5 Letter Words With I in the Middle

In total, 1,552 5 letter words with I in the middle qualify, 264 of them past Wordle answers. With I locked in place, ABIDE, AFIRE, and AGILE fit the slot, with answers marked in green.

76 carry a doubled letter, AMISS among them. About 17% (264) have been actual Wordle answers. Updated July 2026

5 Letter Words With I in the Middle with answers like ABIDE, AFIRE, AGILE — 5 Letter Words With I in the Middle for your next Wordle guess

Best 5 Letter Words With I in the Middle

The strongest picks, with likely Wordle answers first.

ABIDE
AFIRE
AGILE
AGING
ALIBI
ALIEN
ALIGN
ALIKE
ALIVE
AMISS
AMITY
ANIME
APING
ARISE
ASIDE
AVIAN
AXIAL
AXIOM
AXION
BEING
BLIMP
BLIND
BLINK
BLISS
BLITZ
BRIAR
BRIBE
BRICK
BRIDE
BRIEF
BRINE
BRING
BRINK
BRINY
BRISK
BUILD
BUILT
CAIRN
CHICK
CHIDE
CHIEF
CHILD
CHILI
CHILL
CHIME
CHINA
CHIRP
CLICK
CLIFF
CLIMB
CLING
CLINK
CRICK
CRIED
CRIER
CRIME
CRIMP
CRISP
DAILY
DAIRY
DAISY
DEIGN
DEITY
DOING
DRIED
DRIER
DRIFT
DRILL
DRINK
DRIVE
DYING
EDICT
EDIFY
EKING
ELIDE
ELITE
EVICT
EXILE
EXIST
EYING
FAINT
FAIRY
FAITH
FEIGN
FLICK
FLIER
FLING
FLINT
FLIRT
FOIST
FRIAR
FRIED
FRILL
FRISK
FRITZ
GAILY
GLIDE
GLINT
GOING
GRIEF
GRILL
GRIME
GRIMY
GRIND
GRIPE
GUIDE
GUILD
GUILE
GUILT
GUISE
HAIRY
HEIST
HOIST
ICILY
ICING
IDIOM
IDIOT
ILIAC
JOINT
JOIST
JUICE
JUICY
KNIFE
KRILL
LYING
MAIZE
MOIST
NAIVE
NEIGH
NOISE
NOISY
OLIVE
ONION
OPINE
OPIUM
OVINE
OWING
OXIDE
PAINT
PLIED
PLIER
POINT
POISE
PRICE
PRICK
PRIDE
PRIED
PRIME
PRIMO
PRINT

5 Letter Words Starting With A With I as the 3rd Letter

ABIDE
AFIRE
AGILE
AGING
ALIBI
ALIEN
ALIGN
ALIKE
ALIVE
AMISS
AMITY
ANIME
APING
ARISE
ASIDE
AVIAN
AXIAL
AXIOM
AXION
ACIDS
ALIAS
AMINO
ABIDI
ABIES
ABILO
ABIME
ABIUS
ACIDY
ACIER
ACIES
ACING
ACINI
ADIEL
ADIEU
ADION
ADIOS
ADITS
AFIFI
AFION
AFIZZ
AGIDI
AGIEL
AGILA
AGIOS
AGISM
AGIST
AGITA
AHIGH
AHIND
AHING
AHINT
AJIES
AJIVA
AKING
AKITA
ALICE
ALICK
ALIDA
ALIDS
ALIET
ALIFE
ALIFS
ALIMA
ALIMS
ALINE
ALIOS
ALISH
ALISO
ALISP
ALIST
ALITE
ALITY
ALIYA
AMIAS
AMICE
AMICI
AMIDE
AMIDO
AMIDS
AMIES
AMIGA
AMIGO
AMINE
AMINI
AMINS
AMIRE
AMIRS
AMISH
AMITA
ANIBA
ANICE
ANIGH
ANILE
ANILS
ANIMA
ANIMI
ANIMO
ANION
ANISE
ANITA
AOIFE
APIAN
APIIN
APILI
APINA
APIOL
APIOS
APISH
APISM
APIUM
ARIAN
ARIAS
ARIEL
ARIES
ARIKI
ARILS
ARIOI
ARION
ARIOT
ARISH
ARIST
ARITE
ARITH
ARIUS
ASIAN
ASITY
ATIGI
ATILT
ATIMY
ATING
AVICK
AVIEW
AVILE
AVINE
AVION
AVISE
AVISO
AVIZE
AWIDE
AWING
AWINK
AWIWI
AXILE
AXILS
AXINE
AXING
AXITE
AYINS
AZIDE
AZIDO
AZINE

