5 FiveLetterWords
Very unlikely Past Wordle answer Accepted guess F tier for first-turn info

CHUCK

Yes, CHUCK was the Wordle answer on May 23, 2026 (Wordle #1799).

Meaning and pronunciation

Pronunciation: /t͡ʃʌk//t͡ʃʊk/

Noun

Meat from the shoulder of a cow or other animal.

Noun

A mechanical device that holds an object firmly in place, for example holding a drill bit in a high-speed rotating drill or grinder.

Verb

To place in a chuck, or hold by means of a chuck, as in turning.

Verb

To bore or turn (a hole) in a revolving piece held in a chuck.

Alternative forms: chock, 'chuck, chack

Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Corrections.

Etymology

From earlier chock, likely imitative, but perhaps also from Middle English chokken (“to thrust, pierce, cram”), from Picard Old French chuquier (“to collide, strike”, intransitive verb), from Middle Dutch schocken (“to bump, shake”). Doublet of shock and shuck.

Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)

How it sounds

One syllable Say it CHUHK.

Rhymes with STUCK TRUCK SNUCK PLUCK SHUCK

Related meanings by dictionary sense

noun

informal terms for a meal

Synonyms for this sense: eats, chow, grub.

noun

the part of a forequarter from the neck to the ribs and including the shoulder blade

noun

a holding device consisting of adjustable jaws that center a workpiece in a lathe or center a tool in a drill

verb

throw carelessly

chuck the ball

Synonyms for this sense: toss.

verb

throw away

Chuck these old notes

Synonyms for this sense: ditch.

verb

pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

Synonyms for this sense: pat.

verb

eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Synonyms for this sense: sick, cast, cat, purge, vomit, puke.

Open English WordNet, 2025 edition, CC BY 4.0. Source dictionary. Senses are kept separate; no puzzle appearance is assigned to a meaning without evidence.

In a sentence

Chuck it in the wash.
© tatoeba.org contributor sundown (CC BY 2.0 FR)
Chuck it in the bin.
© tatoeba.org contributor sundown (CC BY 2.0 FR)

Use CHUCK in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 72.0% of possible answers.

Open Solver with CHUCK Open Word Finder

Wordle status

Answer chance: very unlikely. Roughly 0.21% within a year (about 1 in 476), under the model through 2026-11-05. This is an estimate, not a publisher forecast. How this is calculated.

Playable guess

Yes

Included in the Wordle guess list used by our tools.

Earlier benchmark pool

Yes

Membership in the preserved uniform benchmark; it is not a future eligibility rule.

Past Wordle answer

Used once

Past Wordle answer: May 23, 2026 (#1799).

See the full page for that puzzle: May 23, 2026 (#1799).

The possible-answer list is the solver's current list and may change when Wordle adds new answers.

Reported player results

Voluntary self-reported sample, not representative of all players. Solver scores do not measure human difficulty. Small or complementary cells stay private.

Wordle #1799 · May 23, 2026

Not enough publishable evidence yet. The minimum is 10 reports per protected group; complementary suppression can also withhold a larger group.

Methods, privacy rules and public data. You can optionally contribute a finished result below.

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CHUCK in Connections

5 recorded appearances in completed main-edition puzzles through . A category label alone does not establish a word's meaning.

How CHUCK performs as a guess

CHUCK is a possible answer, so it would solve about one game in 2,392 when every answer is treated as equally likely.

Played as an opener, it lands at least one colored tile in 49.0% of games, misses completely in 51.0%, and leaves about 669 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #14,120 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.91 guesses in games solved within six turns.

Try your feedback pattern

Tap the tiles to match your feedback, then see the ranked follow-up guesses.

All gray? Tap a tile to cycle gray → yellow → green.
See strategy patterns

Useful pattern pages

If you only know part of the word, start with one of these matching patterns.

C___K C in the 1st position and K in the 5th position C__C_ C in the 1st position and C in the 4th position _H__K H in the 2nd position and K in the 5th position CH_CK C in the 1st position, H in the 2nd position, C in the 4th position, and K in the 5th position

Explore lists that match the beginning, ending or letters in CHUCK.

First-turn measures

All four describe CHUCK used as an opening guess. Entropy is the same idea as “avg ruled out” on a log scale: a higher number means the guess splits the possible answers into more, smaller groups.

3.12 Entropy (bits)
669 Avg remaining
0.04% Exact match
72.0% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How CHUCK performed in the previous complete opener benchmark, against its captured answer snapshot. These research figures are separate from today's solver recommendations. See the data page for the method.

3.91 Avg guesses
99.96% Solved within six
0.75 Spread of game lengths
#14,120 Rank among openers
Opening with CHUCK left 1 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.75 means those games clustered within about 0.75 of a guess of the 3.91 average. It ranks #14,120 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
1
2 guesses
33
3 guesses
630
4 guesses
1,237
5 guesses
416
6 guesses
36

Composition

4/5 unique
1 vowels
Common:
U

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
49%
Green tile
26%
All gray
51%

When CHUCK is useful later

CHUCK tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 4 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

After TARSE: 3 candidates, normal mode

TARSE: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

BUNDE: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

OXIME: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

LEEZE: 12002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: HELVE, PEPLE, WELKE.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, CHUCK is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After SLATE: 3 candidates, normal mode

SLATE: 10100 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

RASPS: 01002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

AIGAS: 02022 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

MINAS: 22022 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: MICAS, MIHAS, MIYAS.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, CHUCK is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After ROATE: 3 candidates, normal mode

ROATE: 10101 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

AWNER: 10011 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ZEBRA: 01012 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: CREMA, ERICA, PRESA.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, CHUCK is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
Sample and method

Every saved board is reachable within a six-turn game. Remaining turns equal six minus the saved history length. The sampling policy is independent of the expected-survivor metric. Two states at each of three depths per opener were selected by a fixed hash from an independent candidate-only sampling policy. Every accepted guess was evaluated. Model answer-model-2026-11-05-9183a914c959, data through 2026-11-05. The score measures expected survivors, not proved solve length or human difficulty.

