Opener Lab
IRATE vs SLATE
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 same solver played from both openers. SLATE has the lower average in games solved within six: 3.55 guesses to 3.59 for IRATE.
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.
Against 1,859 past Wordle answers, IRATE left the smaller first-guess group on 52% of dates; SLATE did so on 46%, with the rest tied.
One thing IRATE does better is damage control. Its worst feedback pattern leaves 199 possible answers, while SLATE can be left staring at 228.
| Metric | IRATE | SLATE |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination | 97.2% | 96.9% |
| Information | 5.83 bits | 5.86 bits |
| Avg remaining | 66 words | 73 words |
| Avg turns | 3.59 | 3.55 |
| Win rate | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Tier | S | S |
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, IRATE left an average of 64 candidates and SLATE an average of 72.
The most recent test was Wordle #1858 on July 21, 2026, when the answer was SHILL. IRATE came back 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛ and kept 135 words in play. SLATE came back 🟩🟨⬛⬛⬛ and kept 18 words.
What to expect from the first guess
| Outcome | IRATE | SLATE |
|---|---|---|
| First-turn solve* | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| At least one green | 39.7% | 46.3% |
| Any green or yellow | 91.6% | 90.3% |
| Whole row gray | 8.4% | 9.7% |
| Worst case answers left | 199 | 228 |
*Treating every word in the possible-answer list as equally likely.
A fully gray row is rarer with IRATE: it happens 8.4% of the time, against 9.7% for SLATE.
Planning the second guess
After IRATE
All five letters miss 8.4% of the time, leaving 199 words in play. Of the 699 follow-ups checked here, SONLY leaves the fewest possible answers on average (6.8).
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
IRATE 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, IRATE then SLATE earns 7.66 bits of information in total, 1.80 bits more than the better word manages alone.
Past Wordle answers
- IRATE: Answer to Wordle #745 on July 4, 2023. SLATE would have come back ⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩 that day, leaving 6 possible answers.
- SLATE: Answer to Wordle #548 on December 19, 2022. IRATE would have come back ⬛⬛🟩🟩🟩 that day, leaving 9 possible answers.
Common questions
- Which is a better starting word: IRATE or SLATE?
- In the previous complete benchmark, SLATE has the lower average in games the solver finished within six: 3.55 guesses versus 3.59 for IRATE. The same solver played from both words.
- What does entropy mean for IRATE vs SLATE?
- Entropy measures the information in the distribution of feedback outcomes. IRATE 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 IRATE and SLATE score against past Wordle answers?
- Across 1,859 past Wordle answers, IRATE left fewer possible answers than SLATE on 52% of days, SLATE did better on 46%, and the rest were ties. On average, IRATE left 64 candidates after the first guess and SLATE left 72.