Tile Swap strategy
Compare the current rack with the answer position by position. Find a tile that is already correct and avoid moving it. Then swap a misplaced letter directly into its target position whenever possible instead of making a visually satisfying but temporary arrangement. Mark every correct position before the first swap and recalculate after each move. A swap can fix one tile while displacing another, so judge it by the resulting position map rather than by whether the rack looks more word-like.
Solving RTAEH as EARTH
E belongs in the first position, so exchange it with R. Continue by placing A, R, T, and H into their indexed targets. Counting cycles in the permutation reveals why some scrambles need fewer swaps than others even when both look equally mixed. For RTAEH to EARTH, the permutation contains connected cycles. Placing E first changes the rack state and reveals the next direct placement. Counting cycles explains the minimum more reliably than guessing from the number of visibly misplaced tiles.
Review move efficiency
Replay one solved rack and compare your moves with a direct-position method. Record the first swap that failed to place either tile correctly. Replacing that move usually improves planning more than trying to tap faster. Record swaps that fix two positions, one position, or none. The zero-fix moves are the clearest improvement target. On a replay, ask whether a direct target swap was available at that moment and whether preserving an already correct tile would shorten the route.
