# "Wordle," a strangely compelling word game (Part 2)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** board-card-word-game\
**Created:** [March 25, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659 "2023-03-25T23:59:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 113

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**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2241 "2023-07-20T04:15:56Z")

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Wordle 761 4/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜  
⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜  
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

RATIO  
SHALE  
CLAMP  
FLANK

Should have checked the N again. This time I got lucky. I suspect there were other words I didn’t see (could have been BLANK, BLAND, GLAND).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SeaSun](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seasun/32/14820_2.png) [@SeaSun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaSun)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2242 "2023-07-20T05:56:09Z")

</div>

**Wordle 760 3/6**

⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜  
⬜🟨🟨🟩⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

STAIR  
UNTIL  
TONIC

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![QMatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@QMatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QMatic)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2243 "2023-07-20T08:19:27Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 4/6\*

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨  
🟨⬜🟩⬜⬜  
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

VIOLA  
LEASH  
FLACK  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2244 "2023-07-20T09:45:03Z")

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Wordle 761 5/6\*

\begin{aligned} &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt B} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt D} \\ &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt C} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt H} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt I} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt N} \\ &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt S} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt P} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt N} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt K} \\ &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt T} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt W} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt N} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt K} \<--- !? \\ &\bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt F} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt L} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt N} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt K} \\ \end{aligned}

Well, that was a bit BDSM !

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2245 "2023-07-20T11:31:19Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 4/6

⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜ 18  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 3  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 2  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

First thought: THREE GREENS!!! 🎉  
Second thought: IT’S A TRAP!!! 😮 😁

SLANT  
CLANK  
BLANK  
FLANK

Came up with nine possibilities right off the bat (and it turned out that’s all there were, but still). Rejected ELAND as being a bit obscure, and BLAND and PLANK had already been used. That still left BLANK, CLANG, CLANK, FLANK, GLAND, and PLANE.

Went with CLANK on 2: if no C or K, it would be GLAND or PLANE; if a C but no K, it would be CLANG; a K but no C, it would be BLANK or FLANK. So worst case was a 4. And of course both C and K would get me a 2.

DRECK was the closest thing to an untrapping word I could come up with, and it wouldn’t have made a difference.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2246 "2023-07-20T11:57:50Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 3/6

⬛🟩🟩🟩⬛  
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

PLANT  
BLANK  
FLANK

Similar deal to @RTFirefly above, except my opener eliminated plane instead of slant. I decided to trust the B, and then cross my fingers that it wouldn’t be clank.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2247 "2023-07-20T12:02:02Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 4/6\*

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛  
🟩⬛⬛🟨⬛  
🟩🟩🟩⬛🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

SHORT  
FIELD  
FLACK  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2248 "2023-07-20T12:25:40Z")

</div>

> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> First thought: THREE GREENS!!! 🎉  
> Second thought: IT’S A TRAP!!! 😮 😁

It sure was a trap!

Wordle 761 6/6\*

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜  
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Scoredle 6/6\*

14,855  
🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ ARISE (1,010)  
⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 THANK (5)  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 PLANK (3)  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 BLANK (2)  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 CLANK (1)  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 FLANK

According to Scordle, I tried every wrong answer in the wrong order. After the second guess there were only 5 possible words, and once I hit a \_LANK word, it was impossible (in hard mode) to lose, though I sure gave it a try.

And to add insult to injury, Scoredle does its traditional “SLATE” and instantly determines that “FLANK” is the next natural choice, for a 2.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2249 "2023-07-20T12:35:13Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 6/6

⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛  
⬛⬛⬛🟩⬛  
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩  
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩  
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

**SALET**  
 **ROUND** — _at this point it is likely BLANK CLANG CLANK FLANK PLANK_  
 **BLANK**  
 **CLANK**  
 **PLANK**  
 **FLANK** — _I kept guessing wrong_

My trap was four greens!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2250 "2023-07-20T12:35:51Z")

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Should have quit again while I was ahead.

Wordle 761 5/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜  
🟨⬜🟩⬜⬜  
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟨  
⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

READY  
LOATH  
PLAIN  
SLANG  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2251 "2023-07-20T12:41:22Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 4/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜  
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩  
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

HEART  
BLACK  
FLASK  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chiliwillybing](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chiliwillybing/32/12394_2.png) [@chiliwillybing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiliwillybing)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2252 "2023-07-20T13:12:44Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨  
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

IDEAL  
SALON  
BLANK  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2253 "2023-07-20T14:55:54Z")

</div>

> **Wordle 761 5/6\* 7/20/2023**
>
> ⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜  
> 🟨⬜🟩🟩⬜  
> ⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜  
> ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
> 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
> 
> TO_N_IC → Slow start. I’ll try a throwaway with a terminal S…  
> _L_E **AN** S → Good one! But a little trappish, once I move the L over  
> G **LAN** D → What? Oh, must be a terminal K. Still need to exercise, so  
> P **LANK** → C is gone, so try the F  
> **FLANK**
> 
> Upon reviewing Scoredle, I should have used BLAND as my third guess, which would have assured me a 5.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2254 "2023-07-20T15:44:33Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 5/6

🟦⬛⬛⬛⬛  
⬛⬛⬛🟦🟦  
⬛🟧🟧🟧🟧  
⬛🟧🟧🟧🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

ASIDE  
MORAL  
PLANK  
BLANK  
FLANK

Hard to say I got “lucky” with a five, but I wanted to try an N at three and PLANK was the first word that came to mind. From there it was a coin toss, which I lost.  
ASIDE’s average jumps from 4.36 to 4.42.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2255 "2023-07-20T15:54:59Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 6/6\*

🟦🟧⬛🟧⬛  
⬛🟧🟧🟧⬛  
⬛🟧🟧🟧⬛  
⬛🟧🟧🟧🟧  
⬛🟧🟧🟧🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

ALONE  
SLANT  
BLAND  
CLANK  
PLANK  
FLANK

I think running out of options with the last guess is the only reason I lucked into getting out of the trap.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2256 "2023-07-20T17:27:58Z")

</div>

I foolishly thought I would have a ‘two’ today.

Wordle 761 4/6

⬜🟧🟧🟧⬜  
⬜🟧🟧🟧⬜  
⬜🟧🟧🟧🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

PLANE  
SLANT  
BLANK  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2257 "2023-07-20T18:56:14Z")

</div>

> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> I foolishly thought I would have a ‘two’ today.

Yeah, I thought that for myself for a brief moment. Then I saw the trap.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2258 "2023-07-20T23:26:00Z")

</div>

Wordle 761 3/6\*

🟨⬜🟩⬜⬜  
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

LEAST  
CLAIM  
FLANK  
I was lucky to (unintentionally) not fall in the traps

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [July 20, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2259 "2023-07-20T23:46:41Z")

</div>

Yoiks. I think I’m happy with a 4 today!

Wordle 761 4/6\*

⬛⬛🟩⬛⬛  
⬛⬛🟩🟨⬛  
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

IRATE  
SCALP  
BLANK  
FLANK

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![QMatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@QMatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QMatic)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2023, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/2260 "2023-07-21T05:17:47Z")

</div>

Wordle 762 4/6\*

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜  
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜  
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

MAIZE  
SPOUT  
CHURL  
BURLY

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