[kcartlidge]

Opinions vary based on the input text, but the English letter frequency list I use starts ETAONRISH in descending frequency.

Based on that, coupled with a little bit of insight on English words (as opposed to random collections of 5 letters) I've ended up with ALIEN, STORM, CHUMP as my regular first 3. Sometimes I deviate if the earlier rows offer insight, and sometimes I swap the first 2 based on a whim.

And unless it is obviously worth a try, I use my first 3 words to eliminate letters and not to guess.

I usually get it in 4, sometimes in 5, almost never needing 6, and have failed once. So not necessarily the best, but good enough.

[Kiro]

You're obviously playing easy mode or you wouldn't be able to use that strategy. I recommend enabling hard mode.

[lostlogin]

A lot of the suggested methods are doing what was suggested to me, but indirectly.

Guess all the vowels early. TRADE and PIOUS is how I usually do it, but ALIEN may be a better starter.

[BLKNSLVR]

+1 for PIOUS, and don't sleep on AUDIO.