Find your Wordle starting word
A useful opener separates possible answers. Here is what six familiar choices do against Tapbreak's 2,431 five-letter answers.
Six openers, one answer list
Lower average candidates left is better for this comparison. It means the first row usually leaves you with a smaller group to investigate.
| Opener | Average left | Worst case | Clue patterns |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAISE | 66.8 | 187 | 132 |
| STARE | 80.2 | 258 | 133 |
| CRANE | 84.0 | 259 | 141 |
| SLATE | 84.2 | 247 | 148 |
| ADIEU | 126.7 | 299 | 84 |
| AUDIO | 184.5 | 436 | 95 |
These are six examples, not an exhaustive search for an optimal word. The results describe Tapbreak's list, not the official New York Times puzzle.
Why fewer vowels can still give more information
AUDIO and ADIEU check many vowels at once. CRANE and STARE mix common vowels with consonants, which can separate words that share the same vowel pattern. The useful question is how much uncertainty the whole guess removes, rather than how many vowels it contains.
There is no guarantee that a strong average opener helps with every answer. The worst-case column shows the largest group you could still face after receiving a particular pattern of colours.
How this comparison is calculated
- Take every word in Tapbreak's curated five-letter answer pool, used for unlimited play.
- Score the opener against each answer using the game's exact green/yellow/grey rules, including repeated letters.
- Group answers that return identical clues. If a group contains n answers, each of those answers leaves that same group of n candidates.
- Add the squares of the group sizes and divide by the number of answers: Σ n² / N. A fully green result counts as one candidate.
This measures the first guess only. It does not simulate a full solving strategy or predict your average number of turns. Each answer has equal weight; scheduled daily puzzles and other dictionaries may produce different results. Figures are computed from the current answer list, so they update when that list changes.
Your second guess matters too
Use the actual feedback to remove impossible words. If several candidates share an ending, look for a guess that tests their different letters. In Hard Mode, you must also preserve all revealed positive clues.
Unsure about duplicate letters? Try the interactive rules guide. Then test your favourite opener in Wordle Unlimited.