5 Letter Words Starting With B With I as the 3rd Letter

BEING
BLIMP
BLIND
BLINK
BLISS
BLITZ
BRIAR
BRIBE
BRICK
BRIDE
BRIEF
BRINE
BRING
BRINK
BRINY
BRISK
BUILD
BUILT
BAIGN
BAIKS
BAILE
BAILO
BAILS
BAIOC
BAIRN
BAISA
BAITH
BAITS
BAIZA
BAIZE
BEICE
BEIGE
BEIGY
BEILD
BEINS
BEIRA
BEISA
BHILI
BHIMA
BLIBE
BLICK
BLIER
BLIMY
BLING
BLINI
BLINS
BLINY
BLIPS
BLIRT
BLIST
BLITE
BLITS
BLIVE
BLIZZ
BOIKO
BOILS
BOILY
BOING
BOINK
BOISE
BOIST
BOITE
BRIAN
BRIER
BRIES
BRIGS
BRIKE
BRIKI
BRIKS
BRILL
BRIMS
BRINS
BRIOS
BRISA
BRISE
BRISS
BRIST
BRITE
BRITH
BRITS
BRITT
BRIZA
BRIZE
BRIZZ
BTISE
BUICK
BUIKS
BUIST

5 Letter Words Starting With C With I as the 3rd Letter

CAIRN
CHICK
CHIDE
CHIEF
CHILD
CHILI
CHILL
CHIME
CHINA
CHIRP
CLICK
CLIFF
CLIMB
CLING
CLINK
CRICK
CRIED
CRIER
CRIME
CRIMP
CRISP
CHILE
CHIPS
CLIPS
COINS
CAIDS
CAINS
CAIRD
CAIRO
CAITE
CCITT
CEIBA
CEIBO
CEILE
CEILI
CEILS
CEINT
CHIAM
CHIAN
CHIAO
CHIAS
CHIBA
CHIBS
CHICA
CHICH
CHICO
CHICS
CHIEL
CHIEN
CHIKO
CHIKS
CHIMB
CHIMO
CHIMP
CHIMU
CHINE
CHING
CHINK
CHINO
CHINS
CHINT
CHIOT
CHIRK
CHIRL
CHIRM
CHIRO
CHIRR
CHIRT
CHIRU
CHITA
CHITI
CHITS
CHIVA
CHIVE
CHIVS
CHIVW
CHIVY
CHIZZ
CLICH
CLIED
CLIES
CLIFT
CLIMA
CLIME
CLINE
CLINT
CLIPE
CLIPT
CLITE
CLITS
CLIVE
CNIDA
COIFS
COIGN
COILS
COING
COINY
COIRS
COITS
CRIAS
CRIBO
CRIBS
CRIES
CRIEY
CRILE
CRIMS
CRINE
CRINK
CRINS
CRIOS
CRIPE
CRIPS
CRISE
CRISS
CRITH
CRITS
CTIMO
CUIFS
CUING
CUISH
CUITS

5 Letter Words Starting With D With I as the 3rd Letter

DAILY
DAIRY
DAISY
DEIGN
DEITY
DOING
DRIED
DRIER
DRIFT
DRILL
DRINK
DRIVE
DYING
DAIJO
DAIKO
DAINE
DAINT
DAIRA
DAIRI
DAIRT
DAIVA
DEICE
DEIDS
DEIFY
DEILS
DEINK
DEINO
DEISM
DEIST
DHIKR
DJINN
DJINS
DOIGT
DOILT
DOILY
DOINA
DOITS
DRIAS
DRIBS
DRICE
DRIES
DRILY
DRINN
DRIPS
DRIPT
DRISK
DUING
DUITS
DVIGU
DWILE
DWINE

