Hurdle

@JanetO299482, 

Great question—this confuses many players.

The key thing to know is that Hurdle scoring isn’t just based on solving each puzzle on the first try. The total score reflects how efficiently you solve all five puzzles combined, including carryover guesses and bonuses tied to the final round.

Even if you solve the first four puzzles in one guess each, you don’t automatically hit the max score.

Players reaching scores like 16,200 are typically:

• Using very few total guesses across all rounds (not just first-try solves)
• Maximizing efficiency in how quickly they lock in the correct letters
• Benefiting from the final puzzle, which uses previous answers and can significantly boost your score when solved quickly

There’s no hidden trick or shortcut—it really comes down to minimizing total guesses across all puzzles and making the most of the final round advantage.