# "Wordle," a strangely compelling word game (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [December 24, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604 "2021-12-24T21:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 151
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3001 "2022-04-18T14:43:23Z")
Wordle 303 3/6 β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¦β¬›β¬› β¬›πŸŸ¦πŸŸ§πŸŸ§β¬› 🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧 VOICE TRAIN FLAIR I recently added VOICE to my list of start words with 3 vowels and this is the first time I’ve used it. I wasn’t sure about having two less-common consonants, but in this case eliminating the C was quite helpful. I barely had to think at all on this one; the whole thing was over in about 15 seconds. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2022, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3002 "2022-04-18T14:50:46Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I recently added VOICE to my list of start words with 3 vowels and this is the first time I’ve used it. POISE or NOISE would give you the same vowels with more common consonants. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3003 "2022-04-18T15:13:11Z")
Those are also on my list. I like to switch things up. 😁 ---
**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:** [April 18, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3004 "2022-04-18T15:31:30Z")
Makes perfect sense to me. Switching up the starting word is probably the only reason it feels fresh after 100+ daily plays. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3005 "2022-04-18T15:47:55Z")
> **Wordle 303 3/6\* 4/18/2022** > > 🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜ > ⬜⬜🟩🟨🟨 > 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 > > _A_MP_L_E β†’ Meh, move the vowel into the middle & try common consonants… > SN **A** _RL_ β†’ Hmmm… RLA/LRA doesn’t work, nor L?A?R. So, ?LA?R. 4th letter must be vowel, but not OUY, so must be I, so > **FLAIR** > > Expected an _Office Space_ reference once I completed; was not disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3006 "2022-04-18T15:49:56Z")
Wordle 303 3/6 ⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜ ⬜🟨🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 STARE BRAID FLAIR ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3007 "2022-04-18T15:59:06Z")
Three at last, three at last. I’m happy with three at last. Wordle 303 3/6\* πŸŸ¨πŸŸ¨πŸŸ©β¬›β¬› β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ© 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 IRATE CHAIR FLAIR ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3008 "2022-04-18T19:36:19Z")
Wordle 303 4/6\* β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› β¬›πŸŸ¨πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬› β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ© 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 SWEAT BRAIN CHAIR FLAIR OK with 4. I hope to get back to some 3s soon. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3009 "2022-04-18T21:25:59Z")
Wordle 303 3/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 OUTER CHAIR FLAIR Nice and fast, due to elimination of options by lucky (ish) first guess. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2022, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3010 "2022-04-18T22:00:03Z")
Tomorrow’s suuuuuuccckkkeeed! Wordle 304 X/6 ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ---
**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:** [April 18, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3011 "2022-04-18T22:29:40Z")
πŸ‘Ύ ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3012 "2022-04-18T22:32:40Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Tomorrow’s suuuuuuccckkkeeed! OK. Time skipped out of curiosity. Just barely managed to pull it off. Wordle 304 6/6 ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟨⬜⬜🟩⬜ ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3013 "2022-04-19T01:18:06Z")
Got it in three. That almost never happens. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3014 "2022-04-19T02:44:14Z")
**Tomorrow’s Wordle, Today** After a none-too-promising start, it just clicked into place. I feel like I’m on the threshold of greatness. Wordle 304 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨 🟨🟨⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 > **Wordle 304** > > STAIN > CURVE > REPLY > FOYER ---
**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:** [April 19, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3015 "2022-04-19T04:12:38Z")
This one took me six. WordleBot said there were two solutions at my last guess. I never even considered the other one, so got slightly lucky. There are a lot of words that fit the pattern. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3016 "2022-04-19T04:16:15Z")
Wordle 304 6/6 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 RAISE LONER DOTER COVER NYMPH FOYER I threw in a Hail Mary on guess five to try to eliminate as many consonants as possible and got lucky with the Y. Almost lost this one. ---
**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 19, 2022, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3017 "2022-04-19T04:23:09Z")
Exactly the same for me, @psychobunny. Wordle 304 6/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨πŸŸ¨πŸŸ¨ β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ© β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ© β¬›β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 CLAMP STORE JOKER HOVER WINDY FOYER I used my best opener and got my ideal opening, covering my favorite seven consonants and three vowels. Useless! I was forced to break hard mode rules for guess 5 in order to secure the win. I did manage to get it down to one single possibility, but just barely. I may well have lost if I didn’t include a Y in my Hail Mary guess. Yikes. That’s my fourth 6 in the past couple weeks. ---
**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 19, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3018 "2022-04-19T05:02:47Z")
Oooh I almost forgot to do this today. Wordle 303 5/6 πŸŸ¨πŸŸ¨β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› πŸŸ¨β¬›β¬›β¬›β¬› ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 AIERY LOTUS MUNCH PUDGE FLAIR ---
**Author:** ![QMatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@QMatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QMatic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3019 "2022-04-19T05:57:07Z")
Wordle 304 4/6\* ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 SPOIL VOTER COWER FOYER After 2 I identified a short list of possible words, only two of which, COWER and MOWER, shared an unknown letter. ---
**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 19, 2022, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/3020 "2022-04-19T07:27:28Z")
I’ve long been fascinated by the β€œaiery lotus munch” opening gambit. Aiery as a first word is good if you’re only giving yourself two research words, but if you get three, why stuff so many vowels into a single word? It ends up repeating β€˜u’, which seems wasteful. Over the past several months I’ve occasionally tried to come up with a better combo and always failed. So finally I sat down and coded up an β€˜opening book finder’ of valid wordle guesses. Feed it some letters, it’ll tell you all possible word combinations. Repeat letters allowed. AIERY LOTUS MUNCH If you’d like to drop the second U and replace it with a P: CLAIM RUSTY PHONE Instead of P maybe you prefer K: HINKY CAMEL TOURS W could also be strong: TOWSY HUMAN RELIC But that’s assuming you’re firm on the other 14 letters. If I were going with three research words and ignoring hard mode (like I had to do for today’s stumper) I would probably drop both U’s, keep the Y, and add both P and K. So, β€˜AIERY LOTS MNCH PK’, which could be done as: CHALK MINER TYPOS Each one of these queries returns hundreds of possibilities, mostly using obscure words like towsy. If anyone would like a particular set of 15 letters to use for an opener, let me know and I’ll hook you up. (Or any multiple of 5. Program can handle 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 letters.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=150) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=152)