Is OBIA a valid word?

OBIA is another spelling of OBEAH, a form of folk magic and healing from the Caribbean with West African roots; OBIAS is its plural. OBIA uses an O, an I and an A with a 3-point B. Remember OBIA and OBEAH as a pair: one clears three vowels, the other spends a 4-point H as well. The practice is part of the folk traditions of Jamaica, Trinidad and other Caribbean islands. The B is worth three points and gives the vowels something to lean on.

Before any bonus squares: O 1 + B 3 + I 1 + A 1 = 6. On a double-word square that's 12, on a triple-word 18, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the B on a 3L square and OBIA is worth 12 before any word bonus.

Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.

Swap any one letter of OBIA and these are still words:

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters O, B, I and A.

OBIA is a form of folk magic from the Caribbean, also spelled OBEAH.

• Vowel-heavy words

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