5 Letter Words Starting With E With I as the 3rd Letter

EDICT
EDIFY
EKING
ELIDE
ELITE
EVICT
EXILE
EXIST
EYING
EBIKE
ECIGS
ECIZE
EDILE
EDITH
EDITS
EDIYA
EFITS
EHING
EJIDO
ELIAD
ELIAN
ELIAS
ELIHU
ELINT
ELIOT
ELIZA
EMICS
EMIGR
EMILY
EMIRS
EMITS
ENIAC
EOITH
EPICS
EPIKY
EPIST
ERIAN
ERICA
ERICK
ERICS
ERIKA
ERING
ERIZO
ESILE
ETIAM
ETICS
EVILS
EVITE
EWING
EXIER
EXIES
EXINE
EXING
EXION
EXITE
EXITS
EZINE

5 Letter Words Starting With F With I as the 3rd Letter

FAINT
FAIRY
FAITH
FEIGN
FLICK
FLIER
FLING
FLINT
FLIRT
FOIST
FRIAR
FRIED
FRILL
FRISK
FRITZ
FAILS
FAIKS
FAINE
FAINS
FAIRE
FAIRM
FAIRS
FAITS
FEINT
FEIST
FLICS
FLIED
FLIES
FLIMP
FLIMS
FLIPE
FLIPS
FLIRS
FLISK
FLITE
FLITS
FLITT
FOIDS
FOILS
FOINS
FOISM
FRIBS
FRIER
FRIES
FRIGS
FRIJA
FRIKE
FRISE
FRISS
FRIST
FRITA
FRITE
FRITH
FRITS
FRITT
FRIZE
FRIZZ

5 Letter Words Starting With G With I as the 3rd Letter

GAILY
GLIDE
GLINT
GOING
GRIEF
GRILL
GRIME
GRIMY
GRIND
GRIPE
GUIDE
GUILD
GUILE
GUILT
GUISE
GAINS
GAIDS
GAINE
GAIRS
GAIST
GAITA
GAITS
GAITT
GAIUS
GAIZE
GEIRA
GEISA
GEIST
GEITS
GLIAL
GLIAS
GLIBS
GLICK
GLIFF
GLIFT
GLIKE
GLIME
GLIMS
GLINK
GLISK
GLISS
GLIST
GLITS
GLITZ
GNIDE
GOIER
GRICE
GRIDE
GRIDS
GRIFF
GRIFT
GRIGS
GRIKE
GRIMM
GRIMP
GRINS
GRINT
GRIOT
GRIPH
GRIPS
GRIPT
GRIPY
GRISE
GRIST
GRISY
GRITH
GRITS
GRIZE
GUIAC
GUIBA
GUIDO
GUIDS
GUIGE
GUIJO
GUILY
GUIMP
GUIRO
GWINE

5 Letter Words Starting With H With I as the 3rd Letter

HAIRY
HEIST
HOIST
HAICK
HAIDA
HAIKA
HAIKH
HAIKS
HAIKU
HAILS
HAILY
HAINE
HAINS
HAINT
HAIRE
HAIRS
HAITH
HAITI
HEIAU
HEIDI
HEIDS
HEIGH
HEILD
HEILS
HEILY
HEINZ
HEIRS
HEIZE
HOICK
HOIED
HOIKS
HOING
HOISE
HSIEN
HUIAS
HUIES
HUILE
HYING

5 Letter Words Starting With I With I as the 3rd Letter

ICILY
ICING
IDIOM
IDIOT
ILIAC
ICICA
ICIER
IDION
IDISM
IDIST
IDITE
IFINT
ILIAD
ILIAL
ILIAN
ILIAU
ILIMA
ILION
ILIUM
IMIDE
IMIDO
IMIDS
IMINE
IMINO
INIAL
INIGO
INION
IRIAN
IRIDO
IRIDS
IRING
IRISH
ISIAC
ISING
ISIZE
IVIED
IVIES
IXIAS
IXION
IZING

5 Letter Words Starting With J With I as the 3rd Letter

JOINT
JOIST
JUICE
JUICY
JOINS
JAILS
JAIME
JAINA
JHILS
JUISE

5 Letter Words Starting With K With I as the 3rd Letter

KNIFE
KRILL
KAIAK
KAIDS
KAIES
KAIFS
KAIKA
KAIKS
KAILS
KAIMO
KAIMS
KAING
KAINS
KAIWI
KEIRS
KEIST
KEITA
KEITH
KHILA
KHIRS
KLICK
KLIEG
KLIKS
KLING
KLINO
KNIAZ
KNICK
KNISH
KNITS
KNIVE
KOILA
KOINE
KOIWI
KRINA
KRIOL
KRISS
KRIVU
KUIAS
KVINT
KWINK
KWIRL

