Rule 8(d) of The “Real” Rules of Dixonary reads as follows:
If a player has been disadvantaged by some error on the dealer’s part (such as losing a submitted definition, or posting it in such a way that it is clear that it is fake), the dealer has discretion to award dealer points to that player as compensation. ¤
The symbol ¤ at the end of this rule indicates that it is based on established practice, but that there is no basis for the practice in the official 1990 rules. Overwhelming precedent is to award two dealer
points.
This paper sets out to explain why the awarding of dealer points is a bad idea that all too often has the effect of penalizing the player it is supposed to compensate.