How this is calculated.

How the solver finds CHUCK

The strategy receives only earlier guesses and their feedback. It does not know the answer before choosing a move. Guessing the answer itself on turn one is a lucky one-turn result, not a recommended general strategy.

Normal mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 1,022 after. This feedback leaves 1,022 candidates.

    All 1,022 surviving candidates

    BICCY, BICKY, BIDDY, BIDON, BIFFO, BIFFY, BIFID, BIGGY, BIGLY, BIHON, BIJOU, BIKKY, BILBO, BILBY, BILGY, BILLY, BIMBO, BINDI, BINGO, BINGY, BINKY, BIPOD, BIPPY, BIVVY, BIZZO, BIZZY, BLIMP, BLIMY, BLIND, BLING, BLINI, BLINK, BLINY, BLOCK, BLOND, BLONX, BLOOD, BLOOK, BLOOM, BLOOP, BLOWN, BLOWY, BLUDY, BLUFF, BLUID, BLUNK, BOBBY, BOBOL, BOCCI, BODGY, BODHI, BODOH, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BOINK, BOLDO, BOLIX, BOMBO, BOMOH, BONGO, BONNY, BONUM, BOOBY, BOODY, BOOFY, BOOGY, BOOKY, BOOMY, BOONG, BOOZY, BOPPY, BOUGH, BOUND, BOVID, BOYLY, BUBBY, BUCHU, BUCKO, BUCKU, BUDDY, BUFFI, BUFFO, BUFFY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMBO, BUMPH, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNCO, BUNDH, BUNDU, BUNDY, BUNGY, BUNJY, BUNKO, BUNNY, BUPPY, BUXOM, BUYIN, BUZZY, CHICH, CHICK, CHICO, CHIKO, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMB, CHIMO, CHIMP, CHING, CHINK, CHINO, CHIVY, CHIZZ, CHOCK, CHOCO, CHOIL, CHOKO, CHOKY, CHOLI, CHOLO, CHOMP, CHOOF, CHOOK, CHOOM, CHOON, CHOUX, CHOWK, CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUMP, CHUNK, CHYND, CIBOL, CIGGY, CINCH, CIPPI, CIVIC, CIVIL, CIVVY, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOFF, CLOMB, CLOMP, CLONK, CLOOP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COBBY, COCCI, COCCO, COCKY, CODON, COGON, COHOG, COIGN, COLBY, COLIC, COLIN, COLLY, COLOG, COLON, COMBI, COMBO, COMBY, COMFY, COMIC, COMIX, COMMO, COMMY, COMPO, CONCH, CONDO, CONGO, CONIC, CONIN, CONKY, CONVO, COOCH, COOKY, COOLY, COOMB, COOMY, COPPY, COQUI, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COVIN, COXIB, COYLY, COYPU, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUDDY, CUFFO, CUING, CULCH, CULLY, CUMIN, CUNDY, CUNNY, CUPID, CUPPY, CYCLO, CYLIX, CYMOL, CYNIC, DHOBI, DHOLL, DHONI, DICKY, DIDDY, DILDO, DILLI, DILLY, DIMBO, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINIC, DINKY, DINLO, DIOCH, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DJINN, DOBBY, DODDY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOGLY, DOHYO, DOILY, DOING, DOLCI, DOLLY, DOMIC, DONKO, DONNY, DOODY, DOOKY, DOOLY, DOOMY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWLY, DOWNY, DOYLY, DUBBO, DUBBY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DUDDY, DUING, DUKUN, DULLY, DUMBO, DUMKY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DUNCH, DUNGY, DUNNO, DUNNY, DUOMI, DUOMO, DUPLY, DUPPY, DYING, DYKON, FICHU, FICIN, FIGGY, FILCH, FILII, FILLO, FILLY, FILMI, FILMY, FILON, FILUM, FINCH, FINNY, FIZZY, FLICK, FLIMP, FLING, FLOCK, FLONG, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUMP, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FLYIN, FOGGY, FOGOU, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FONDU, FONIO, FONLY, FOODY, FOUND, FUBBY, FUDDY, FUDGY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUGIO, FUGLY, FULLY, FUNDI, FUNDO, FUNDY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNIC, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZIL, FUZZY, GHOUL, GHYLL, GIBLI, GIDDY, GILLY, GILPY, GIMPY, GINCH, GINNY, GINZO, GIPON, GIPPO, GIPPY, GIZMO, GLIFF, GLOBI, GLOBY, GLOGG, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLUGG, GLUON, GLYPH, GOBBI, GOBBO, GOBBY, GODLY, GOING, GOLDY, GOLLY, GOMBO, GONCH, GONIF, GONOF, GONZO, GOOBY, GOODO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOKY, GOOLD, GOOLY, GOOMY, GOONY, GOOPY, GOPIK, GOUCH, GOYIM, GUCKY, GUGGL, GUIDO, GUILD, GUIMP, GULCH, GULFY, GULLY, GULPH, GULPY, GUMBO, GUMMI, GUMMY, GUNDI, GUNDY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, GUPPY, GUQIN, GYNNY, GYPPO, GYPPY, HIKOI, HILCH, HILLO, HILLY, HILUM, HIMBO, HINKY, HINNY, HIPLY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOGOH, HOICK, HOING, HOKKU, HOKUM, HOLLO, HOLLY, HOLON, HONGI, HONKY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOGO, HOOKY, HOOLY, HOPPY, HOUFF, HOUGH, HOUND, HOWDY, HOWFF, HUBBY, HUDUD, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUKOU, HULKY, HULLO, HULLY, HUMIC, HUMID, HUMPH, HUMPY, HUNCH, HUNDO, HUNKY, HUZZY, HYING, HYLIC, HYOID, HYPHY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, ILIUM, IMIDO, IMINO, IMMIX, IMPLY, INBOX, INCOG, INDOL, INDOW, INFIX, INION, IODIC, IODID, IODIN, IONIC, IPPON, JIFFY, JIGGY, JIMMY, JIMPY, JINGO, JINNI, JOCKO, JOCKY, JOKOL, JOLLO, JOLLY, JOMON, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUGUM, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMBY, JUMPY, JUNCO, JUNKY, JUPON, KHOUM, KIBBI, KICKY, KIDDO, KIDDY, KIKOI, KILIG, KILIM, KIMBO, KINDY, KINGY, KININ, KINKY, KLICK, KLONG, KLOOF, KNICK, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOOP, KNOUD, KNOWD, KNOWN, KOIWI, KOKUM, KOMBI, KOMBU, KONBU, KONDO, KOOKY, KUDZU, KULFI, KWINK, KYLIN, KYLIX, KYUDO, LICHI, LIKIN, LIMBI, LIMBO, LIMBY, LINCH, LINDY, LINGO, LINGY, LININ, LINKY, LINNY, LINUM, LINUX, LIPID, LIPIN, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOCHY, LOCKY, LOCUM, LOGGY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGOI, LOGON, LOKUM, LOLLO, LOLLY, LOLOG, LOOBY, LOOKY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOPPY, LOUGH, LOUND, LOWLY, LOWND, LUCID, LUCKY, LUDIC, LUMBI, LUMMY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LUNGI, LUPIN, LUVVY, LYING, LYMPH, LYNCH, MICHI, MICKY, MIDDY, MIDGY, MIFFY, MIGOD, MILCH, MILKO, MILKY, MILLY, MIMIC, MINCY, MINDI, MINGI, MINGY, MINIM, MINNY, MINXY, MIVVY, MIXUP, MIZZY, MOBBY, MOCHI, MOCHY, MOCKY, MODII, MODIN, MODOC, MODOM, MOGGY, MOGUL, MOKKY, MOLDY, MOLLO, MOLLY, MOLOI, MOLVI, MOMMY, MONDO, MONGO, MONIC, MOOCH, MOODY, MOOLI, MOOLY, MOONG, MOONI, MOONY, MOPPY, MOUCH, MOULD, MOULY, MOUND, MUCHO, MUCIC, MUCID, MUCIN, MUCKO, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUDIF, MUDIM, MUFFY, MUGGY, MUGHO, MUGIL, MUHLY, MUJIK, MUKIM, MULCH, MUMBO, MUMMY, MUMPH, MUNCH, MUNDU, MUNGI, MUNGO, MUNGY, MUZZY, MVULI, MYOID, MYOPY, NGONI, NIBBY, NICKY, NICOL, NIFFY, NIHIL, NIMBI, NIMBY, NINNY, NINON, NIOPO, NIPPY, NMOLI, NOBBY, NOBLY, NODDY, NODUM, NOGGY, NOHOW, NOILY, NOMIC, NOMOI, NONCY, NONDO, NONIC, NONNO, NONNY, NONYL, NOOKY, NOULD, NOUNY, NOVIO, NOVUM, NUBBY, NUCIN, NUDDY, NUDGY, NUDZH, NUJOL, NULLO, NULLY, NUMMY, NUNKY, NUNNY, NYING, NYLON, NYMPH, NYONG, NYUNG, OBOLI, OCULI, ODDLY, ODIUM, ODOOM, OGGIN, OGMIC, OHING, OHMIC, OKING, OLDLY, OLIGO, OLOGY, OMMIN, ONDOL, ONGON, ONION, ONIUM, ONMUN, OOMPH, OPIHI, OPING, OPIUM, OUNDY, OVOID, OVOLI, OVOLO, OWING, OWNIO, OXBOW, OXLIP, PHIZZ, PHLOX, PHONO, PHONY, PHOOH, PHOOO, PHYNX, PICCY, PICHI, PICKY, PICON, PICUL, PIGGY, PIGLY, PIGMY, PIING, PIKUL, PILCH, PILIN, PILON, PILOW, PILUM, PINCH, PINGO, PINKO, PINKY, PINNY, PINOL, PINON, PINUP, PIONY, PIPID, PIPPY, PIPUL, PIQUI, PLING, PLINK, PLOCK, PLOMB, PLONG, PLONK, PLOOK, PLOUK, PLUCK, PLUFF, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUMY, PLUNG, PLUNK, POBBY, POBOY, POCHO, POCKY, PODDY, PODGY, POGGY, POILU, POIND, POLIO, POLLO, POLLY, POLYP, POMMY, PONCY, PONDY, PONGO, PONGY, PONZU, POOCH, POOFY, POOHY, POOLY, POOPY, POOVY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUFF, POUFY, POULP, POUND, POWIN, POWND, POWNY, POYOU, POZZY, PUBBY, PUBCO, PUBIC, PUDDY, PUDGY, PUDIC, PUFFY, PUGGY, PUGIL, PULIK, PULLI, PULLY, PULMO, PULPY, PUMPY, PUNCH, PUNGI, PUNGO, PUNGY, PUNIM, PUNJI, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PUUKO, PYGMY, PYLON, PYOID, PYUFF, QUICH, QUICK, QUIFF, QUILL, QUINK, QUINO, QUIPO, QUIPU, QUOIF, QUOIN, QUOLL, QUONK, QUOUK, UDYOG, ULMIN, UNBID, UNBOX, UNCOY, UNDID, UNDUG, UNFIX, UNGOD, UNGUM, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNKID, UNLID, UNMIX, UNOLD, UNOWN, UNPIN, UNPLY, UNWON, UNZIP, UPBOW, UPFUL, VICHY, VIGIL, VILLI, VINHO, VINIC, VINNY, VINYL, VIOLD, VIVID, VODDY, VODOU, VODUN, VOICI, VOUCH, VOULU, VOZHD, VUGGY, VUGHY, VULGO, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHILK, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOF, WHOOP, WHUMP, WICKY, WIDDY, WIDOW, WIGGY, WILCO, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WINGY, WINKY, WIZZO, WODGY, WOFUL, WOLLY, WOMBY, WOMYN, WONGI, WONKY, WOODY, WOOFY, WOOLD, WOOLY, WOOPY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, WUDDY, XVIII, XYLIC, XYLOL, XYLYL, YCOND, YIPPY, YOBBO, YOBBY, YOGIC, YOGIN, YOICK, YOKUL, YOLKY, YOMIM, YONIC, YONNY, YOPPO, YOUNG, YUCCH, YUCKO, YUCKY, YUKKY, YUMMO, YUMMY, YUPON, YUPPY, ZHOMO, ZHUZH, ZILCH, ZIMBI, ZINCO, ZINCY, ZINGY, ZINKY, ZIPPO, ZIPPY, ZOCCO, ZOMBI, ZOOID, ZOOMY, ZOPPO, ZUZIM, ZYGON, ZYMIC

