# "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:** 73
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1441 "2022-02-17T11:20:39Z")
Wordle 243 4/6 β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨ β¬›πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬› πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬› 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Thought I had it in 3 Thick Khaki Shako Shake ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1442 "2022-02-17T11:24:29Z")
It won’t accept SLAVE as a valid guess. With two guesses left. I had a choice of M, L, K, R, or V for the fourth letter. VALOR eliminated three of them, but then it was a 50-50 chance. I correctly went with K. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1443 "2022-02-17T14:08:01Z")
It’s words like SHAKE that can be problematic. There are at least 7 choices for the 4th letter: SHADE or SHAKE or SHALE or SHAME or SHAPE or SHARE or SHAVE Fortunately I guessed right and got it, just barely, in 6. Wordle 243 6/6 β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© β¬›β¬›β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨ πŸŸ¨β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¨β¬› πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬›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:** [February 17, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1444 "2022-02-17T14:09:32Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > It won’t accept SLAVE as a valid guess. With two guesses left. I had a choice of M, L, K, R, or V for the fourth letter. VALOR eliminated three of them, but then it was a 50-50 chance. I correctly went with K. Hey β€” spoilers please!!! ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1445 "2022-02-17T14:38:54Z")
8 you forgot Shako. πŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1446 "2022-02-17T14:40:13Z")
> **Wordle 243 3/6 2/17/2022** > > ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 > 🟩🟨🟩⬜🟩 > 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 > > C_A_UL_K_ β†’ OK, try something with E, S & T - STEAK? No, want to move the K… > **S** _K_ **A** T **E** β†’ SNAKE, perhaps? Or > **SHAKE** > > Got _really_ lucky on the second guess, though starting with the known K turned out to be crucial. SNAKE was another possibility right at the end. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1447 "2022-02-17T14:42:42Z")
Wordle 243 4/6 Another par: β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© πŸŸ©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:** [February 17, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1448 "2022-02-17T14:43:07Z")
> [@chela](#): > > 8 you forgot Shako. πŸ˜‰ I don’t think so…? ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1449 "2022-02-17T15:53:54Z")
> **[Shako](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shako)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > A shako (/ΛˆΚƒΓ¦koʊ/, /ΛˆΚƒeΙͺkoʊ/, or /ΛˆΚƒΙ‘Λkoʊ/) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, plume (see hackle) or pompom attached at the top. > The word shako originated from the Hungarian name csΓ‘kΓ³ for the peak, which Hungarian border soldiers (Grenz-Infanterie) added around 1790 to the... ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1450 "2022-02-17T16:29:56Z")
I learned some time ago to never look at this thread until I’m done with the game for the day. Really glad I didn’t today. Lucky third guess, though. Wordle 243 3/6\* β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 IRATE SHAPE SHAKE ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1451 "2022-02-17T17:00:26Z")
Similar to others: Wordle 243 5/6 β¬›β¬›πŸŸ¦πŸŸ¦β¬› πŸŸ§πŸŸ§πŸŸ§β¬›πŸŸ§ πŸŸ§πŸŸ§πŸŸ§β¬›πŸŸ§ πŸŸ§πŸŸ§πŸŸ§β¬›πŸŸ§ 🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧 Fortunately, my first guess eliminated three of the options for the 4th letter. And it still took me five guesses. DREAM SHALE SHAPE SHAVE SHAKE ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1452 "2022-02-17T20:32:41Z")
> [@chela](#): > > [Shako - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shako) You misread my post. I was iterating through choices for the 4th letter, not the 5th. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1453 "2022-02-17T20:38:59Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I learned some time ago to never look at this thread until I’m done with the game for the day. Really glad I didn’t today. > > Lucky third guess, though. > > Wordle 243 3/6\* > > β¬›β¬›πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© > πŸŸ©πŸŸ©πŸŸ©β¬›πŸŸ© > 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 > > IRATE > SHAPE > SHAKE I worry about this scenario because you can run out of guesses before running out of choices for the 4th letter! Your plays could have been IRATE SHAPE SHADE SHAME SHAVE SHALE … and you’d have been hosed. Edit β€” I also stay away from this thread! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1454 "2022-02-17T20:43:08Z")
Also got only greens on this one! This one was just guessing through all the many options that could fit. Wordle 243 4/6 🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜ 🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 SLANT SPARE SNAKE SHAKE ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1455 "2022-02-17T20:44:42Z")
Exactly – which is why I said it was a lucky third guess. πŸ™‚ After SHAPE, I went through and alphabetized the possible choices, as you did. Somehow I just felt like SHADE was less likely than SHAKE, so I skipped it. Something about the way the letters SHAKE when you try to use a non-word, I suspect. But even if I’d gone through the remaining choices alphabetically, I’d still have gotten SHAKE on my fourth try before I tried any of the others in your list. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1456 "2022-02-17T20:47:11Z")
also shale, shame, maybe others ---
**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:** [February 17, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1457 "2022-02-17T20:49:15Z")
Yes, those were on my list, too. Phew! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2022, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1458 "2022-02-18T01:05:44Z")
Wordle 243 5/6 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 WAY too many possibilities here. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1459 "2022-02-18T01:30:45Z")
I did misread it! Wordle. I just take a stab at it as soon as I open my eyes in the morning. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2022, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604/1460 "2022-02-18T02:40:56Z")
I got it in 6, but only because I’m an idiot. I got extremely lucky with my first word, STEAK. I had 4 out of 5 letters, with the first letter in the right place. As I was trying to think of possible words, I thought of SKATE, but didn’t use it because of course I knew the T was wrong. Then, by brain glitch, I tried SCALE, losing track of the K that I already had. I had three tries where I already had SHA\_E. So dumb. I blame Covid brain fog. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=72) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-1/956604.md?page=74)