How to choose a stronger second Wordle guess

Your second guess should respond to the board, not follow a fixed list of favorite words. After the first row, separate what is confirmed from what is still unknown. Green letters are fixed, yellow letters must move, and gray feedback removes letters or limits duplicate counts.

Start with the information you already have

Write down every green position and every yellow letter. A yellow letter cannot stay in the same position where it appeared. Also note gray letters, but check whether the same letter received a green or yellow tile elsewhere in the row. That combination can mean the answer contains a limited number of copies.

Choose a guess that tests unresolved letters

When several candidates remain, compare the letters they share. A useful second guess often tests common letters that have not appeared in the first row. It does not always need to be a possible answer: a word that separates several candidates can be informative, provided it is accepted by the game.

Avoid repeating low-value information

Do not spend another row on letters that the first guess has already ruled out. Keep green letters in their exact positions and place known yellow letters elsewhere. If a duplicate letter is possible, use the solver's count rules rather than assuming every gray tile means the letter is completely absent.

Use the candidate list as a decision aid

Enter the first guess and its exact tile colors into the solver, then add the second row after you play it. The results are matches against the site's reference dictionary, not a promise that each candidate is an accepted answer in every version of Wordle. Use the list to compare possibilities, then confirm the next guess against your own board.