Wordle Strategy Guide

Struggling to solve the puzzle? Here are proven strategies and word suggestions to improve your odds and sharpen your Wordle skills. Whether you stick with the default rules or flip on Hard Mode, these ideas will help you plan every guess with confidence.

🔤 Best Starting Words

A strong start makes all the difference. Aim for words that cover the most common vowels (A, E, O) and consonants (R, S, T, L, N). Popular openers include:

• SLATE – balances common consonants and vowels
• CRANE – great coverage of high-frequency letters
• SALET – a favorite among competitive solvers
• TRACE / REACT – easy to remember and effective
• AUDIO – maximizes vowel discovery in one move
• ROATE – statistically strong according to solver analysis

Rotate through two or three of these starters so that you stay flexible and avoid autopilot thinking.

🧩 Solving Strategy

Every clue narrows the solution space. Keep these principles in mind as you progress:

• Start Strong: Choose an opener with five unique letters. Duplicates on guess one rarely help.
• Map the Clues: Track yellows and greens explicitly. A quick note in a notebook or note app prevents mistakes later.
• Second Word Tactic: If you have fewer than three confirmed letters, play a "coverage" word that introduces fresh letters rather than forcing existing ones.
• Lock Positions: Once a letter is green, keep it locked in place. Let yellows travel to new spots until they land.
• Pattern Thinking: Watch for common endings like -ING, -ER, -ATE, or consonant blends such as ST and CH.

🛑 Common Pitfalls

• Guessing words with previously ruled-out letters
• Ignoring yellow letters — try them in different positions
• Forgetting that the New York Times word list avoids simple plurals (like "DOGS")
• Chasing hunches instead of respecting letter frequency and clue information

🚀 Hard Mode Explained

Hard Mode (available via the settings gear in the official game) locks in every clue you receive. That means:

• If a letter is green, it must stay in that position on future guesses.
• If a letter is yellow, each subsequent guess must include that letter somewhere else.
• Gray letters remain optional, but using them again wastes a chance to gather new information.

This rule-set forces disciplined play and eliminates "throwaway" guesses, making it easier to compare your results with friends. To thrive in Hard Mode:

1. Scout Early: Use an opener that covers multiple vowels so you can lock in placements quickly.
2. Branch Intelligently: When faced with multiple possibilities (e.g., -IGHT words), prioritize guesses that test unique consonants such as N, M, or L.
3. Anticipate Duplicates: Yellow clues can signal double letters. Consider options like FELLA or BELLY when the pool gets tight.
4. Plan Two Moves Ahead: Before locking in a guess, ensure it sets up a viable follow-up word that also respects all the Hard Mode constraints.

💡 Pro Tips

• Practice on archive or custom puzzles to refine your deduction process.
• Use paper, spreadsheets, or solver apps to keep track of remaining candidates.
• Compare your approach with Hard Mode to build better habits even in normal play.
• Don't panic — most answers fall by guess four or five when you stay methodical.

Keep Exploring StuckOnWordle Resources

• Follow the step-by-step helper instructions to make the most of our interactive solver.
• Build an offline Wordle library with curated puzzle collections and strategy reads.
• Dive into the history of Wordle to see how the game evolved into a global hit.