Wordle Strategy Guide
Best openers, narrowing technique, and endgame decisions
Wordle rewards information, not lucky guesses. This guide covers openers, narrowing, and endgame play.
Part of: Pattern & Puzzle Solvers
Quick answer
How to win Wordle in fewer guesses — choose openers that maximise information, narrow candidates efficiently, and know when to sacrifice a turn.
Opening move
Your first guess should cover the five most common letters in the Wordle answer list. Strong choices include:
- SALET — often cited as the optimal opener by simulation.
- CRATE, TRACE, SLATE, CRANE — all within 0.05 expected-guesses of optimal.
Second guess
After the first word, you usually know 1-3 letters. The second guess should:
- Confirm yellow letters in new positions.
- Test 4-5 new consonants and/or vowels.
- Not repeat any letters that came back gray.
Common second-guess partners for SALET: CORNY, DOUBT, BIRDS, POUND.
Narrowing phase
Once you have 2-3 greens, the question shifts from "what letters" to "which of the remaining candidates". The Wordle Solver shows the full candidate set — if only 2-3 remain, guess the correct answer. If 6+ remain and share most letters, sacrifice a turn on a word that distinguishes them.
Endgame
- On guess 5 or 6, do not sacrifice — lock in your best candidate.
- Watch for near-identical candidates like SIGHT, TIGHT, LIGHT, FIGHT, RIGHT, NIGHT, MIGHT — a sacrifice word like FROND covers four of those initials.
Hard mode adjustments
In hard mode you must use every revealed hint in every subsequent guess. Sacrifice guesses are illegal — focus on high-information locked-in candidates.
Related
Frequently asked questions
› What is the mathematically best opener? Definition
Information-theoretic analysis points to SALET, CRATE, or TRACE as top openers. Pick one and stick with it — consistency helps you learn second-guess reactions.
› When should I sacrifice a guess to test letters? How-to
If 6+ candidates remain and they share most letters, play a word that tests new letters even if it cannot be the answer.
› How should I use this guide with a Kefiw tool? How-to
Use the guide as the plan and the linked Kefiw tool as the check. Read the steps first, try the move manually, then use the tool to compare outputs, catch edge cases, and decide whether the result actually fits your task.
› What mistake do tool guides help avoid? Troubleshooting
Tool guides help avoid using a utility mechanically without understanding what you are trying to accomplish. Most word, writing, and text utilities are fast, but speed can hide context mistakes. Know whether you are solving a puzzle, cleaning copy, drafting a line, or checking a rule.
› Can a tool guide help me learn the skill? How-to
A tool guide can help you learn if you pause before accepting the output and ask why it worked. Compare your first guess with the tool result, look for the rule or pattern, and repeat that review. Passive copying solves one task; active review builds the skill.