Contexto Strategy Guide

Your First Few Guesses

Your opening guesses should cover broad categories. Try words like "food", "animal", "person", "place", "object", or "feeling". The goal is to figure out the general area of the secret word as fast as possible.

If "animal" comes back at rank 300 but "food" comes back at rank 80, you know the answer relates to food. That single comparison just saved you a dozen guesses.

Reading the Rank Numbers

The rank is your only clue, so learn to read it well. A rank under 100 means you are in the right neighborhood. A rank between 100 and 300 means there is a loose connection. Above 300 means you should try a different topic.

Watch for sudden drops. If you guess "kitchen" at rank 200 and then "oven" at rank 40, that is a strong signal. Follow that thread.

Narrowing Down

Once you are in the green zone (under 100), switch from broad guesses to specific ones. Think of synonyms, parts, tools, or things related to your best guess.

If your best guess is "bread" at rank 15, try words like "loaf", "wheat", "dough", "bakery", "flour". One of them will either be the answer or get you even closer.

Common Patterns

After playing a few rounds, you will notice tendencies in the puzzle words:

• Secret words tend to be common nouns - things you would use in everyday conversation.
• Abstract words ("freedom", "justice") are rare as answers. Concrete words are more common.
• The semantic model groups words by context, not by category. "Leash" is closer to "dog" than "wolf" is, even though wolf and dog are both animals.
• Plurals and different word forms can have different ranks. Try both "key" and "keys" if you are stuck.

When to Use Hints

Hints show you a word ranked between 100 and 200. That is the yellow zone. A hint will not solve the puzzle for you, but it gives you a reference point to work from.

Use a hint when you have been stuck above rank 300 for more than 10 guesses. There is no penalty for hints beyond the counter showing them in your stats.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not guess random words. Each guess should build on what you have already learned.
• Do not fixate on one topic. If nothing in that area drops below 200, try something different.
• Do not ignore high-rank results. A word at rank 900 tells you that entire topic is wrong, which is useful information.

Common Questions