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test DOILY against the 1,022 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,022 before → 17 after. This feedback leaves 17 candidates.

    All 17 surviving candidates

    BUCHU, BUCKU, BUMPH, BUNCH, CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUMP, CHUNK, HUMPH, HUNCH, JUGUM, MUMPH, MUNCH, PUNCH, UNGUM, WHUMP, ZHUZH

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 27.301. Information: 5.241 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test HUMPH against the 17 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    17 before → 3 after. This feedback leaves 3 candidates.

    All 3 surviving candidates

    CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUNK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.019. Information: 1.041 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test CHUCK against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    3 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CHUCK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 1.372 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver

Hard Mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 1,022 after. This feedback leaves 1,022 candidates.

    All 1,022 surviving candidates

    BICCY, BICKY, BIDDY, BIDON, BIFFO, BIFFY, BIFID, BIGGY, BIGLY, BIHON, BIJOU, BIKKY, BILBO, BILBY, BILGY, BILLY, BIMBO, BINDI, BINGO, BINGY, BINKY, BIPOD, BIPPY, BIVVY, BIZZO, BIZZY, BLIMP, BLIMY, BLIND, BLING, BLINI, BLINK, BLINY, BLOCK, BLOND, BLONX, BLOOD, BLOOK, BLOOM, BLOOP, BLOWN, BLOWY, BLUDY, BLUFF, BLUID, BLUNK, BOBBY, BOBOL, BOCCI, BODGY, BODHI, BODOH, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BOINK, BOLDO, BOLIX, BOMBO, BOMOH, BONGO, BONNY, BONUM, BOOBY, BOODY, BOOFY, BOOGY, BOOKY, BOOMY, BOONG, BOOZY, BOPPY, BOUGH, BOUND, BOVID, BOYLY, BUBBY, BUCHU, BUCKO, BUCKU, BUDDY, BUFFI, BUFFO, BUFFY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMBO, BUMPH, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNCO, BUNDH, BUNDU, BUNDY, BUNGY, BUNJY, BUNKO, BUNNY, BUPPY, BUXOM, BUYIN, BUZZY, CHICH, CHICK, CHICO, CHIKO, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMB, CHIMO, CHIMP, CHING, CHINK, CHINO, CHIVY, CHIZZ, CHOCK, CHOCO, CHOIL, CHOKO, CHOKY, CHOLI, CHOLO, CHOMP, CHOOF, CHOOK, CHOOM, CHOON, CHOUX, CHOWK, CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUMP, CHUNK, CHYND, CIBOL, CIGGY, CINCH, CIPPI, CIVIC, CIVIL, CIVVY, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOFF, CLOMB, CLOMP, CLONK, CLOOP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COBBY, COCCI, COCCO, COCKY, CODON, COGON, COHOG, COIGN, COLBY, COLIC, COLIN, COLLY, COLOG, COLON, COMBI, COMBO, COMBY, COMFY, COMIC, COMIX, COMMO, COMMY, COMPO, CONCH, CONDO, CONGO, CONIC, CONIN, CONKY, CONVO, COOCH, COOKY, COOLY, COOMB, COOMY, COPPY, COQUI, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COVIN, COXIB, COYLY, COYPU, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUDDY, CUFFO, CUING, CULCH, CULLY, CUMIN, CUNDY, CUNNY, CUPID, CUPPY, CYCLO, CYLIX, CYMOL, CYNIC, DHOBI, DHOLL, DHONI, DICKY, DIDDY, DILDO, DILLI, DILLY, DIMBO, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINIC, DINKY, DINLO, DIOCH, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