Cross Ladder Strategy Guide

1. Start With the Clue — Not the Letters

Think of a strong crossword-style answer first. If you begin by trying to force a word only from the available letters, you’ll often drift toward incorrect guesses.

The clue determines the word; the letters only determine whether it’s possible.

2. Use the Add/Remove Rules to Eliminate Bad Answers

Once you have a potential answer in mind:

• On expansion steps, make sure you can build it by adding letters while still using all letters from the previous word.
• On contraction steps, make sure it can be formed only from the letters already present.

Adding letters tends to cause more mistakes than removing them, so be especially strict on expansion levels.

3. Track Letter Frequencies — Especially on Expansion Steps

On shrinking steps, you must use each letter only as often as it appears in the previous answer.

The real challenge usually comes from expansion levels, where players often:

• Forget that all letters from the previous word must still appear.
• Add letters that make the clue fit but accidentally drop required letters.
• Add too few or too many letters when trying to hit the new word length.

Most incorrect guesses happen here, not on contraction steps.

4. Lean Heavily on Anagrams

Because rearranging letters is always allowed, many correct answers come from:

• Spotting hidden anagrams inside the current letter set.
• Reordering letters to test new structures and roots.
• Trying different endings (like -ED, -ING, -ER, -AL) when they fit the clue.

Expansion steps in particular often require multiple anagram attempts before you land on a word that fits both the clue and the letter rules.

5. Treat Clues Like Compact Crossword Entries

Clues in Cross Ladder tend to be short and direct, but they can still use:

• Synonyms and related phrases.
• Figurative or slightly indirect language.
• Broader or narrower meanings than you might first assume.

Approach each prompt the way you would a quick crossword clue: expect it to be fair, but not necessarily obvious at first glance.

6. Use the Fixed Pattern to Anticipate Difficulty

Every puzzle follows the same structure: 4 → 8 → 5 → 9 → 6 → 10.

That matters because:

• Expansion steps (4→8, 5→9, 6→10) are usually the most error-prone.
• Contraction steps (8→5, 9→6) are often more controlled and constrained.
• The rhythm helps you anticipate where the hardest transitions will be.

Once you know whether you’re about to add or remove letters, you can adjust your expectations and strategy for that level.

7. Use Your Skip Strategically (Often on Expansion Levels)

You can skip one level per puzzle by spending a life. Because expansion levels require keeping all previous letters and adding new ones, they’re the most common place to get stuck.

Consider using your skip when:

• You’re trying to build a longer word with several possible structures.
• Multiple clue answers are plausible but only some obey the letter rules.
• The clue feels broad or abstract, and you’ve already tried solid candidates.
• You’d rather save your remaining lives for later, clearer steps.

Skipping on contraction levels is rarely necessary, since those transitions tend to be more constrained by the existing letters.

8. Avoid the Two Most Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Solving From Letters Instead of the Clue

Letters only constrain possible answers. If you try to “fish around” for words based purely on the letters available, you’ll burn lives on guesses that never actually match the clue.

Always solve the clue first, then check whether your answer is compatible with the letter rules.

Mistake 2: Violating Letter Rules During Expansion

Most lost lives come from expansion steps where players:

• Forget to keep all letters from the previous word.
• Add letters that fit the clue but break the ladder.
• Miscount how many letters are needed to reach the new length.

Being meticulous on expansion steps dramatically improves your chances of finishing the puzzle.

9. Improvement Comes Naturally

Because the structure never changes, each day helps you build intuition:

• Recognizing when a clue points to a longer, more complex word.
• Spotting necessary letter additions earlier in the chain.
• Quickly ruling out answers that can’t satisfy the letter rules.
• Getting faster at anagramming and frequency checks.

Over time, the logic becomes second nature, and Cross Ladder slots into your routine alongside Wordle, Connections, and other daily puzzles.

Ready to put these strategies to work? Head back to the main page and try today’s puzzle: Play Cross Ladder.