WordTry Strategies That Actually Work (From Someone Who's Played 200+ Games)

I've been playing WordTry for over six months now, and I've learned a few things the hard way. Like, really the hard way. I've broken streaks, stared at gray tiles in despair, and yes, I've definitely used all six guesses more times than I'd like to admit.

But here's the thing about playing the same type of puzzle every day for months - you start to notice patterns. You develop strategies. You get better. And today I want to share what actually works, based on more than 200 games of trial and error.

Start with SLATE (But Know Why)

Everyone has their favorite starting word, and mine is SLATE. Not because it's magic, but because it gives you the most information in one guess. You're testing three of the most common vowels (A and E) plus three highly frequent consonants (S, L, T).

But here's what took me weeks to figure out: the starting word isn't about being right on the first try. It's about elimination. SLATE consistently eliminates more possibilities than almost any other five-letter word I've tried.

That said, I've experimented with ADIEU (all the vowels except O), AROSE (covers common letters), and TRAIN (different consonant mix). They all work fine. The key is picking one and sticking with it long enough to understand how it performs.

Your Second Guess Is Where Strategy Really Matters

This is where I see most people (including past me) go wrong. After your first guess gives you some information, it's tempting to immediately try to use the letters you found. Don't. Not yet.

Your second guess should be about gathering more information, not solving the puzzle. If SLATE showed you that S and T are in the word but in the wrong positions, resist the urge to immediately try STORM or STING.

Instead, try a word like CORNY or POUND - something that tests completely different letters while keeping the ones you know are wrong out of the wrong spots. You want to know what you're working with before you start trying to solve.

The Power of Letter Frequency

Here's something that changed my game: learning which letters appear most often in five-letter words. In order, it's roughly: E, A, R, I, O, T, N, S, L, C, U, D, P, M, H, G, B, F, Y, K, V, W, Z, X, Q, J.

This matters more than you might think. When I'm torn between two possible words, I'll often go with the one that tests higher-frequency letters I haven't ruled out yet. It's not foolproof, but it's better than guessing randomly.

Common Letter Combinations Are Your Friend

After months of playing, certain patterns start to jump out at you. Words ending in -ER, -LY, -ED, -ING are super common. Letter pairs like TH, CH, SH, ST, and ND show up all the time.

When I'm down to my last few guesses and feeling stuck, I'll think through these common combinations. Is it possible the word ends in -ER? Could there be a TH somewhere? This pattern recognition has saved me more times than I can count.

The Yellow/Orange Tile Strategy

When you get an orange tile (right letter, wrong position), most people focus on where that letter could go. I've learned it's just as important to think about where it definitely can't go.

If you get an orange A in position 2, that A could be in positions 1, 3, 4, or 5. But here's the key: look at your previous guesses. Did you try an A in position 4 and get gray? That eliminates position 4. Suddenly you've narrowed down the possibilities significantly.

Don't Be Afraid to "Waste" a Guess

This one took me forever to learn. Sometimes the best move is to make a guess that you know probably isn't right, just to test a theory or eliminate possibilities.

Say you're pretty sure the word has an M in it, but you're not sure where. Instead of agonizing over the perfect word, try something like CLAMP or RUMBA - a word designed to test where that M might go. Even if it's wrong, you'll learn something valuable.

The Psychology of the Last Guess

When you're down to your sixth and final guess, everything changes. The pressure is real. Your streak is on the line. This is when a lot of people panic and guess wildly.

Here's what works for me: I write down (literally write down) all the information I have. Which letters are definitely in the word? Which positions are they definitely not in? What letters have been eliminated entirely?

Then I try to think of just one word that fits all those constraints. Not three words, not five words - one. If I can't think of one that fits perfectly, I'll go with my best guess. But having that clarity about what I know versus what I'm guessing has improved my sixth-guess success rate dramatically.

Learn from Your Losses

Every time I lose (and yes, it still happens), I look up the answer and try to figure out where my strategy went wrong. Was it a word I should have known? Did I miss an obvious letter combination? Did I get tunnel vision and stop considering other possibilities?

Some losses are just tough words - yesterday's answer was FJORD, which is practically impossible to guess without getting lucky. But most losses are learning opportunities. Maybe I got fixated on one possibility too early, or maybe I ignored a letter combination I should have considered.

The Daily Mindset

Here's something that's not really about strategy but has improved my game: I try to approach each puzzle with curiosity rather than pressure. Some days the word clicks immediately. Other days it's a grind. Both are fine.

WordTry is ultimately about pattern recognition and vocabulary, but it's also about staying calm and thinking clearly. The days when I'm stressed about breaking my streak are usually the days I make careless mistakes.

What Doesn't Work

Quick note on strategies I've tried that don't actually help:

• Trying to guess the word too early. Be patient. Gather information first.
• Using the same second-guess word every time. Flexibility is key.
• Avoiding uncommon letters. Sometimes the answer is QUASI or LYMPH, and you need to be open to that.
• Overthinking letter frequency. It's a guideline, not a rule.

The Bottom Line

The best WordTry strategy is the one you'll actually stick with. Consistency beats perfection every time. Pick a starting word you like, develop a systematic approach to your second and third guesses, and be willing to adapt based on what you learn.

Most importantly, remember that even people who are really good at WordTry lose sometimes. The goal isn't to be perfect; it's to get better over time while having fun with five letters and a fresh challenge every day.

And hey, if all else fails, at least you'll have a good story about the time you spent six guesses trying to figure out what ZESTY was.