Two players share one word chain. On your turn, replace exactly one letter to make a real word of the same length. You cannot reorder letters or reuse a word.
Relaxed rules: each valid word earns 1 point, and a word that leaves your opponent only one or two ways out earns a 1-point squeeze bonus; a trap, concession, or timeout earns the winner 2 bonus points. Reach the target and lead after both players have taken a turn in the current pair. Ties continue above the target. Traps, concessions and timeouts end the round immediately; the round winner also wins the match if they have reached the target and lead on points. Classic mode: first to the chosen number of round wins. With No timer, nobody loses for thinking slowly. Concede a round if you are stuck.
Relaxed competitive feedback with penalties: a word that is not in the dictionary, or was already played, is a strike. In points mode each strike also costs 1 point (never below zero). Three strikes in a round loses that round. Strikes reset every round, and the turn does not pass on a strike. Learning feedback never gives strikes, because invalid words cannot be submitted.
Battle: Submit is neutral: words are checked only after submission. Correct normal words earn 1 point. Wrong submissions cost 1 point (minimum zero), add a strike, and pass the normal turn. Strikes last the entire match; three loses the match immediately. Timeout adds one strike without subtracting a point and gives the opponent a fresh-timer steal. Solve the unchanged word for exactly 2 points, then take your normal turn with another full timer. A failed steal applies the penalty and still leaves your normal turn, unless strike three ends the match. A timed-out steal never creates another steal. A trapping steal ends the round and carries your normal turn into the next round. Normal turns can also earn the 1-point squeeze bonus; steals cannot. Steals only happen when a turn timer is set (Battle starts with 30 seconds). Points wins compare completed normal turns; steals do not consume a normal turn. A short reaction pause protects the next full timer.
Same-device and bot matches run on this device. Online rooms are checked by the server. Both players must agree before the next round or a rematch. After a missing player is detected, they have 90 seconds to reconnect before forfeiting the whole match, including between rounds. Idle rooms expire after two hours.
Sign in with Google or X. Online results are stored for each account. Local games are saved on this browser for recovery. Account records require sign-in and a legal word chain. Reports are stored for the account that sends them. Only online matches between two signed-in players change your rating and leaderboard position, because the server checks every move. Same-device and bot games still count in your personal stats. The leaderboard shows first names and a last initial.