Optimal Starting Words
Openers chosen for high letter coverage and frequency — each one is built to reveal as much as possible about the answer from a single guess. Check the letter heatmap to see the frequency data these picks are based on.
AUDIO
4 vowels + D — great first probe.
SLATE
Classic high-frequency-letter opener.
CRANE
Strong consonant + vowel mix.
ADIEU
All vowels, tests vowel positions fast.
ROATE
Statistically optimal per solver simulations.
What Makes a Good Opening Word?
A strong opener does two things: it uses common letters, and it uses a lot of different letters. Repeating a letter wastes a guess slot, and reaching for rare letters like Q, X, or Z early on rarely pays off. Vowel-heavy words like AUDIO and ADIEU are popular first guesses because they lock down which vowels are in play right away, while consonant-forward picks like SLATE and CRANE balance common vowels with frequent consonants such as S, T, R, and N.
Picking a Second Guess
Your second guess should cover the letters your opener left untested. If AUDIO didn't turn up any consonants, follow up with something consonant-heavy like STERN or CRYPT. The goal through your first two guesses is to have tested most of the alphabet's most common letters before you start narrowing down the actual word.