DJINN, DOBBY, DODDY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOGLY, DOHYO, DOILY, DOING, DOLCI, DOLLY, DOMIC, DONKO, DONNY, DOODY, DOOKY, DOOLY, DOOMY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWLY, DOWNY, DOYLY, DUBBO, DUBBY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DUDDY, DUING, DUKUN, DULLY, DUMBO, DUMKY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DUNCH, DUNGY, DUNNO, DUNNY, DUOMI, DUOMO, DUPLY, DUPPY, DYING, DYKON, FICHU, FICIN, FIGGY, FILCH, FILII, FILLO, FILLY, FILMI, FILMY, FILON, FILUM, FINCH, FINNY, FIZZY, FLICK, FLIMP, FLING, FLOCK, FLONG, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUMP, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FLYIN, FOGGY, FOGOU, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FONDU, FONIO, FONLY, FOODY, FOUND, FUBBY, FUDDY, FUDGY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUGIO, FUGLY, FULLY, FUNDI, FUNDO, FUNDY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNIC, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZIL, FUZZY, GHOUL, GHYLL, GIBLI, GIDDY, GILLY, GILPY, GIMPY, GINCH, GINNY, GINZO, GIPON, GIPPO, GIPPY, GIZMO, GLIFF, GLOBI, GLOBY, GLOGG, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLUGG, GLUON, GLYPH, GOBBI, GOBBO, GOBBY, GODLY, GOING, GOLDY, GOLLY, GOMBO, GONCH, GONIF, GONOF, GONZO, GOOBY, GOODO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOKY, GOOLD, GOOLY, GOOMY, GOONY, GOOPY, GOPIK, GOUCH, GOYIM, GUCKY, GUGGL, GUIDO, GUILD, GUIMP, GULCH, GULFY, GULLY, GULPH, GULPY, GUMBO, GUMMI, GUMMY, GUNDI, GUNDY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, GUPPY, GUQIN, GYNNY, GYPPO, GYPPY, HIKOI, HILCH, HILLO, HILLY, HILUM, HIMBO, HINKY, HINNY, HIPLY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOGOH, HOICK, HOING, HOKKU, HOKUM, HOLLO, HOLLY, HOLON, HONGI, HONKY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOGO, HOOKY, HOOLY, HOPPY, HOUFF, HOUGH, HOUND, HOWDY, HOWFF, HUBBY, HUDUD, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUKOU, HULKY, HULLO, HULLY, HUMIC, HUMID, HUMPH, HUMPY, HUNCH, HUNDO, HUNKY, HUZZY, HYING, HYLIC, HYOID, HYPHY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, ILIUM, IMIDO, IMINO, IMMIX, IMPLY, INBOX, INCOG, INDOL, INDOW, INFIX, INION, IODIC, IODID, IODIN, IONIC, IPPON, JIFFY, JIGGY, JIMMY, JIMPY, JINGO, JINNI, JOCKO, JOCKY, JOKOL, JOLLO, JOLLY, JOMON, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUGUM, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMBY, JUMPY, JUNCO, JUNKY, JUPON, KHOUM, KIBBI, KICKY, KIDDO, KIDDY, KIKOI, KILIG, KILIM, KIMBO, KINDY, KINGY, KININ, KINKY, KLICK, KLONG, KLOOF, KNICK, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOOP, KNOUD, KNOWD, KNOWN, KOIWI, KOKUM, KOMBI, KOMBU, KONBU, KONDO, KOOKY, KUDZU, KULFI, KWINK, KYLIN, KYLIX, KYUDO, LICHI, LIKIN, LIMBI, LIMBO, LIMBY, LINCH, LINDY, LINGO, LINGY, LININ, LINKY, LINNY, LINUM, LINUX, LIPID, LIPIN, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOCHY, LOCKY, LOCUM, LOGGY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGOI, LOGON, LOKUM, LOLLO, LOLLY, LOLOG, LOOBY, LOOKY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOPPY, LOUGH, LOUND, LOWLY, LOWND, LUCID, LUCKY, LUDIC, LUMBI, LUMMY