5 Letter Words Starting With L With I as the 3rd Letter

LYING
LAICH
LAICS
LAIDE
LAIDS
LAIGH
LAIKA
LAIKS
LAINE
LAIRD
LAIRS
LAIRY
LAITH
LAITY
LAIUS
LEIGH
LEILA
LEIRS
LEISH
LEISS
LEITH
LOIDS
LOINS
LOIPE
LOIRS
LUIAN
LUIGI
LUITE

5 Letter Words Starting With M With I as the 3rd Letter

MAIZE
MOIST
MAILS
MAIDA
MAIDS
MAIDU
MAIDY
MAIID
MAIKO
MAIKS
MAILE
MAILL
MAILO
MAIMS
MAINE
MAINS
MAINT
MAIRE
MAIRS
MAISE
MAIST
MAIUS
MBILA
MBIRA
MEIDS
MEIJI
MEIKO
MEILE
MEILS
MEINS
MEINT
MEINY
MEISM
MEITH
MNIUM
MOIER
MOILE
MOILS
MOIRA
MOIRE
MOISE
MOISM
MOITS
MOITY
MSINK
MTIER
MUIDS
MUILS
MUIRS
MUIRY
MUIST

5 Letter Words Starting With N With I as the 3rd Letter

NAIVE
NEIGH
NOISE
NOISY
NAILS
NAIAD
NAIAS
NAIBS
NAICE
NAIDS
NAIEO
NAIFS
NAIKS
NAILY
NAINS
NAIOS
NAIRA
NAIRU
NAIRY
NAISH
NEIFS
NEIST
NEIVE
NJIRL
NOIAS
NOILS
NOILY
NOINT
NOIRE
NOIRS
NSIMA
NYING

5 Letter Words Starting With O With I as the 3rd Letter

OLIVE
ONION
OPINE
OPIUM
OVINE
OWING
OXIDE
OBIAS
OBIED
OBIIT
OBITS
ODISM
ODIST
ODIUM
OGIVE
OHIAS
OHING
OJIME
OKIES
OKING
OLIGO
OLIOS
OLIVA
OMIAI
OMINA
OMITS
ONIUM
OOIDS
OPIHI
OPING
ORIAS
ORIBI
ORIEL
ORIGO
ORION
ORIXA
ORIYA
OSIDE
OSIER
OTIUM
OUIJA
OVILE
OVISM
OVIST
OWIES
OXIDS
OXIES
OXIME
OXIMS
OXINE
OZIAS

5 Letter Words Starting With P With I as the 3rd Letter

PAINT
PLIED
PLIER
POINT
POISE
PRICE
PRICK
PRIDE
PRIED
PRIME
PRIMO
PRINT
PRIOR
PRISM
PRIVY
PRIZE
PAIRS
PAIKS
PAILS
PAINE
PAINS
PAIPE
PAIPS
PAIRE
PAIRT
PAISA
PAISE
PEINE
PEINS
PEISE
PEISY
PEIZE
PHIAL
PHIES
PHILL
PHISH
PHIZZ
PIING
PLICA
PLIES
PLIGS
PLIMS
PLING
PLINK
PLINY
PLIPS
PLISH
PLISS
POILU
POIND
POIRE
PRIAL
PRIAM
PRIAN
PRICH
PRICY
PRIDY
PRIEF
PRIER
PRIES
PRIGS
PRILL
PRIMA
PRIMI
PRIMP
PRIMS
PRIMY
PRINE
PRING
PRINK
PRION
PRISE
PRISS
PRIUS
PSIAS
PSION
PSIZE
PTISH
PUIST
PYINS

5 Letter Words Starting With Q With I as the 3rd Letter

QUICK
QUIET
QUILL
QUILT
QUIRK
QUITE
QAIDS
QUIBS
QUICA
QUICH
QUIDS
QUIES
QUIFF
QUILA
QUIMS
QUINA
QUINE
QUINK
QUINO
QUINS
QUINT
QUIPO
QUIPS
QUIPU
QUIRA
QUIRE
QUIRL
QUIRT
QUIST
QUITO
QUITS
QUITU

