What makes a good starting word?
A strong opener usually tests several useful letters without repeating any. It is helpful to include a mix of common consonants and vowels, but there is no single word that is best for every player or every solving approach.
Six words worth trying
1. SLATE
A balanced opener with common consonants and two useful vowels.
2. CRANE
Tests a different set of frequent consonants while checking A and E.
3. TRACE
A strong alternative when you want to test T, R, and C together.
4. STARE
Combines several high-frequency letters in a familiar pattern.
5. RAISE
Checks three vowels while also testing R and S.
6. AUDIO
A vowel-heavy diagnostic guess; it gives less information about consonants.
Balanced coverage or vowel hunting?
Balanced starters test consonants and vowels at the same time. This can be useful when you want a broad first read of the board. Vowel-heavy openers can help you learn which vowel sounds are present, but they may leave common consonants untested.
Try two or three options over several practice rounds and pay attention to how the feedback changes your second guess. A familiar opener that you use consistently can be easier to learn from than switching words every day.
Should you use the same starting word every day?
Using one regular opener makes it easier to compare your results and learn what information it tends to reveal. On the other hand, changing your first word can be a useful way to practice more letter combinations. Both approaches are reasonable.
What should you do after the first guess?
Do not choose your second word automatically. Keep any green letters in place, move yellow letters to new positions, and use fresh letters when you need more information. A good second guess responds to the actual board rather than following a fixed script.