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LUNGI, LUPIN, LUVVY, LYING, LYMPH, LYNCH, MICHI, MICKY, MIDDY, MIDGY, MIFFY, MIGOD, MILCH, MILKO, MILKY, MILLY, MIMIC, MINCY, MINDI, MINGI, MINGY, MINIM, MINNY, MINXY, MIVVY, MIXUP, MIZZY, MOBBY, MOCHI, MOCHY, MOCKY, MODII, MODIN, MODOC, MODOM, MOGGY, MOGUL, MOKKY, MOLDY, MOLLO, MOLLY, MOLOI, MOLVI, MOMMY, MONDO, MONGO, MONIC, MOOCH, MOODY, MOOLI, MOOLY, MOONG, MOONI, MOONY, MOPPY, MOUCH, MOULD, MOULY, MOUND, MUCHO, MUCIC, MUCID, MUCIN, MUCKO, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUDIF, MUDIM, MUFFY, MUGGY, MUGHO, MUGIL, MUHLY, MUJIK, MUKIM, MULCH, MUMBO, MUMMY, MUMPH, MUNCH, MUNDU, MUNGI, MUNGO, MUNGY, MUZZY, MVULI, MYOID, MYOPY, NGONI, NIBBY, NICKY, NICOL, NIFFY, NIHIL, NIMBI, NIMBY, NINNY, NINON, NIOPO, NIPPY, NMOLI, NOBBY, NOBLY, NODDY, NODUM, NOGGY, NOHOW, NOILY, NOMIC, NOMOI, NONCY, NONDO, NONIC, NONNO, NONNY, NONYL, NOOKY, NOULD, NOUNY, NOVIO, NOVUM, NUBBY, NUCIN, NUDDY, NUDGY, NUDZH, NUJOL, NULLO, NULLY, NUMMY, NUNKY, NUNNY, NYING, NYLON, NYMPH, NYONG, NYUNG, OBOLI, OCULI, ODDLY, ODIUM, ODOOM, OGGIN, OGMIC, OHING, OHMIC, OKING, OLDLY, OLIGO, OLOGY, OMMIN, ONDOL, ONGON, ONION, ONIUM, ONMUN, OOMPH, OPIHI, OPING, OPIUM, OUNDY, OVOID, OVOLI, OVOLO, OWING, OWNIO, OXBOW, OXLIP, PHIZZ, PHLOX, PHONO, PHONY, PHOOH, PHOOO, PHYNX, PICCY, PICHI, PICKY, PICON, PICUL, PIGGY, PIGLY, PIGMY, PIING, PIKUL, PILCH, PILIN, PILON, PILOW, PILUM, PINCH, PINGO, PINKO, PINKY, PINNY, PINOL, PINON, PINUP, PIONY, PIPID, PIPPY, PIPUL, PIQUI, PLING, PLINK, PLOCK, PLOMB, PLONG, PLONK, PLOOK, PLOUK, PLUCK, PLUFF, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUMY, PLUNG, PLUNK, POBBY, POBOY, POCHO, POCKY, PODDY, PODGY, POGGY, POILU, POIND, POLIO, POLLO, POLLY, POLYP, POMMY, PONCY, PONDY, PONGO, PONGY, PONZU, POOCH, POOFY, POOHY, POOLY, POOPY, POOVY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUFF, POUFY, POULP, POUND, POWIN, POWND, POWNY, POYOU, POZZY, PUBBY, PUBCO, PUBIC, PUDDY, PUDGY, PUDIC, PUFFY, PUGGY, PUGIL, PULIK, PULLI, PULLY, PULMO, PULPY, PUMPY, PUNCH, PUNGI, PUNGO, PUNGY, PUNIM, PUNJI, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PUUKO, PYGMY, PYLON, PYOID, PYUFF, QUICH, QUICK, QUIFF, QUILL, QUINK, QUINO, QUIPO, QUIPU, QUOIF, QUOIN, QUOLL, QUONK, QUOUK, UDYOG, ULMIN, UNBID, UNBOX, UNCOY, UNDID, UNDUG, UNFIX, UNGOD, UNGUM, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNKID, UNLID, UNMIX, UNOLD, UNOWN, UNPIN, UNPLY, UNWON, UNZIP, UPBOW, UPFUL, VICHY, VIGIL, VILLI, VINHO, VINIC, VINNY, VINYL, VIOLD, VIVID, VODDY, VODOU, VODUN, VOICI, VOUCH, VOULU, VOZHD, VUGGY, VUGHY, VULGO, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHILK, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOF, WHOOP, WHUMP, WICKY, WIDDY, WIDOW, WIGGY, WILCO, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WINGY, WINKY, WIZZO, WODGY, WOFUL, WOLLY, WOMBY, WOMYN, WONGI, WONKY, WOODY, WOOFY, WOOLD, WOOLY, WOOPY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, WUDDY, XVIII, XYLIC, XYLOL, XYLYL, YCOND, YIPPY, YOBBO, YOBBY, YOGIC, YOGIN, YOICK, YOKUL, YOLKY, YOMIM, YONIC, YONNY, YOPPO, YOUNG, YUCCH, YUCKO, YUCKY, YUKKY, YUMMO, YUMMY, YUPON, YUPPY, ZHOMO, ZHUZH, ZILCH, ZIMBI, ZINCO, ZINCY, ZINGY, ZINKY, ZIPPO, ZIPPY, ZOCCO, ZOMBI, ZOOID, ZOOMY, ZOPPO, ZUZIM, ZYGON, ZYMIC

