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Best Wordle starting words
RAISE is the best opener we found. After one guess, an average of 52 of 2,011 likely answers are still possible. The full ranking is below.
The top twelve openers
We tried every five-letter word in our list as a first guess against every likely answer, and counted how many answers were left each time. Lower is better.
| Rank | Opener | Answers left | Worst case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAISE | 52 | 140 |
| 2 | IRATE | 53.2 | 165 |
| 3 | ARISE | 53.8 | 140 |
| 4 | AROSE | 55.6 | 155 |
| 5 | STARE | 56.9 | 181 |
| 6 | SLATE | 57.2 | 175 |
| 7 | SNARE | 58.2 | 187 |
| 8 | ALERT | 59.1 | 153 |
| 9 | ALTER | 59.8 | 153 |
| 10 | CRATE | 60 | 197 |
| 11 | RATES | 60.1 | 181 |
| 12 | SANER | 60.1 | 187 |
Answers left is the average after the first guess. Worst case is the most answers any single colour pattern can leave.
Can the opener also be the answer?
Yes, and you lose nothing by it. Every opener in the table above is also a word that could be the answer, so each one gives you a one in 2,011 chance of winning on the very first guess.
The letters that matter most
Share of our answers that contain each letter at least once.
E, A and R are in more than a third of answers each. That is why the best openers are built from E, A, R, T, L, S, O and I. A word that repeats a letter, or leans on J, Q, X or Z, tests fewer of the letters that split the field.
Questions, answered briefly
What is the best starting word for Wordle?
Against our list of 2,011 likely answers, RAISE is best: after one guess an average of 52 answers are still possible. IRATE and ARISE are close behind.
Is there a best start that could also be the answer?
Yes. RAISE, IRATE and ARISE are all possible answers as well as top openers, so starting with one costs you nothing.
What is the three word trick in Wordle?
It means opening with three guesses that together use fifteen different letters, so you test as many common letters as possible before you commit. It costs three guesses, so it suits players who want a safe finish over a fast one.
Should I use the same start every day?
It helps, because you learn what each colour pattern means for your word. The gap between the top ten starters is small, so pick one you like and stick with it.
How did you rank them?
We tested every one of our 6,389 five-letter words as an opener against 2,011 common answers. The score is the average number of answers left after the first guess. Lower is better.