Guess the word
Game Overview
Hangman is a deductive word guessing game. Reveal the hidden word by selecting letters; each incorrect guess progresses a simple figure drawing. Solve the word before the drawing completes.
Letter Strategy
1. Frequency First
Begin with high-frequency vowels (E, A) then common consonants (R, S, T, L, N).
2. Pattern Recognition
Use revealed letter positions to infer likely digraphs (TH, ER, IN) or suffixes (-ING, -ED).
3. Elimination Tracking
Mentally bucket remaining unused letters by probability class to guide risk escalation.
4. Unique Letter Detection
Words with rare letters (J, Q, Z) usually signal specific categories; guess contextually, not randomly.
Common Mistakes
- Random Early Guesses: Wastes attempts before establishing vowel/consonant baseline.
- Ignoring Word Shape: Length + revealed pattern drastically constrain possibilities.
- Late Vowel Discovery: Delaying vowels prolongs ambiguity state.
- No Category Hypothesis: Some sets follow themes; adapt expectation.
Hangman FAQ
Best opening letters?
E, A, R, S offer high coverage in English corpus.
When to guess the full word?
When probability distribution concentrates strongly on one candidate (≥70% confidence) to save attempts.
How to handle double letters?
Patterns like __LL or EE__ narrow options quickly; confirm with strategic vowel checks.
Is guessing Q smart?
Only if a U pattern slot appears after an unknown.
Improve vocabulary?
Review missed words post-game; spaced repetition helps retention.