Everyone obsesses over the perfect opener, but the second guess is where games are actually won or lost. Its job is simple: cover the useful letters your first word didn't test.
The all-grey opener
If your first word came back completely grey, you've learned five letters aren't in the answer. Play a totally fresh word — after CRANE, something like MOIST tests five brand-new common letters.
Building on partial clues
If you have a green or two, keep them and fill the gaps with untested common letters. The goal is still information, not a lucky win — resist the urge to guess the answer before you've earned it.
- After CRANE → MOIST or DOILY
- After SLATE → CORNI or ROUND
- Keep confirmed greens; move yellows to new positions
Two words, ten letters
A strong opener-plus-follow-up combo samples ten different common letters before you commit. Do that consistently and most puzzles are solved by guess three.