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test DOILY against the 1,022 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,022 before → 17 after. This feedback leaves 17 candidates.

    All 17 surviving candidates

    BUCHU, BUCKU, BUMPH, BUNCH, CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUMP, CHUNK, HUMPH, HUNCH, JUGUM, MUMPH, MUNCH, PUNCH, UNGUM, WHUMP, ZHUZH

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 27.301. Information: 5.241 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test HUMPH against the 17 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    17 before → 3 after. This feedback leaves 3 candidates.

    All 3 surviving candidates

    CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUNK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.019. Information: 1.041 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test CHUCK against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    3 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CHUCK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 1.372 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver
Historical proven-optimal benchmark: July 2023

Alex Selby’s strategy minimises the mean over its complete 3,158-answer snapshot. A route for one answer is not proof of the shortest possible route for that answer, and is separate from the current weighted model.

Normal mode

Selby’s proven-optimal strategy. July 2023 snapshot: 3,158 equally likely answers; minimum mean guesses.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    3,158 before → 319 after. This feedback leaves 319 candidates.

    All 319 surviving candidates

    BIDDY, BILGY, BILLY, BINGO, BIPOD, BLIMP, BLIND, BLING, BLINK, BLOCK, BLOND, BLOOD, BLOOM, BLOWN, BLUFF, BOBBY, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BONGO, BONNY, BOOBY, BOOZY, BOUGH, BOUND, BUDDY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNNY, BUXOM, BUZZY, CHICK, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMP, CHINO, CHOCK, CHOMP, CHUCK, CHUMP, CHUNK, CINCH, CIVIC, CIVIL, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOMP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COCKY, COLIC, COLON, COMBO, COMFY, COMIC, CONCH, CONDO, CONIC, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COYLY, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUING, CUMIN, CUPID, CYNIC, DILLY, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINKY, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOILY, DOING, DOLLY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWNY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DULLY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DYING, FILCH, FILLY, FILMY, FINCH, FIZZY, FLICK, FLING, FLOCK, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FOGGY, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FOUND, FUDGY, FULLY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GHOUL, GIDDY, GIZMO, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLYPH, GODLY, GOING, GOLLY, GONZO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOPY, GUILD, GULCH, GULLY, GUMBO, GUMMY, GUNKY, GUPPY, HILLY, HINKY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOKUM, HOLLY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOKY, HOPPY, HOUND, HOWDY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HULKY, HUMID, HUMPH, HUNCH, HUNKY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, IMPLY, INBOX, IONIC, JIFFY, JIMMY, JOLLY, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMPY, JUNKY, KIDDO, KINKY, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOWN, KOOKY, KUDZU, LIMBO, LINGO, LIPID, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGON, LOLLY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOWLY, LUCID, LUCKY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LYING, LYMPH, MILKY, MIMIC, MINIM, MIXUP, MOCHI, MOGUL, MOLDY, MOLLY, MOMMY, MOOCH, MOODY, MOULD, MOUND, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUGGY, MULCH, MUMMY, MUNCH, NIMBY, NINNY, NIPPY, NOBLY, NYLON, NYMPH, ODDLY, ONION, OOMPH, OPIUM, OVOID, OWING, OXBOW, PHONY, PICKY, PIGGY, PINCH, PINKY, PINUP, PLINK, PLONK, PLUCK, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUNK, POLIO, POLYP, POOCH, POOFY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUND, PUBIC, PUDGY, PUFFY, PULPY, PUNCH, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PYGMY, PYLON, QUICK, QUILL, UNBOX, UNDID, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNPIN, UNZIP, VIGIL, VINYL, VIVID, VOUCH, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOP, WIDOW, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WONKY, WOODY, WOOLY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, YOUNG, YUCKY, YUMMY, ZILCH, ZIPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 100.074. Information: 5.888 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test GUILD against the 319 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    319 before → 9 after. This feedback leaves 9 candidates.

    All 9 surviving candidates

    CHUCK, CHUMP, CHUNK, COUCH, HOKUM, POPUP, POUCH, UNBOX, VOUCH

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 12.599. Information: 5.334 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test POUCH against the 9 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    9 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CHUCK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.222. Information: 2.948 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Submit the only remaining candidate.

    1 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CHUCK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.

Continue this board in the Solver

Hard Mode

Selby’s proven-optimal strategy. July 2023 snapshot: 3,158 equally likely answers; minimum mean guesses.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    3,158 before → 319 after. This feedback leaves 319 candidates.

    All 319 surviving candidates

    BIDDY, BILGY, BILLY, BINGO, BIPOD, BLIMP, BLIND, BLING, BLINK, BLOCK, BLOND, BLOOD, BLOOM, BLOWN, BLUFF, BOBBY, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BONGO, BONNY, BOOBY, BOOZY, BOUGH, BOUND, BUDDY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNNY, BUXOM, BUZZY, CHICK, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMP, CHINO, CHOCK, CHOMP, CHUCK, CHUMP, CHUNK, CINCH, CIVIC, CIVIL, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOMP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COCKY, COLIC, COLON, COMBO, COMFY, COMIC, CONCH, CONDO, CONIC, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COYLY, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUING, CUMIN, CUPID, CYNIC, DILLY, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINKY, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOILY, DOING, DOLLY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWNY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DULLY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DYING, FILCH, FILLY, FILMY, FINCH, FIZZY, FLICK, FLING, FLOCK, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FOGGY, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FOUND, FUDGY, FULLY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GHOUL, GIDDY, GIZMO, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLYPH, GODLY, GOING, GOLLY, GONZO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOPY, GUILD, GULCH, GULLY, GUMBO, GUMMY, GUNKY, GUPPY, HILLY, HINKY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOKUM, HOLLY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOKY, HOPPY, HOUND, HOWDY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HULKY, HUMID, HUMPH, HUNCH, HUNKY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, IMPLY, INBOX, IONIC, JIFFY, JIMMY, JOLLY, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMPY, JUNKY, KIDDO, KINKY, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOWN, KOOKY, KUDZU, LIMBO, LINGO, LIPID, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGON, LOLLY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOWLY, LUCID, LUCKY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LYING, LYMPH, MILKY, MIMIC, MINIM, MIXUP, MOCHI, MOGUL, MOLDY, MOLLY, MOMMY, MOOCH, MOODY, MOULD, MOUND, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUGGY, MULCH, MUMMY, MUNCH, NIMBY, NINNY, NIPPY, NOBLY, NYLON, NYMPH, ODDLY, ONION, OOMPH, OPIUM, OVOID, OWING, OXBOW, PHONY, PICKY, PIGGY, PINCH, PINKY, PINUP, PLINK, PLONK, PLUCK, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUNK, POLIO, POLYP, POOCH, POOFY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUND, PUBIC, PUDGY, PUFFY, PULPY, PUNCH, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PYGMY, PYLON, QUICK, QUILL, UNBOX, UNDID, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNPIN, UNZIP, VIGIL, VINYL, VIVID, VOUCH, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOP, WIDOW, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WONKY, WOODY, WOOLY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, YOUNG, YUCKY, YUMMY, ZILCH, ZIPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 100.074. Information: 5.888 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test CLOMP against the 319 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    319 before → 9 after. This feedback leaves 9 candidates.

