Methodology for creating sets of related word games and puzzles based on linking rationally chosen letter pairs and/or triplets and linking words that are transformations of each other

1. A method of playing a word game among two or more participants, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of game pieces, wherein each of the game pieces includes a single two-letter word bit, each word bit being a fixed ordered two-letter combination;

(b) providing a plurality of skill cards, wherein each skill card includes a target number of words of at least four letters, the target number of words on at least two of the skill cards being different from one another;

(c) providing a first portion of the game pieces to each of the two or more participants to create a personal pool for each of the two or more participants;

(d) providing each of the two or more participants with a respective one of the skill cards, wherein the target number of words on the respective skill card provided to each participant is based on a skill level of the corresponding participant;

(e) providing a second portion of the game pieces into a supply pool; and

(f) allowing each of the two or more participants to create words of at least four letters by combining the game pieces from the respective participant's personal pool; and

(g) ending a round of play when a first of the participants create the target number of words assigned thereto by the corresponding skill card from the first of the participants' personal pool of game pieces.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) ending the game when a participant has won a predetermined number of rounds.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) providing each personal pool with a minimum number of game pieces required to create the target number of words assigned to the respective participant.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(h) providing the winner of a round with a token, the token increasing the winner's target number of words of at least four letters by one in a subsequent round of play.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) allowing each of the participants to exchange at least one game piece from the respective participant's personal pool for an equal number of game pieces from the supply pool.