5 Letter Words Starting With R With I as the 3rd Letter

RAINY
RAISE
REIGN
RHINO
RAIAE
RAIAH
RAIAS
RAIDS
RAIKE
RAIKS
RAILE
RAILS
RAINE
RAINS
RAIRD
RAITA
RAITH
RAITS
REICE
REICH
REIFS
REIFY
REIKI
REIKS
REINA
REINE
REING
REINK
REINS
REIRD
REIST
REIVE
RHIES
RHILA
RHIME
RHINA
RHINE
ROIDS
ROILS
ROILY
ROINS
ROIST
RUICE
RUING
RUINS
RYIJI
RYIJY

5 Letter Words Starting With S With I as the 3rd Letter

SAINT
SCION
SEIZE
SHIED
SHIFT
SHINE
SHINY
SHIRE
SHIRK
SHIRT
SKIER
SKIFF
SKILL
SKIMP
SKIRT
SLICE
SLICK
SLIDE
SLIME
SLIMY
SLING
SLINK
SMILE
SMIRK
SMITE
SMITH
SNIDE
SNIFF
SNIPE
SPIED
SPIEL
SPIKE
SPIKY
SPILL
SPILT
SPINE
SPINY
SPIRE
SPITE
STICK
STIFF
STILL
STILT
STING
STINK
STINT
SUING
SUITE
SWIFT
SWILL
SWINE
SWING
SWIRL
SWISH
SHIPS
SKINS
SPIES
SUITS
SWISS
SAICE
SAICK
SAICS
SAIDI
SAIDS
SAIFY
SAIGA
SAIID
SAILS
SAILY
SAIMS
SAIMY
SAINE
SAINS
SAIPH
SAIRS
SAIRY
SAIST
SAITE
SAITH
SAIVA
SCIAN
SCIFI
SCIND
SCIOT
SCIRE
SEIFS
SEIGE
SEILS
SEINE
SEIRS
SEISE
SEISM
SEITY
SEIZA
SHIAH
SHIAI
SHICE
SHICK
SHIDE
SHIEL
SHIER
SHIES
SHIKO
SHILF
SHILH
SHILL
SHILY
SHIMS
SHINA
SHINS
SHIOK
SHIPT
SHIRL
SHIRR
SHIRS
SHISH
SHISN
SHISO
SHIST
SHITA
SHITE
SHITS
SHIUR
SHIVA
SHIVE
SHIVS
SHIVY
SKICE
SKIDI
SKIDS
SKIED
SKIES
SKIEY
SKIFT
SKIIS
SKIME
SKIMO
SKIMS
SKINK
SKINT
SKIOS
SKIPS
SKIRL
SKIRP
SKIRR
SKITE
SKITS
SKIVE
SKIVY
SKIWY
SLICH
SLIER
SLILY
SLIMS
SLINE
SLIPE
SLIPS
SLIPT
SLIRT
SLISH
SLITE
SLITS
SLIVE
SMICH
SMICK
SMIFT
SMILY
SMIRR
SMIRS
SMITS
SMIZE
SNIBS
SNICK
SNIED
SNIES
SNIFT
SNIGS
SNIPS
SNIPY
SNIRL
SNIRT
SNITE
SNITS
SNITZ
SNIVE
SNIVY
SOIGN
SOILS
SOILY
SPIAL
SPICA
SPICE
SPICK
SPICS
SPICY
SPIDE
SPIER
SPIFF
SPIFS
SPIKS
SPILE
SPIMS
SPINA
SPINK
SPINS
SPIRA
SPIRO
SPIRT
SPIRY
SPISE
SPISS
SPITS
SPITZ
SPIVS
SSING
STICH
STIED
STIES
STIFE
STILB
STILE
STIME
STIMS
STIMY
STINE
STION
STIPA
STIPE
STIPO
STIRE
STIRK
STIRP
STIRS
STITE
STITH
STIVE
STIVY
SUIDS
SUINA
SUINE
SUINT
SUIST
SUITY
SWICK
SWIES
SWIGS
SWILE
SWIMS
SWIMY
SWINK
SWIPE
SWIPY
SWIRD
SWIRE
SWITH
SWITS
SWIVE
SWIZZ

