# "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:** 22
**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 11, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/421 "2022-01-11T15:39:11Z")
I was wondering about those spelling differences. They might color our experiences differently. They might colour our experiences differently. 🙂 ---
**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 11, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/422 "2022-01-11T15:45:09Z")
My wife just noticed that if you skip any given day, your current streak gets reset. FYI to us here. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/423 "2022-01-11T17:04:32Z")
Wordle 206 3/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜ ⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 My second consecutive 3 ! Feeling a bit cocky which probably means an ignominious fail next time … RATIO PRIME DRINK ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/424 "2022-01-11T19:23:06Z")
Wordle 207 4/6 🟨🟩⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟨🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 RATIO LABOR VAPOR FAVOR To be honest, I was helped by GuanoLad’s clue above. Should have got it 2 or 3. BTW I thought there was only one word at any given time. ---
**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 11, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/425 "2022-01-11T19:25:10Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I thought there was only one word at any given time. I think so too. There’s not? I have some thoughts about strategy but before posting them, and asking for comments, maybe I should first ask if this thread is just for posting game results, not chatting. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/426 "2022-01-11T19:30:05Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > > [@Lantern2](#): > > > > I thought there was only one word at any given time. > > I think so too. There’s not? I dunno. GuanoLad could do 207 when everyone was doing 206. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/427 "2022-01-11T19:34:33Z")
I have an 83% win rate so far. Given that I was a bit confused at the beginning, and that I have difficulty distinguishing between the green and what looks like a lighter shade of green when only the lighter color is present, that’s not bad. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/428 "2022-01-11T19:42:17Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I dunno. GuanoLad could do 207 when everyone was doing 206. It’s set to local time, AFAIK. Consdering GuanoLad’s gripe about American spelling, I’m guessing Australia or New Zealand. New Zealand is something like 18-19 hours ahead of US Eastern and Central times, which is where most of us are. ---
**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 11, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/429 "2022-01-11T19:48:53Z")
Yes, it’s set to the time on your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/430 "2022-01-11T19:54:21Z")
Ah OK. That makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/431 "2022-01-11T19:58:34Z")
Have you seen this thread? [What’s your Wordle Approach](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-wordle-approach/957372) ---
**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 11, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/432 "2022-01-11T20:05:24Z")
> [@SoToasty](#): > > Have you seen this thread? No, I hadn’t. That’s the place for my strategy chatter. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/433 "2022-01-11T20:16:35Z")
Wordle 206 (1/11/22 PST) 4/6\* 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ROAST BRINE GRIND DRINK > [@Bullitt](#): > > My wife just noticed that if you skip any given day, your current streak gets reset. Ah! That explains why my streaks are so short, despite being at 100%. Sometimes I play at work, sometimes at home. ---
**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 11, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/434 "2022-01-11T20:30:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes, it’s set to the time on your computer. The word changes right at midnight based on your local time. Which can be changed, of course. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/435 "2022-01-11T20:31:00Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Yes: PRINK I had never heard that word before today. Ignorance fought! I’d agree that, depending on what you’ve eliminated thus far, the end is sometimes a crapshoot. I think it’s the mix of cryptological analysis in the early clues turning into an almost crossword-type of game later on is what gives Wordle it’s appeal. So, in the given example, BRICK was the rainmaker for me. I might have also tried BIRCH. A lot of the other possibilities I could think of had letters I had already eliminated - E is in SIREN, for example. There also aren’t many 5-letter words ending in IR or RI, so my third row placement of those two were almost mandatory. IRISH would have probably been my worst-case scenario after I had gone with BRICK. ---
**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 11, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/436 "2022-01-11T20:31:50Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > My wife just noticed that if you skip any given day, your current streak gets reset. > > Ah! That explains why my streaks are so short, despite being at 100%. Sometimes I play at work, sometimes at home. I started the game on 12/24 with my phone, and because of this I’m going to keep using my phone every day. ---
**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 11, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/437 "2022-01-11T20:36:09Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > Yes: PRINK > > I had never heard that word before today. Ignorance fought! > > I’d agree that, depending on what you’ve eliminated thus far, the end is sometimes a crapshoot. I think it’s the mix of cryptological analysis in the early clues turning into an almost crossword-type of game later on is what gives Wordle it’s appeal. I should have spoilered that PRINK — I realized only too late. That crypto analysis is how this game is a little like the old game, Mastermind. (From 1970, invented by an Israeli postmaster and telecommunications expert) > **[Mastermind (board game)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind_(board_game))** > > Mastermind or Master Mind (Hebrew: בול פגיעה, romanized: bul pgi'a) is a code-breaking game for two players invented in Israel. It resembles an earlier pencil and paper game called Bulls and Cows that may date back a century. > Mastermind was invented in 1970 by Mordecai Meirowitz, an Israeli postmaster and telecommunications expert. After presenting the idea to major toy companies and showing it at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, it was picked up by a plastics company, Invicta Plastics, ... ---
**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 11, 2022, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/438 "2022-01-11T23:00:11Z")
Whoops, people are on Jan 12 already, and I’m not going to look at the rest of the thread yet because somebody always seems to post without specifying which one. Jan 11, which I gather is 206 though I never seem to see any numbers: got this one in three, after a long pause thinking about my second result. ASTE_R_ _R_U_NI_C DRINK – I’ve occasionally resorted to writing possibilities down on a piece of paper. I’m tempted to go haul out Scrabble tiles and shuffle those around when I get stuck. I don’t think either of those is cheating, but the Scrabble tile idea feels like it, somehow. Opinions? (I’ll look at the thread again after I’ve done tomorrow’s.) ---
**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:** [January 11, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/439 "2022-01-11T23:06:11Z")
Sorry I gave a clue everyone. I thought everybody else had already done 207, I didn’t realise I was the first on it. In fact, I’m not sure why I was first, I’m usually last. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/440 "2022-01-11T23:11:57Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > In fact, I’m not sure why I was first, I’m usually last. As above, we’re guessing you’re from Australia or New Zealand. You get a new one based on midnight on your local machine. It’s still not Jan 12 for most of us for another 6-9 hours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=23)