Imagine you are a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, one of the longest-running game shows on television, second only to The Price is Right. You have played well so far. There were a few unlucky spins and one wrong guess in the first round, but nothing that would make you go viral, like Tavaris Williams’ famous mistake.
Now, you are in the Bonus Round. This is your chance to make history. You could become only the fifth person ever to win $1 million on the show.
Or, you could be another contestant who struggles to solve the puzzle, leaving viewers at home shocked. If luck is on your side, the answer could be “RESTLESSNESS,” a word that contains all six free letters given to you: R, S, T, L, N, and E.
The History of Bonus Round Letter Selection
Before 1988, contestants in the Bonus Round had to choose five consonants and one vowel. They then had 15 seconds to guess the puzzle. According to host Pat Sajak, the most commonly selected letters were R, S, T, L, N, and E. These letters were chosen for a logical reason.
They are among the most frequently used letters in the English language. In fact, these six letters alone make up about 45 percent of a typical English text. Because of this, contestants who selected them had a good chance of revealing at least one or two letters in the puzzle.
It made sense for players to pick these letters. If the puzzle used common words, they were likely to appear. However, this strategy became so predictable that almost everyone chose the same letters.
Why R, S, T, L, N, and E Became Free Letters
In 1988, the producers made a rule change that shook up the game. Instead of allowing contestants to pick these six letters, the show gave them away for free. Contestants could then select three additional consonants and one more vowel.
No official reason for this change was given, but it made the Bonus Round more exciting. Since almost every contestant had been choosing the same six letters, the puzzles became too predictable.
With this new rule, contestants had to think carefully about which four extra letters might help them solve the puzzle. However, there was also a risk. If the puzzle did not contain any of the chosen letters, then Vanna White, the show’s famous letter-turner, would not have any work to do at all.
Did This Change Help Contestants?
A big question remains: Did giving contestants these six letters improve their chances of winning? The answer appears to be no. The number of Bonus Round winners has remained low. This could be because the producers make the puzzles more difficult.
Ben Blatt, a writer for Slate, studied over 13,000 puzzles from the show’s early rounds and more than 2,000 Bonus Round puzzles. He noticed a big difference between the two. In the early rounds, the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E appeared in about 44.7 percent of puzzles.
This percentage matches their frequency in normal English writing. However, in the Bonus Round, these letters appeared only 29.6 percent of the time.
This suggests that the producers choose words and phrases that do not use these common letters as often. Even though contestants receive these letters for free, they do not help as much as they used to.
Additional Changes That Made the Bonus Round Harder
Another rule change in 1988 also made solving puzzles more difficult. Before the change, contestants had 15 seconds to solve the Bonus Round puzzle. After the change, they were given only 10 seconds. This shorter time limit made it even harder to figure out the answer.
With these two changes, winning the Bonus Round became more challenging. Contestants had to be more strategic when selecting their additional letters.
The Best Letters to Choose in the Bonus Round
Even though R, S, T, L, N, and E are not as helpful as before, contestants can still improve their chances by picking the right additional letters. Blatt analyzed data from thousands of Wheel of Fortune puzzles and found the best choices. The four best letters to pick are H, G, B, and O.
There are good reasons for this selection:
- O is the fourth most common letter in the English language. It appears in nearly 10 percent of Bonus Round puzzles.
- H, G, and B also appear frequently in Wheel of Fortune answers.
- If a contestant selects H, G, B, and O, they will reveal about 22.5 percent of the puzzle’s letters.
According to Blatt’s research, when at least 75 percent of a puzzle’s letters are revealed, contestants correctly guess the answer 83 percent of the time. This means that a smart selection of additional letters can significantly improve the chances of winning.
How R, S, T, L, N, and E Took on New Meaning
In recent years, R, S, T, L, N, and E have gained a new meaning on Wheel of Fortune. With Ryan Seacrest set to become the new host, the letters have been humorously reinterpreted. The show now uses them as an acronym: “Ryan Seacrest To Launch New Era.”
This fun wordplay connects the show’s history with its future. It is a reminder that Wheel of Fortune continues to evolve while keeping its core elements the same.
Final Thoughts on the Bonus Round Strategy
The Bonus Round is one of the most exciting parts of Wheel of Fortune. Contestants must rely on both luck and strategy.
The rule change in 1988 made the game more challenging by giving players R, S, T, L, N, and E for free while reducing the time limit. However, the producers also made the puzzles harder by choosing words that do not contain these letters as often.
Despite these challenges, contestants who select their additional letters wisely still have a chance to win. Research suggests that choosing H, G, B, and O can increase the likelihood of revealing more letters in the puzzle. While winning is never guaranteed, smart letter choices and quick thinking can improve the odds.
For fans of Wheel of Fortune, the game remains as exciting as ever. Whether watching at home or competing on the show, understanding the strategy behind the Bonus Round makes the experience even more enjoyable.