5 Letter Words Starting With T With I as the 3rd Letter

TAINT
THICK
THIEF
THIGH
THING
THINK
THIRD
TRIAD
TRIAL
TRIBE
TRICE
TRICK
TRIED
TRIPE
TRITE
TWICE
TWINE
TWIRL
TWIST
TWIXT
TYING
TRIES
TRIPS
TWINS
TAICH
TAIGA
TAIGS
TAIKO
TAILS
TAILY
TAINO
TAINS
TAIPI
TAIPO
TAIRA
TAIRN
TAISE
TAISH
TAITS
TEIAN
TEIID
TEILS
TEIND
TEINS
TEISE
THIGS
THILK
THILL
THINE
THINS
THIOL
THIRL
THIRT
THISN
TOIDY
TOILE
TOILS
TOING
TOISE
TOIST
TOITS
TOITY
TRIAC
TRIAS
TRICA
TRIDE
TRIER
TRIFA
TRIFF
TRIGA
TRIGO
TRIGS
TRIKE
TRILD
TRILL
TRIMS
TRINA
TRINE
TRINK
TRINS
TRIOL
TRIOR
TRIOS
TRIPL
TRIPT
TRIPY
TRIST
TRIXY
TSINE
TUILE
TUINA
TUISM
TWICK
TWIER
TWIGS
TWILL
TWILT
TWINK
TWINT
TWINY
TWIRE
TWIRK
TWIRP
TWITE
TWITS
TYIGH
TYIYN

5 Letter Words Starting With U With I as the 3rd Letter

UNIFY
UNION
UNITE
UNITY
URINE
USING
UTILE
UNITS
UBITY
UDISH
UMIAC
UMIAK
UMIAQ
UMIRI
UMIST
UNIAT
UNICA
UNICE
UNINN
UNIOS
UNISM
UNIST
UNIUS
URIAH
URIAL
URIAN
URIEL
URITE
USINE
UTICK
UVIOL
UVITO

5 Letter Words Starting With V With I as the 3rd Letter

VOICE
VOILA
VYING
VAIDS
VAILS
VAIRE
VAIRS
VAIRY
VEILS
VEILY
VEINS
VEINY
VLIES
VOICI
VOIDS
VOILE
VOIPS
VRILS

5 Letter Words Starting With W With I as the 3rd Letter

WAIST
WAIVE
WEIGH
WEIRD
WHICH
WHIFF
WHILE
WHINE
WHINY
WHIRL
WHISK
WHITE
WRING
WRIST
WRITE
WAIDE
WAIFS
WAIFT
WAILS
WAILY
WAINS
WAIRD
WAIRS
WAISE
WAITE
WAITS
WEIDS
WEILS
WEIRS
WEISE
WEISM
WEIZE
WHIBA
WHICK
WHIDS
WHIES
WHIFT
WHIGS
WHILK
WHILL
WHILS
WHIMS
WHING
WHINS
WHIOS
WHIPS
WHIPT
WHIRR
WHIRS
WHISH
WHISP
WHISS
WHIST
WHITS
WHITY
WHIZZ
WLITY
WOIBE
WRICK
WRIDE
WRIED
WRIER
WRIES
WRITH
WRITS
WRIVE

5 Letter Words Starting With Z With I as the 3rd Letter

ZAIDA
ZAIDE
ZAIDY
ZAIRE
ZEINS
ZEISM
ZEISS
ZEIST
ZOISM
ZOIST

5 Letter Words Starting With X or Y With I as the 3rd Letter

XVIII
XXIII
YAIRD
YLIDE
YLIDS
YLIKE
YOICK
YRIVD

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some 5 letter words with I in the middle?

Some of the most familiar are AGING, ALIEN, ALIGN, and ALIKE. The full list on this page runs to 1,552 words, sorted with likely Wordle answers first and marked in green.

What is the best Wordle guess among 5 letter words with I in the middle?

The strongest picks here are AGING, ALIEN, and ALIGN. Each has been a real Wordle answer and uses common letters, so even a grey result rules out a lot.

What do 5 letter words with I in the middle usually end in?

The most common last letter here is S, closing 364 of the words in this set. When your last tile is still grey, testing S there is the percentage play.

Are there 5 letter words with I in the middle with double letters?

Yes, 76 of them repeat a letter back to back, including AMISS, BLISS, and CHILL. Most players rule out repeated letters too early, so when a puzzle stalls, testing a double is often the way through.