6-letter words with A as the 1st letter and H as the 6th letter

The final tile is fixed, so the last two letters do the sorting: -SH takes eight matches, -CH six, -GH four, and -TH and -AH two each. Only AMBUSH and ATTACH are everyday words, and 11 entries carry a definition. Collins keeps all 22, NWL2023 13 and ENABLE 12.

At a glance for the A-to-H words

• All 22 matches end in H, and the -SH digraph is the busiest with eight words.
• AMBACH tops the group on 15 points, with AVOUCH, AWATCH and AKEDAH next on 14.
• Only AMBUSH and ATTACH count as common words.
• Collins lists all 22 matches, NWL2023 carries 13 and ENABLE 12.
• The average score is 11.6, lifted by the 4-point H in the final square.

What do the five H endings look like?

The -SH group holds eight matches: ABLUSH, AFRESH, AGUISH, AMBUSH, ANKUSH, ASPISH, ARRISH and ASLOSH. Four of those describe a state: ABLUSH, AGUISH, ASPISH and ASLOSH. AMBUSH is the only one of the eight that counts as a common word.

-CH supplies six words: ANARCH, ATTACH, AVOUCH, AMBACH, AREACH and AWATCH. Then come the -GH four (AARRGH, AWEIGH, ABEIGH, ANOUGH), the -TH pair (ACANTH, ANEATH), and finally ALIYAH and AKEDAH, which are the only -AH endings.

Which of these words is worth playing?

Scores run high for such an obscure group because H pays 4 points. AMBACH uses C, B and H together for 15, AVOUCH and AWATCH reach 14, and AWEIGH, ANKUSH and AMBUSH land on 13. ATTACH is the familiar verb of the set and still returns 11.

Nine matches appear in Collins but not NWL2023: ABEIGH, ACANTH, AKEDAH, AMBACH, ANEATH, ANOUGH, AREACH, ARRISH and AWATCH. That includes the top scorer, so confirm the entry in the dictionary your game uses before you build a play around AMBACH or AWATCH.