Opener Lab
REACT 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 six-turn results are effectively tied: when the same solver plays from each word, REACT averages 3.55 guesses and SLATE averages 3.55 in games solved within six.
Looking only at the opening row, SLATE has higher entropy (5.86 bits versus 5.69). That describes first-guess separation, not the full solve on its own.
Against 1,859 past Wordle answers, SLATE left the smaller first-guess group on 53% of dates; REACT did so on 46%, with the rest tied.
| Metric | REACT | SLATE |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination | 96.5% | 96.9% |
| Information | 5.69 bits | 5.86 bits |
| Avg remaining | 82 words | 73 words |
| Avg turns | 3.55 | 3.55 |
| Win rate | 100.0% | 99.9% |
| Tier | A | 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, REACT left an average of 79 candidates and SLATE an average of 72.
The most recent test was Wordle #1858 on July 21, 2026, when the answer was SHILL. REACT came back ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ and kept 254 words in play. SLATE came back 🟩🟨⬛⬛⬛ and kept 18 words.
What to expect from the first guess
| Outcome | REACT | SLATE |
|---|---|---|
| First-turn solve* | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| At least one green | 37.2% | 46.3% |
| Any green or yellow | 89.2% | 90.3% |
| Whole row gray | 10.8% | 9.7% |
| Worst case answers left | 254 | 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 10.8% for REACT.
Planning the second guess
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).
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
REACT 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, REACT then SLATE earns 7.92 bits of information in total, 2.06 bits more than the better word manages alone.
Past Wordle answers
- REACT: Answer to Wordle #28 on July 17, 2021. SLATE would have come back ⬛⬛🟩🟨🟨 that day, leaving 8 possible answers.
- SLATE: Answer to Wordle #548 on December 19, 2022. REACT would have come back ⬛🟨🟩⬛🟨 that day, leaving 13 possible answers.
Common questions
- Which is a better starting word: REACT or SLATE?
- REACT and SLATE are effectively tied on their average guesses in games solved within six in the previous complete benchmark.
- What does entropy mean for REACT vs SLATE?
- Entropy measures the information in the distribution of feedback outcomes. REACT records 5.69 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 REACT and SLATE score against past Wordle answers?
- Across 1,859 past Wordle answers, REACT left fewer possible answers than SLATE on 46% of days, SLATE did better on 53%, and the rest were ties. On average, REACT left 79 candidates after the first guess and SLATE left 72.