    All 9 surviving candidates

    CHICK, CHUCK, CHUNK, CINCH, CIVIC, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUING, CYNIC

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 14.705. Information: 5.171 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test CINCH against the 9 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    9 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CHUCK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 3.17 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Submit the only remaining candidate.

    1 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CHUCK

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.

Continue this board in the Solver

Source: Alex Selby’s Wordle analysis, MIT. Licence and attribution.

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)102244
CRANE20000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)18544
SLATE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)105933
ADIEU00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)94133
STARE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)102244
AUDIO01000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)40344
RAISE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75044
ROATE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)103144
SALET00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)105933
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 3 · 4 guesses: 6 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 3 · 4 guesses: 6 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 3–4 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

45 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include TOUCH, LUNCH, BUNCH, DUTCH, PUNCH, COUCH, CHUNK, POUCH, BUTCH, VOUCH. After their feedback, this answer is among the most likely survivors with at least half the model probability. This is an opportunity, not a guarantee. An opener that immediately solves is excluded.

Why this answer can be difficult

The answer contains 2 copies of C. Feedback allocates exact matches before misplaced copies; a grey duplicate does not erase another coloured copy.

The worked board still allows 3 different answers at one later decision: CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUNK. These are mechanical alternatives, not a judgement of vocabulary difficulty.

Vocabulary evidence and voluntary player results are reported separately from these solver observations.

Closest competing answers in this board

These words all fit the earlier feedback, rather than merely sharing similar spelling: CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUNK.

A lesson from this route

Before CHUCK, 3 words still fit. Its feedback left 1; check the full survivor list before choosing the next answer.

Try another opener or a different move

How this is calculated

The current policy checks all remaining candidates and up to 128 fixed probes. At six or fewer candidates it uses bounded lookahead, preferring modelled six-turn success, then speed among successes. Larger states use expected survivors as a heuristic. These are recommendations, not proofs of optimal play. Hard Mode retains green positions and revealed letter counts; it allows grey letters and a yellow in the same position. Candidate-only play is stricter.

Methods and limitations

Feedback distribution

CHUCK can come back 61 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

1221 answers
216 answers
134 answers
100 answers
97 answers
80 answers
80 answers
71 answers
42 answers
36 answers
34 answers
29 answers
26 answers
20 answers
18 answers
15 answers
13 answers
13 answers
11 answers
9 answers
9 answers
9 answers
8 answers
8 answers
7 answers
6 answers
5 answers
5 answers
4 answers
4 answers

Letter-value totals

Base letter-value totals for CHUCK; these do not show whether either game accepts the word.

Scrabble

C3H4U1C3K5
Total: 16 points

Words With Friends

Total: 18 points

Scores shown are base values without double/triple letter or word bonuses.

Try next

RAILE RATEL ROATE SLART OATER TORSE

Strategy after playing CHUCK

What the solver recommends next for each way the board can respond to CHUCK.

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing CHUCK:

51% chance
Suggested:
RAILE
9% chance
Suggested:
RATEL
6% chance
Suggested:
ROATE

Follow-ups for common patterns

Ranked follow-up guesses for the 10 most common feedback patterns.

51.0% →
RAILE 6.15 bits
9.0% →
RATEL 4.89 bits
5.6% →
ROATE 5.52 bits
4.2% →
SLART 4.98 bits
4.1% →
OATER 5.12 bits
3.3% →
TORSE 5.17 bits
3.3% →
TIARE 4.98 bits
3.0% →
RAILE 4.92 bits
1.8% →
PLATE 4.08 bits
1.5% →
PAIRE 4.35 bits

Research on CHUCK

Game-tree analysis and word research for CHUCK, with an explanation for each figure.

Optimal play

Opening with CHUCK, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.93 guesses and ranks #14,288 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 4.07 guesses at best and is rank #6,947 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.91, at or below the proven-optimal 3.93, because the two figures score different answer lists.

These figures come from exhaustive game-tree search and are exact for the NYT lists of July 2023 (3,158 answers). They do not use the site's working answer pool.

Familiarity and learning

Frequency
CHUCK sits in the common band of the wordfreq scale, appearing about 15 times per million words in the source corpus. Corpus frequency does not measure every reader’s familiarity.
Dominant sense
Lancaster raters associated it most strongly with sight (2.5 of 5).

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT); Pronunciation: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (BSD); Word frequency: wordfreq (data CC BY-SA 4.0); Lancaster Sensorimotor Norms (CC BY 4.0).