# "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:** 19
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/361 "2022-01-10T12:35:34Z")
Near miss today. Wordle 205 6/6\* β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›πŸŸ¨ β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›πŸŸ©β¬› β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ© β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ© β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ© 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/362 "2022-01-10T13:02:12Z")
It took me 5 guesses today. Wordle 205 5/6 β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨ β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Nice going, @Lantern2, @Lsura, and @SoToasty! ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/363 "2022-01-10T13:09:12Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Waffled on guess 3 between two choices I got to that point and could only come up with one choice after scratching my head for 20 minutes. Maybe you eliminated different letters than I did? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/364 "2022-01-10T13:11:57Z")
πŸŸ¨πŸŸ©β¬›β¬›πŸŸ© β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 My simple strat to it getting it: Keep using a wide spread of the most commonly used letters until you have a good amount of confirmed/excluded letters to build a cinch response. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/365 "2022-01-10T13:27:52Z")
Your strategy only works on normal mode. On hard mode, you have to use every yellow and green letter, and the green letters must be in their proper spaces. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/366 "2022-01-10T13:31:13Z")
Ah there’s modes. Thanks. It seemed odd that no one is choosing to give an incorrect response for a better chance at getting the following one correct. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/367 "2022-01-10T14:01:54Z")
That’s how I usually use my second guess. > [@Roger\_That](#): > > I got to that point and could only come up with one choice after scratching my head for 20 minutes. Maybe you eliminated different letters than I did? My guess 3 was FIERY. Close but no cigar. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/368 "2022-01-10T14:05:21Z")
Wordle 205 4/6\* β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ¨ β¬›πŸŸ¨πŸŸ©β¬›β¬› β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬› 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 SW **E** A_R_ P_R_ **E** EN CL **ER** K **QUERY** ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/369 "2022-01-10T14:08:54Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > My guess 3 was FIERY. Close but no cigar. I did every, then fiery, then emery. β€˜Emery’ was a waste since I was reusing an eliminated option - I’d put my phone down for a bit and suppose I lost my train of thought. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/370 "2022-01-10T14:12:55Z")
Got lucky today! NAMED TIERS QUERY ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/371 "2022-01-10T15:14:21Z")
Really thought I was going to lose my streak, today: Wordle 205 6/6\* GO_R_G_E_ _RE_ADS LAM_ER_ ← thought I was dead here E_R_ **E** CT ← by process of elimination, now know where R goes FI **ERY** ← lucky pickup of Y & eliminated F & I, what’s left? still have a U… **QUERY** The dead-letter display at the bottom saved me on this one. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/372 "2022-01-10T16:05:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > On hard mode, you have to use every yellow and green letter, and the green letters must be in their proper spaces. Wait… that’s how I’ve been playing. What? Wordle 205 5/6\* β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›β¬› β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›β¬›πŸŸ© πŸŸ¨πŸŸ©β¬›β¬›πŸŸ© β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ¨β¬›πŸŸ© 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/373 "2022-01-10T16:09:46Z")
I had a useful initial play, which gave me the first three letters… but then it all came down to luck. Wordle 205 5/6 ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/374 "2022-01-10T16:10:08Z")
Wordle 205 4/6 β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨πŸŸ¨ β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›β¬› β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬›πŸŸ¨πŸŸ¨ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ADIEU STROP LEMUR QUERY ---
**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:** [January 10, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/375 "2022-01-10T16:30:31Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Wait… that’s how I’ve been playing. The asterisk on your little chart indicate hard mode. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/376 "2022-01-10T16:34:09Z")
Lol. Had no idea. I mean, I remember selecting hard mode when starting, but didn’t know it impacted game play because, apparently, my strategy _is_ hard mode. πŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/377 "2022-01-10T17:18:16Z")
Jan 10: PATIO F_ER_N **Y** EM **ERY** QUERY – for some reason I had a really long pause between 2 and 3, during which I just plain couldn’t think of anything that fit (voluntary hard mode). I don’t know why, one of the guesses somebody else made seems utterly obvious to me now. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/378 "2022-01-10T17:37:51Z")
Is getting it in three pure luck? Certainly getting in one must be, and getting it in two, I think so. Four is definitely more like skill or gamesmanship, and five is a certification of literacy. But what is three? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/379 "2022-01-10T17:41:13Z")
Well, it’s both. I could have gotten it in three if I chose the other word I was thinking of in my process of elimination. Same a few puzzles ago that I got in four, but could have gotten in three if I just guessed the other word first. I don’t have any fives yet β€” they are all threes and fours, but I’m not playing hard mode. My first two words are always the same and I really start making educated guesses at three. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/380 "2022-01-10T17:43:18Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m not playing hard mode. I am. I don’t know what the difference is, exactly, between the two. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=20)