Opener Lab
CRATE vs SLATE
See which word leaves you with the easier game.
Both words are in the current screen of 182 openers, tested against 2,358 answers. Exact misses rank first; average guesses among wins break ties.
The six-turn results are effectively tied: when the same solver plays from each word, CRATE averages 3.46 guesses and SLATE averages 3.47 in games solved within six.
Looking only at the opening row, SLATE has higher entropy (5.86 bits versus 5.83). That describes first-guess separation, not the full solve on its own.
The past-answer results are close: across 1,858 puzzles, CRATE left the smaller first-guess group 49% of the time and SLATE did so 50% of the time, with the rest tied.
| Metric | CRATE | SLATE |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination | 96.8% | 96.9% |
| Information | 5.83 bits | 5.86 bits |
| Avg remaining | 75 words | 73 words |
| Avg turns | 3.46 | 3.47 |
| Missed in six | 0 | 0 |
| Win rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Tier | S | S |
Head to head on past answers
We tried both openers against 1,858 past Wordle answers and counted which one left fewer possibilities after the first guess.
Across those answers, CRATE left an average of 72 candidates and SLATE an average of 72.
The most recent test was Wordle #1857 on July 20, 2026, when the answer was DIVER. CRATE came back ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨 and kept 117 words in play. SLATE came back ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨 and kept 169 words.
What to expect from the first guess
| Outcome | CRATE | SLATE |
|---|---|---|
| First-turn solve* | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| At least one green | 43.1% | 46.3% |
| Any green or yellow | 89.3% | 90.3% |
| Whole row gray | 10.7% | 9.7% |
| Worst case answers left | 253 | 228 |
*Treating every word in the possible-answer list as equally likely.
A fully gray row is rarer with SLATE: it happens 9.7% of the time, against 10.7% for CRATE.
Planning the second guess
After CRATE
All five letters miss 10.7% of the time, leaving 253 words in play. Of the 753 follow-ups checked here, SOILY leaves the fewest possible answers on average (7.1).
After SLATE
All five letters miss 9.7% of the time, leaving 228 words in play. Of the 728 follow-ups checked here, IRONY leaves the fewest possible answers on average (6.9).
How these two openers fit together
CRATE and SLATE share 3 letters (A, E, T). Played as a pair they cover 7 distinct letters, which still gives the second word room to do useful work.
Played back to back, CRATE then SLATE earns 7.63 bits of information in total, 1.77 bits more than the better word manages alone.
Past Wordle answers
- CRATE: Answer to Wordle #45 on August 3, 2021. SLATE would have come back ⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩 that day, leaving 6 possible answers.
- SLATE: Answer to Wordle #548 on December 19, 2022. CRATE would have come back ⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩 that day, leaving 9 possible answers.
Common questions
- Which is a better starting word: CRATE or SLATE?
- CRATE and SLATE are effectively tied on their average guesses in games solved within six in the current bounded policy screen.
- What does entropy mean for CRATE vs SLATE?
- Entropy measures the information in the distribution of feedback outcomes. CRATE records 5.83 bits and SLATE records 5.86 bits. SLATE 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 CRATE and SLATE score against past Wordle answers?
- Across 1,858 past Wordle answers, CRATE left fewer possible answers than SLATE on 49% of days, SLATE did better on 50%, and the rest were ties. On average, CRATE left 72 candidates after the first guess and SLATE left 72.