Opener Lab
CRANE vs REACT
See which word leaves you with the easier game.
These game-length figures come from the previous complete opener benchmark against its 2,354-answer snapshot, ranked by average guesses among games solved within six. Its answer snapshot and continuation policy are separate from today's solver recommendations.
The six-turn results are effectively tied: when the same solver plays from each word, CRANE averages 3.55 guesses and REACT averages 3.55 in games solved within six.
Looking only at the opening row, CRANE has higher entropy (5.73 bits versus 5.69). That describes first-guess separation, not the full solve on its own.
The past-answer results are close: across 1,859 puzzles, CRANE left the smaller first-guess group 49% of the time and REACT did so 50% of the time, with the rest tied.
| Metric | CRANE | REACT |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination | 96.6% | 96.5% |
| Information | 5.73 bits | 5.69 bits |
| Avg remaining | 81 words | 82 words |
| Avg turns | 3.55 | 3.55 |
| Win rate | 99.9% | 100.0% |
| Tier | A | A |
Head to head on past answers
We tried both openers against 1,859 past Wordle answers and counted which one left fewer possibilities after the first guess.
Across those answers, CRANE left an average of 78 candidates and REACT an average of 79.
The most recent test was Wordle #1858 on July 21, 2026, when the answer was SHILL. CRANE came back ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ and kept 272 words in play. REACT came back ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ and kept 254 words.
What to expect from the first guess
| Outcome | CRANE | REACT |
|---|---|---|
| First-turn solve* | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| At least one green | 43.5% | 37.2% |
| Any green or yellow | 88.5% | 89.2% |
| Whole row gray | 11.5% | 10.8% |
| Worst case answers left | 272 | 254 |
*Treating every word in the possible-answer list as equally likely.
Both openers come back completely gray at almost the same rate, so the difference between them lies in how much their hits actually tell you.
Planning the second guess
After CRANE
All five letters miss 11.5% of the time, leaving 272 words in play. Of the 772 follow-ups checked here, MOULT leaves the fewest possible answers on average (7.6).
After REACT
All five letters miss 10.8% of the time, leaving 254 words in play. Of the 754 follow-ups checked here, SOILY leaves the fewest possible answers on average (7.1).
How these two openers fit together
CRANE and REACT share 4 of their 5 letters (A, C, E, R), so as a pair they only cover 6 distinct letters. Treat them as alternatives rather than partners, because playing both wastes most of the second guess.
Played back to back, CRANE then REACT earns 7.19 bits of information in total, 1.46 bits more than the better word manages alone.
Past Wordle answers
- CRANE: Answer to Wordle #732 on June 21, 2023. REACT would have come back 🟨🟨🟩🟨⬛ that day, leaving 4 possible answers.
- REACT: Answer to Wordle #28 on July 17, 2021. CRANE would have come back 🟨🟨🟩⬛🟨 that day, leaving 2 possible answers.
Common questions
- Which is a better starting word: CRANE or REACT?
- CRANE and REACT are effectively tied on their average guesses in games solved within six in the previous complete benchmark.
- What does entropy mean for CRANE vs REACT?
- Entropy measures the information in the distribution of feedback outcomes. CRANE records 5.73 bits and REACT records 5.69 bits. CRANE has the higher score, so its feedback distribution separates the possible answers more effectively on average. Entropy describes the opening row; it does not by itself predict how many guesses a game will take.
- How do CRANE and REACT score against past Wordle answers?
- Across 1,859 past Wordle answers, CRANE left fewer possible answers than REACT on 49% of days, REACT did better on 50%, and the rest were ties. On average, CRANE left 78 candidates after the first guess and REACT left 79.