Useful signal
Excellent raw letter frequency.
Score Quick Analysis Card
Rank #16How To Read The Scores
The scores are a practical model for judging RATES, not a promise that one opener wins every puzzle.
The entropy score estimates how much information RATES is expected to gain across many possible answers. The frequency score reflects how often its letters appear in answer-style Wordle words. Letter coverage rewards the fact that RATES uses five unique tiles, while the hard mode score asks whether the confirmed letters usually leave playable legal follow-ups.
The overall score is most useful when comparing openers with different personalities. A word can be easy for beginners without being the highest-entropy choice, and a word can have elite entropy while feeling less natural to play every day. Use the numbers to understand the tradeoff, then choose the opener whose feedback you can act on consistently.
Letter By Letter Breakdown
RATES has five unique letters, so every tile can produce new information on turn one.
| Letter | Frequency and usefulness |
|---|---|
| R | R is one of the best reusable consonants in Wordle and gives strong information in both green and yellow positions. In RATES, it is tested in the first position, so the feedback also tells you whether that letter belongs in the visible frame or needs to move. |
| A | A is one of the strongest vowels to test early because it appears in many central answer shapes and pairs with R, T, L, and N. In RATES, it is tested in the second position, so the feedback also tells you whether that letter belongs in the visible frame or needs to move. |
| T | T is a premium consonant for Wordle because it appears in many starts, endings, and high-value second-guess branches. In RATES, it is tested in the third position, so the feedback also tells you whether that letter belongs in the visible frame or needs to move. |
| E | E is the most valuable vowel overall and a major signal for silent-E structures, final endings, and common second-position patterns. In RATES, it is tested in the fourth position, so the feedback also tells you whether that letter belongs in the visible frame or needs to move. |
| S | S is one of the best first-turn consonants because it removes or confirms a large family of common starts, blends, and endings. In RATES, it is tested in the fifth position, so the feedback also tells you whether that letter belongs in the visible frame or needs to move. |
Strengths
Where RATES performs well as a first Wordle guess.
Useful signal
R first can quickly identify or remove a meaningful answer family.
Useful signal
T and S give strong consonant structure.
Useful signal
A/E coverage keeps vowel information practical.
Weaknesses
No opener is perfect. These are the tradeoffs to plan around.
Final S is not as valuable for Wordle answers as S first.
It still misses L, O, C, and N.
Some players may find STARE easier to use from memory.
The point is not to memorize one first word and stop thinking. Use the first result to decide whether your second move should reduce candidates broadly, chase a likely answer, or obey hard mode constraints.
Real Wordle Scenarios
Example feedback patterns for RATES and what each one teaches you.
| Pattern | Information gained | Candidate reduction | Best next guess |
|---|---|---|---|
| RATES Y---- | R is present but not in position one, while A, T, E, S are likely absent. | This removes the most obvious RATES frame and shifts the candidate pool toward words that reuse R with a new consonant structure. | CLONE is a careful follow-up because it tests fresh letters before you chase one exact answer shape. |
| RATES -G--Y | A is fixed in position two and S appears elsewhere. | A green A gives the answer a real skeleton, while the moved S narrows the vowel or ending search. | TREAD is the hard-mode-friendly route when you must preserve the confirmed clue and still split the pool. |
| RATES --YY- | T and E are both in the answer but misplaced. | Two yellow middle letters usually mean the next guess should solve placement instead of simply adding five unrelated letters. | STARE is the more direct option when the pattern already points toward a recognizable family. |
How To Play The Second Turn After RATES
The second guess is where a good opener becomes a real strategy.
After RATES, do not automatically play a memorized partner word. Start by asking what the colors actually proved. Green tiles create structure. Yellow tiles create placement work. Gray tiles remove entire answer families. If the first result leaves many candidates, your second guess should usually test missing high-value letters. If the first result leaves a tight pattern, a direct solve or trap-breaking guess may be stronger.
In normal mode, you can use a broad information word even if it ignores a confirmed clue. In hard mode, every confirmed green and yellow from RATES must be respected, so the best follow-up may be less flashy but more legally useful. This is why the hard mode score matters: it measures whether the opener gives you room to keep learning after the first feedback pattern.
Best Follow Up Guesses
Use the actual colors you received, but these options show how RATES is normally complemented.
Conservative option: CLONE
This follow-up favors broad coverage and avoids overcommitting to a single answer family too early.
Aggressive option: STARE
This path is better when the first pattern points toward a recognizable answer shape and you want to press for a faster solve.
Hard mode option: TREAD
This option is designed to reuse confirmed information while still testing letters that can split the remaining pool.
Comparison With Similar Openers
How RATES compares with other popular starts.
Who Should Use This Word
RATES works differently depending on your skill level and mode.
Beginners
Good. RATES is easy to read, though final S feedback needs care.
Experienced players
Very good. It is a strong anagram variant for testing R-first value.
Hard mode players
Very good. The confirmed letters usually remain easy to reuse.
Final Verdict
RATES is a strong choice if you want the STARE letter set with direct R-first information.
Related Starting Word Pages
Openers with similar goals or useful comparison value.
RATES FAQs
Common questions about using RATES as your first Wordle guess.
Is RATES a good Wordle starting word?
Yes. RATES is a useful opener because r/a/t/e/s coverage with a strong mix of frequency and reusable hard-mode letters and gives a first result that is usually easy to turn into a targeted second guess.
What entropy score does RATES have?
RATES has an estimated entropy score of 3.97 in this model, which places it in the solid practical opener range.
Is RATES good for hard mode?
Very good. The confirmed letters usually remain easy to reuse.
What is the best second guess after RATES?
There is no single best second guess after RATES. CLONE is safer for broad coverage, STARE is better when the first pattern is promising, and TREAD is the safer hard-mode lane.
Is RATES better than STARE?
RATES and STARE solve different problems. RATES is strongest when you value r/a/t/e/s coverage with a strong mix of frequency and reusable hard-mode letters, while STARE may be stronger when its letter positions match the feedback style you prefer.
Who should use RATES as an opener?
RATES fits players who want a repeatable first guess with clear feedback. Beginners get readable clues, while experienced players can use the result to choose between candidate reduction and direct solving.