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Wordle

How to Get Better at Wordle - Tips and Strategy

Struggling to solve Wordle in three guesses? These proven strategies will help you pick better starting words and eliminate letters faster.

Six guesses. One hidden word. Everyone playing the same puzzle. That's Wordle. The coloured tiles tell you which letters are right and whether they're in the right spot - and from there it's pure deduction. Get the strategy right and you'll crack it in three guesses most days. Stuck on today's? Our Wordle Solver narrows it down from your clues instantly.

Start with Strong Opening Words

Your first guess isn't about getting lucky - it's about gathering information. Pick a word that covers the most common letters so guesses two and three can do the real work. Players who consistently solve in three guesses almost always start with the same handful of words.

The Vowel Strategy Words like ADIEU or AUDIO knock out four vowels in one go. Great if you want to know the vowel layout early.
The Consonant Strategy Words like CRANE or SLATE hit the most common consonants. Most experienced players prefer this approach.

Either way, the goal of guess one is information - not the answer.

Use Information Aggressively on Guess Two and Three

Got some yellows and greens? Don't just guess a similar word. Move confirmed letters to new positions and bring in fresh consonants. Each guess should be doing two jobs - testing new letters and placing known ones.

The Burner Word Have two or three greens but still stuck? Try a word that uses none of your found letters. It feels wasteful but it often cracks the puzzle faster than guessing variations.
Never Repeat Grey Letters Grey means gone. Using a grey letter again is a wasted guess - full stop. Track them and move on.

Think in Patterns, Not Just Words

English words aren't random. Once you know a few letters, patterns cut the remaining options down fast.

  • Common endings: -ER, -ING, -ATE, -OCK, and -Y show up constantly in Wordle answers.
  • Letter buddies: C is usually followed by H or K. Q almost always needs a U.
  • Write it out: Jot down the pattern you know (e.g. _ R A _ E) and brainstorm. Seeing it on paper beats staring at the screen.

Avoid the Wordle Trap

The most common way people lose is by fixating on one word and guessing variations until they run out of turns. It feels logical. It's a trap.

The IGHT problem If you have _ I G H T, the answer could be LIGHT, FIGHT, NIGHT, SIGHT, TIGHT, or MIGHT. Guessing them one by one will burn all your turns. Instead, play a word like FLAME that tests F, L, and M in one shot.

Hard Mode vs Normal Mode

Hard Mode You must use every confirmed hint in your next guess. No Burner Words. It's tougher and you need to plan ahead to avoid getting cornered.
Normal Mode You can guess anything at any point. Much safer for keeping a streak alive. Most players stick to this.

Train with Wordle-like Games

One puzzle a day isn't much practice. These variants give you more reps. You can also browse 5-letter words by starting letter to build a stronger word bank.

  • Dordle / Quordle / Octordle - Solve 2, 4, or 8 boards at once with shared guesses.
  • Worldle - Guess countries from their silhouette.
  • Waffle - A crossword/Wordle hybrid on a grid.
Quick tip: skip the plurals Wordle answers are rarely simple plurals ending in S or past-tense verbs ending in ED. If you're choosing between two words, go with the one that isn't just a plural.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best first word in Wordle?
CRANE and SLATE are the most popular choices. Both hit five high-frequency letters with no repeats, so you get the most useful feedback from a single guess.
How many possible Wordle answers are there?
The original list had 2,309 answers. The New York Times trimmed it after taking over, removing some of the more obscure words. Our solver covers the full valid 5-letter set so you're always covered.
Is it cheating to use a Wordle solver?
It's a personal puzzle with no stakes - there's no such thing as cheating. Plenty of people use solvers to learn which words they keep missing. Think of it as studying, not cheating.

Try These Tools & Guides

Wordle Solver → Enter your green, yellow and grey letters to find every possible answer. 5-Letter Words A–Z → Browse 5-letter words by starting letter to build your opener vocabulary. 5-Letter Words Starting with S → The most common Wordle starting letter - see the full pattern guide. Free Games Like Wordle → Finished today's puzzle? Here are the best Wordle alternatives to play next.