The computer player

Niggle uses a sophisticated algorithm to provide a very good computer scrabble player within the limitations of the Palm Pilot system. See Credits for details of this algorithm.

Naturally the computer player is only available if the dictionary has been installed.

The computer player has the advantage of access to the entire dictionary, however it tends to favour higher scores rather than careful word placement and rack balance.

Four levels of computer player are supported: Dumb, Easy, Medium and Hard. Easier give the computer less time to think.

When the computer has a blank tile, it takes longer to think due to the considerably greater number of options available.

While the computer is thinking, a progress bar is displayed in the lower right hand corner of the screen.

In this case, See Computer Thinking is enabled in Preferences.
Also, there is a single human player, so the human player's tiles are shown in the rack while the computer is thinking.
Notice that there is no selected tile, to indicate that the rack is display-only while the computer is thinking.

Ending play early

If you are playing the computer, or the computer is playing itself, you may become impatient. To end the game, simply switch to another application and then switch back to Niggle. You are then given the choice of continuing or aborting the game.

If you choose to continue, the computer starts thinking from the beginning of its turn.