Guess #1:  SERAI

• "E" is in the correct place
  
• "R" is out of place
  
• Approx 25 remaining words
  

Guess #2:  DETER

• Good guess!
  
• Only 3 remaining words:  GENRE;  LEERY;  REVUE
  
• Guaranteed in 4
  

GUESS #3:  GENRE

• Yup
  

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "E" is out of place
  
• "A" is out of place
  

Guess #2:  POUTY

• 16 remaining, or so
  

GUESS #3:  LATKE

• "A" is in the correct place
  
• T, K, E are out of place
  

GUESS #4:  TAKEN

Since "SERAI" worked so well yestersday, I thought I'd try a new first word, "ADIEU".  Been wanting to try this for awhile, but don't have a good strategy going forward.

Guess #1:  ADIEU

• "I" is out of place
  
• "E" is out of place
  
• About 60 remaining words
  
• I wish the first guess had an "S" and an "R"
  

Guess #2: CHEST

• "E" is still out of place
  
• "S" is out of place
  
• Turns out, that was good 2nd guess!
  
• There are only 3 or 4 remaining words:  "RESIN", "SERIF", "SINGE", and "LEXIS" (maybe)
  
• Guaranteed win in 4
  

Guess #3: RESIN

• Bingo
  

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "S" is in the correct place
  
• "I" is in the correct place
  
• Good, but rare, outcome
  
• Only 1 possibility !
  

Guess #2: SUSHI

• My first "2" in ages
  

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "S" is in the correct place
  
• "E" is out of place
  

Guess #2: TONED

• "O" is out of place
  
• "E" is still out of place
  
• Six possible:  SCOPE;  SHOVE;  SLOPE;  SMOKE;  SOLVE;  SPOKE
  

Guess #3:  SLOPE

• Only the "L" is wrong
  
• Down to one !

Guess #4:  SCOPE

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "A" is out of place
  

Guess #2: POUTY

• "T" is out of place
  
• "Y" is in the correct place
  
• Six possible:  TABBY;  TACKY;  TAFFY;  TALLY;  TANGY;  TAWNY
  
• Interesting problem:  Guess a word that can guarantee a win in four
  
• I think "BLANK" fits the bill
  

Guess #3:  BLANK

• "A" in out of place
  
• "N" is in the correct place
  
• Down to one !
  

Guess #4:  TAWNY

• It worked
  

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "S" is in the correct place
  
• "I" is out of place
  

Guess #2: POUTY

• "O" is in the correct place
  
• Two possible answers:  SOLID or SONIC
  

Guess #3:  SOLID

• Wow

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "E" is out of place
  
• "I" is out of place
  

Guess #2: DINGY

• "D" is out of place
  
• "G" is out of place
  
• Good guess though.  Down to GLIDE or GUIDE
  

Guess #3:  GUIDE

• Wow

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "R" is in the correct place
  

Guess #2: POUTY

• "O" is out of place
  
• "T" is out of place
  

Guess #3:  THROW

• Wow
  

Disclaimer:  I'd heard today's puzzle was royally difficult.  So, that explains my 3rd guess.  Don't consider this a representative day.

Guess #1:  SERAI

• "E" is out of place

Guess #2: POUTY

• "U" is out of place
• 17 possible words left

Guess #3:  QUEEN

• Uh huh