diff --git a/src/modules/loldle-emoji/state.js b/src/modules/loldle-emoji/state.js
index 52adb5c..78756eb 100644
--- a/src/modules/loldle-emoji/state.js
+++ b/src/modules/loldle-emoji/state.js
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@
  * keeps stats isolated per mode.
  */
 
-// Default tightened from 5 → 4: three emojis are a strong signal, so 4 keeps
-// tension without being unfair. Admins can override per-subject via the
-// hidden /loldle_emoji_setmax command (bounded by MAX_GUESSES_CAP).
-const MAX_GUESSES = 4;
+// Default round length. Admins can override per-subject via the hidden
+// /loldle_emoji_setmax command (bounded by MAX_GUESSES_CAP).
+const MAX_GUESSES = 5;
 const MAX_GUESSES_CAP = 10;
 const GAME_TTL_SECONDS = 60 * 60 * 24 * 7;
 
diff --git a/src/modules/loldle/README.md b/src/modules/loldle/README.md
index e3e470a..5b36a09 100644
--- a/src/modules/loldle/README.md
+++ b/src/modules/loldle/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Loldle Module
 
-Classic-mode League of Legends champion guessing game. Players get 6 guesses
+Classic-mode League of Legends champion guessing game. Players get 8 guesses
 (default; per-subject override via the hidden `/loldle_setmax` command, capped
 at 10) to identify a hidden champion; each guess is compared across 7
 attributes and the board is rendered as a monospace Telegram table.
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ empty board gives no hints, so it shouldn't count against the clock.
 - `lookup.js` — normalizes user input to a champion record.
 - `render.js` — Telegram HTML `<pre>` monospace table with auto-widthed
   label column.
-- `state.js` — KV persistence (`MAX_GUESSES = 6` default, `MAX_GUESSES_CAP = 10`,
+- `state.js` — KV persistence (`MAX_GUESSES = 8` default, `MAX_GUESSES_CAP = 10`,
   per-subject stats and config override).
 - `handlers.js` — subject resolution (user id in DMs, chat id in groups) +
   command flow.
diff --git a/src/modules/loldle/state.js b/src/modules/loldle/state.js
index ad5cdc9..f457d54 100644
--- a/src/modules/loldle/state.js
+++ b/src/modules/loldle/state.js
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@
  * at render time, so the board always reflects the live champions.json.
  */
 
-// Default round length. The 7-axis grid leaks enough info per guess that 6
-// is a fair target for typical play; admins can override per-subject via the
-// hidden /loldle_setmax command (bounded by MAX_GUESSES_CAP).
-const MAX_GUESSES = 6;
+// Default round length. Admins can override per-subject via the hidden
+// /loldle_setmax command (bounded by MAX_GUESSES_CAP).
+const MAX_GUESSES = 8;
 const MAX_GUESSES_CAP = 10;
 // Upper bound for a round — long enough for any real session, short enough
 // that stale KV entries get reclaimed automatically.