# What's your Wordle approach? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [January 7, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372 "2022-01-07T14:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2022, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/141 "2022-03-07T09:38:43Z")
Here are the last 70 words, not including today’s. WEARY — started on 24 Dec 2021 PICKY ACUTE FERRY ASIDE — 5 TAPIR TROLL UNIFY — 31 Dec 2021 REBUS — 01 Jan 2022 BOOST — 10/10, 02 Jan 2022 TRUSS SIEGE TIGER BANAL SLUMP — 15 CRANK GORGE QUERY DRINK FAVOR — 20/20, 12 Jan ABBEY TANGY PANIC SOLAR SHIRE — 25 PROXY POINT ROBOT PRICK WINCE — 30/30, 22 Jan CRIMP KNOLL SUGAR WHACK MOUNT — 35 PERKY COULD WRUNG LIGHT THOSE — 40/40, 01 Feb MOIST SHARD PLEAT ALOFT SKILL — 45 ELDER FRAME HUMOR PAUSE — the last day on [powerlanguage.co.uk](http://powerlanguage.co.uk) ULCER — 50/50, 11 Feb; now on [nytimes.com](http://nytimes.com) ULTRA — Wordle error in my totals; still says 50 ROBIN CYNIC AROMA CAULK — 55 SHAKE DODGE SWILL TACIT OTHER — 60, 21 Feb THORN TROVE BLOKE VIVID SPILL — 65 CHANT NASTY MOURN AHEAD BRINE — 70, 06 Mar ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/142 "2022-03-13T10:39:53Z")
Natch. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/143 "2022-03-20T15:57:42Z")
Since I’ve started playing Wordle any 5 letter word I see stands out as a potential Wordle. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/144 "2022-03-21T18:32:20Z")
I play in hard mode. I’ve been experimenting with different opening words, but right now I’m thinking of using BUNCH - I am most worried about another \_ATER or \_ATCH situation, so I feel that eliminating as many medium common consonants as possible is desirable before locking down squares with common consonants and vowels. Another benefit is that hitting a less common consonant narrows down the word list more than hitting a common consonant - though I think CLAMP from Johnny\_Bravo above is a better word for this strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/145 "2022-03-21T19:02:03Z")
In hard mode is it possible to put in letters that cannot be in that spot? By the way, I did some checking and the letter combinations with the most possible final letter are \_IGHT and \_OUND (sight and sound). There are nine that end with \_IGHT. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/146 "2022-03-21T20:19:16Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > In hard mode is it possible to put in letters that cannot be in that spot? Once a letter is green, you’re locked in. If a letter is yellow, you must include it somewhere but can purposefully use it incorrectly if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/147 "2022-03-21T22:18:39Z")
So, if I picked NIGHT as the first word and it had IGHT as green then all I could do is go through all of the \_IGHT words and hope I pick the right one in five tries? There wouldn’t be any strategy, other than don’t pick a \_IGHT word unless you have a lot of the other letters eliminated. If I get a green on the first pick I will frequently choose not to put in subsequent picks until I think I might have the word. Putting a different letter in that spot gives more information. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/148 "2022-03-21T22:24:58Z")
Good idea. Choose FERAL as your second guess in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/149 "2022-03-21T23:25:35Z")
FERNS would give you FIGHT, EIGHT, RIGHT, NIGHT and SIGHT. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/150 "2022-03-21T23:33:50Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > There wouldn’t be any strategy, other than don’t pick a \_IGHT word unless you have a lot of the other letters eliminated. Right. On hard mode, picking an \_IGHT or \_ATCH or etc. word early on would be extraordinarily risky and you should avoid doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/151 "2022-03-22T22:58:52Z")
I’ve been starting with NOISE or PAEON for a vowel-rich start. Sometimes with OATER. Today I had four of the five letters by the third try and none of them were in the correct place. ::headsmack:: ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/152 "2022-04-03T18:10:03Z")
PAEON. I like it! Some, like @Chefguy and me, go after the vowels as their strategy, while others like to go after the consonants. What’s your Wordle strategy? Lately I’ve been using AIERY and LOTUS as my first two guesses. That knocks out all vowels while also knocking out four frequently-used consonants. My next followup word is MUNCH, which collectively knocks out eight frequent consonants. If needed, like in today’s puzzle, I’ll then use PUDGE and FLOWN to go after the next most frequent consonants. After those four guesses today’s situation left me with this: ⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨 I started to worry. I only had the E and the R! But fortunately the fifth guess yielded 🟩⬛⬛🟨⬛ and I was able to solve it. With each guess I also have the sets of letters that remain. Those five sets are as follows and each set is listed by descending frequency: AIERY — {T S O N L H D C U M G P F B W K Z V X J Q} LOTUS — {N H D C M G P F B W K Z V X J Q} MUNCH — {D G P F B W K Z V X J Q} PUDGE — {F B W K Z V X J Q} FLOWN — {B K Z V X J Q} With each guess, depending on the results I can choose to deviate from this strategy. Now thinking in reverse strategy, I wonder what words use the fewest letters from the first five guesses and also the most letters from the remaining set? I can think of BAKER as one that uses only three letters, the A E and R. If the Wordle word was BAKER (and if I stuck to the strategy) the results would be 🟨⬛🟨🟨⬛ for AIERY ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ for LOTUS ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ for MUNCH ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨 for PUDGE ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ for FLOWN and leaving {B K Z V X J Q} That’s not too bad of a situation. It’s easy to see the word is BAKER. But I wonder if there’s another word that leaves the situation worse than BAKER? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/153 "2022-04-03T19:11:46Z")
Is that tomorrow’s puzzle? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/154 "2022-04-03T22:30:06Z")
It’s today’s. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/155 "2022-04-03T22:37:19Z")
Ha! Fair enough. What number? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/156 "2022-04-03T22:43:40Z")
#288. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/157 "2022-05-03T10:43:39Z")
Still starting out with AIERY, but after watching someone speedrun through one of the multiple-word versions of Wordle (Sedecordle, I think, which is 16 words), I’ve been trying a new approach to those: trying FLAME, BRICK, SHUNT and PODGY first. If I get enough to work with it’s all good; if not, I’ve just used 20 common letters including all the vowels, and leaving only J, Q, V, W, X and Z. Downside is that unless you hit with one of them, you’re only left with one miss. But I find that I rarely need that miss. Wouldn’t use it for the original Wordle, though, unless you want a lot of 5’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/158 "2022-05-04T15:22:55Z")
I’m missing a Wordle in my list. Can someone help? Here’s what I have. HEIST Wordle 310 SHOWN ZESTY TRASH LARVA Wordle 315 What’s the missing Wordle? TIA. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/159 "2022-05-06T09:14:09Z")
HASTY is between ZESTY and TRASH. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2022, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372/160 "2022-05-07T22:15:16Z")
Is “w” not somewhat common? If i were using 4 starter words, i think I’d want to include “w”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372.md?page=9)