In this puzzle, solvers often struggle with the purple category, particularly with the term "MAIL." The challenge here is that players may initially think of various types of mail such as "CHAIN" or "ELECTRONIC" without recognizing that they don't all fit into a coherent category. The inclusion of "JUNK" and "SNAIL" as clear types of mail can lead to confusion when trying to categorize the other two terms. Additionally, players might mix up the doppelgänger words, especially if they are not familiar with the terms like "RINGER," which can be mistaken for a different context altogether, leading to misgrouping.

To distinguish the real groups from plausible decoys, solvers should look for consistent themes and definitions within the words. For example, in the yellow category, all terms are specific ranks in a standard deck of playing cards, which can help solvers quickly identify them as a cohesive group. In contrast, the doppelgänger category contains words that describe identical or similar entities, which is a more abstract concept. Recognizing these thematic connections can help players avoid the trap of mixing categories based on superficial similarities.

A useful heuristic for future puzzles is to first identify any clear groupings based on well-known categories or themes before diving into less obvious connections. This involves quickly sorting words into potential categories and then examining each group for consistency. Another effective strategy is to eliminate words that clearly do not fit into any identified category, which can help narrow down options and clarify the remaining groupings.