Make four groups of four.

Step-by-step solving method

First, scan the entire board without selecting anything. Try to name two possible categories in your head before making a move. Plain categories are usually easiest: animals, tools, drinks, places, job titles, colors, materials, sports terms, or household objects. If one group looks too obvious, make sure all four words are equally strong members of that category.

Second, look for phrase logic. Some puzzles use four words that can follow the same word, such as "paper bag," "paper clip," "paper plane," and "paper trail." Other puzzles use words that can come before the same word. These groups are satisfying, but they are also where false matches often appear. Do not submit a phrase group until all four phrases sound natural.

Third, protect your mistakes. You only get four wrong guesses, so use feedback carefully. A one-away message means three words are probably right and one is wrong. Instead of replacing words at random, ask which selected word has the weakest connection. If you cannot explain why a word belongs, it is probably the one to remove.

Finally, solve from certain to uncertain. Clearing one easy group reduces noise and makes the remaining categories easier to see. The last group may look strange only because it includes words with second meanings. Slow comparison is usually better than speed.