How to play Word Ladder

• You start on a 4-letter word, and the goal is always LOVE.
• Every move changes exactly one letter, and every word along the way has to be a real word.
• You have 10 moves before the day is lost.
• A tile turns green when its letter already matches LOVE in that spot.

Par is the fewest moves the puzzle can be done in. Reach LOVE in par and you earn stars. You can still win in more moves, as long as it's within 10.

• Work backward from LOVE. MOVE, LIVE, LONE, LOSE and DOVE all sit one step away. Aim for one of those.
• Change the letter that gets you closest. A move that makes another tile green is usually a good one.
• Sometimes step away to get around. The shortest route can move a letter away from LOVE and back again, because a green tile is progress, not a lock.

Is it the same puzzle for everyone?

Yes, everyone gets the same starting word each day.

Does the goal ever change?

No, every ladder ends at LOVE. The starting word is what changes.

When is the next puzzle?

Every day at midnight Eastern.