4-Word Guess Strategy: Best Starting Words and Tips
Open with two or three words that test different common letters, such as RAISE, COUNT and GLYPH, then finish the board with the fewest possible answers first. Those three openers test 15 letters, including the eleven most common ones, on all four boards at once. After that, make every guess a word that could be the answer to one board, so no try is wasted.
1. Spend your first tries on letters
With four boards you can afford more scouting than in a single-word game. In GameLake's English word list the most common letters are E, A, R, T, O, S, I, L, N, C and H. RAISE, COUNT and GLYPH test all eleven of them plus U, G, Y and P, with no letter repeated.
Two openers (RAISE, COUNT) are enough if you want more tries left for solving; three give you a clear picture of all four words by try 4.
2. Finish the easiest board first
After the openers, look for the board with the most orange: the one where only one or two words still fit. Solve it, and the letters you confirm there often help the others.
3. Make every guess a possible answer
Once you know a lot, stop scouting. Each guess should be a word that could be the answer to one of the open boards: if it is right, you solve a board; if not, it still colours the other boards.
4. Read the keyboard patches
Every key has one patch per board. A letter that is dark on three boards and teal on one tells you exactly which board needs it. Before each guess, check the patches of the letters you plan to use.
5. Plan the last tries
With 9 tries for four boards, aim to have each board down to one possible word by about try 6. If two boards still have several options near the end, solve the surer one first: a lost board loses the game whichever it is.
6. Practice with Teach me
Press Teach me and Hops picks the open board with the fewest possible words, says what you know about it and suggests a word that fits every clue. Coached games still count as wins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best starting word for a 4-word guess game?
A word with five different common letters, such as RAISE, followed by a word with five new common letters, such as COUNT. A third opener like GLYPH covers the eleven most common letters.
Should I use three starting words?
It is a good habit with four boards: you still have six tries left to solve four words, and you will know most of the letters in all of them.
Which board should I solve first?
The one with the fewest possible words left, usually the one with the most orange tiles.
How do I avoid running out of tries?
After your openers, only guess words that could be an answer to one of the open boards, and use the keyboard patches to avoid letters already ruled out.
Is it the same strategy with 8 words?
Mostly: open with three words, then solve boards one by one. With 13 tries for eight boards you have about one spare try per board.