear as the finish approaches.
The short version
- Call Dump out loud whenever you make the trade.
- Place one tile face down in the bunch and draw three new ones.
- Trade difficult letters early while your grid is small and easy to rearrange.
- Avoid trading late in the game when you need an empty hand to win.
The trade is simple. You say Dump out loud, return one tile face down to the bunch, and draw three new tiles to take its place. Your hand grows by two tiles on the spot. Because there is no scoring, letters like Q, X, and Z bring no bonus. They are only harder to place into your grid than vowels or common consonants.
Straight from our own play notes
“Use awkward letters as early as you can, so they are out of the way while the hand is small.”
Early in the game, adding two tiles is a light cost. You have fewer tiles to manage, so absorbing extra letters into a small grid is fast. A published guide advises using awkward letters as early as you can, so they are out of the way while the hand is small. When an awkward letter cannot be used, swapping it early keeps your grid moving before the final push.
Late in the game, the same move is expensive. You are trying to use every single tile so you can call Bananas once the bunch holds fewer tiles than there are players. Taking on two extra tiles at that stage sets you back directly against everyone else who is racing to finish.
The mistake to avoid
It is tempting to trade away hard letters right at the end of the game. A Dump adds two extra tiles to your hand when you are trying to empty it completely, so trading late directly delays your final call.
Questions that keep coming up
How many tiles do you take when you call Dump?
You take three tiles from the bunch after returning one tile face down.
Can you call Dump at any time?
Yes. You can call Dump at any time and as often as you like during the game.
Are letters like Q or Z worth extra points?
No. There is no scoring in this game, so letters like Q and Z have no special value and are only harder to place.