Playing Wordle effectively means you give yourself the most apparent advantage right from your first guess. Choose your opening word intelligently and you’ll gain more information, rule out more possibilities, and often solve the puzzle faster.
With over 30 years of writing experience and deep knowledge of puzzle strategy, this guide will help you find the best Wordle starting words and teach you how to use them wisely.
In this article, you’ll learn how the right word improves your success rate, which words top the data charts, and how to form a winning approach.
Why Your First Guess Matters
Your first guess in Wordle isn’t random. It sets the tone for the rest of your plays. In the daily five-letter challenge, every letter you pick gives you feedback: green means right letter and right place, yellow means right letter but wrong place, and grey means wrong letter entirely.
A strong opening word maximizes your chances of hitting the most useful letters and positions on that first guess. Studies of Wordle solution words show that letters like E, A, R, O, T, L, I, S, N, and C appear most often. Simulations also show that starting words with high “information value” tend to reduce your average number of guesses.
You need a word with common letters, good vowel-consonant balance, and no duplicates. The right start often decides whether you’ll solve the puzzle in three tries or end up struggling for six.
Top Opening Words: What the Data Shows
There isn’t one perfect word for every day because the answer list changes and different strategies work for different people. However, data-driven analysis and computer simulations have revealed several words that consistently perform well.
Some of the most successful starting words include:
- RAISE – Excellent vowel-consonant balance and top-performing data score
- SOARE – Strong vowel testing with a good mix of common letters
- ROATE – Balanced, widely tested in simulations
- TRACE – Good for early consonant elimination
- SLATE – Another proven choice with solid data performance
- CRANE – Reliable and easy to remember
Players who rotate between these words generally solve puzzles faster and gain better insight into the correct letters early on.
My Recommended Starter: RAISE (and Why It Works)
If you want one starting word that gives the best possible advantage, use RAISE.
Here’s why it stands out:
- It contains three of the most common letters (R, A, I) plus S and E, which frequently appear in solutions.
- It evenly tests both vowels and consonants.
- It scores high in entropy and information-gain simulations.
- It’s simple to type, easy to remember, and rarely overlaps with rare letters.
When you start with RAISE, you’re collecting maximum information from your very first move, increasing your chances of solving the puzzle within three or four guesses.
Alternatives and When to Use Them
While RAISE is excellent, using different starters can make your play more dynamic and keep things interesting. Here are other great options and when to use them:
- SLATE or TRACE: Ideal when you want to test consonants early.
- SOARE: Perfect if you suspect the puzzle has multiple vowels.
- CRANE: Reliable and familiar, great for casual play.
- TALES: Performs well statistically for players aiming to solve in minimal guesses.
Changing your first word occasionally can sharpen your strategy and help you adapt to new letter patterns.
How to Use Your First Word Smartly
- Avoid repeating letters in your first guess. Every duplicate limits your letter coverage.
- Focus on common letters and common positions. For example, many solutions end in E.
- After your first guess:
- Keep letters that turned green or yellow.
- Use your next guess to test new letters while retaining useful ones.
- Keep letters that turned green or yellow.
- Use your second guess strategically to expand your coverage. Avoid reusing letters that have already turned grey.
- Be flexible. The first word helps you gather data, not necessarily find the solution immediately.
Common Mistakes Players Make
- Picking first words with rare letters such as Q, X, or Z.
- Using duplicate letters too early.
- Ignoring the clues from the first guess and continuing randomly.
- Repeating the same starter every day without considering how it performs.
By avoiding these mistakes, you make your guesses more efficient and improve your success rate dramatically.
Smart Follow-Up Words
Once your first guess gives feedback, the next step is critical. Use your second word to cover letters you haven’t tested yet. For example:
- If your first word is RAISE, a great second word could be COUNT or PLUMB to test remaining common letters.
- If your first word is CRANE, follow up with DOILY or STOMP to check new vowels and consonants.
The key is coverage. Each word should gather new information and eliminate possibilities quickly.
Does Starting Word Choice Really Matter?
Yes, but not as much as smart interpretation of feedback. Studies show that a powerful first guess gives a better foundation, but players who adapt well after that guess have even greater success rates. Wordle is about deduction as much as vocabulary.
That said, experienced players who consistently use optimized starters solve puzzles faster and more accurately. With thousands of possible five-letter words, an efficient first move saves time and effort.
Conclusion
If you want to win consistently, make RAISE your go-to starter. Combine it with sharp observation, logical second guesses, and a bit of creativity.
Over time, you’ll recognize letter patterns and improve your ability to predict common endings or combinations. The right first word gives you structure and confidence, while your follow-up strategy ensures steady success.
So tomorrow when you open Wordle, type RAISE, review the feedback carefully, and plan your next move. With consistent practice and smart guessing, you’ll notice your scores improving and your streaks getting longer.