player with the letter closest to the start of the alphabet goes first. a blank is considered to come before an "a". if both tiles are the same, the players will each draw again until there is a decision. the player who is to go second returns the tiles to the bag and shuffles the bag, ready for the game to begin. no tiles shall be returned to the bag until a decision is reached.
1.5 when the first player has taken a tile out of the bag and seen the first tile, the time clock may be started.
2.1 each player is permitted a total of 25 minutes each on the 