# "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:** 198

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### Author: ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3941 "2023-10-24T20:28:10Z")

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You may have heard this one before, but: what’s the difference between a cat and a comma?

One is a pause at the end of a clause, and the other has claws at the ends of its paws.

I’m fond of paws too - since adopting two kittens in the fall of 1982, I’ve only once been without cats, and that was for only a couple of months in 2019 between one generation of cats and the next.

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### 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: [October 25, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3942 "2023-10-25T00:40:27Z")

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Wordle 857 4/6

⬛🟧⬛⬛⬛  
🟦🟧⬛⬛🟧  
⬛🟧🟦⬛🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

RADIO  
SALVE  
BASTE  
CAUSE

I got too focused on the \_ASTE trap; that U snuck up on me.  
Could have been much worse than a four, though.

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### 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: [October 25, 2023, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3943 "2023-10-25T03:25:42Z")

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**Wordle 857 3/6**

🟨⬜🟨⬜🟩  
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

SLATE  
RAISE  
CAUSE

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3944 "2023-10-25T03:55:44Z")

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Wordle 857 3/6\*

🟨⬜🟨⬜🟩  
🟨⬜⬜🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

STALE  
ARISE  
CAUSE

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3945 "2023-10-25T04:03:25Z")

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WED OCT 25

Wordle 858 3/6\*

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟦  
🟧🟧🟧⬛⬛  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

ALONE  
RETCH  
RETRY

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2023, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3946 "2023-10-25T06:32:08Z")

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Wordle 858 2/6

🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

RATIO  
RETRY

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3947 "2023-10-25T07:22:11Z")

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Wordle 858 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 524  
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨 7  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

SLANT  
CHORE  
RETRY

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2023, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3948 "2023-10-25T08:30:40Z")

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Wordle 858 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨  
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜  
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟨  
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Slant  
Trick  
Motor  
Duper  
Retry

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3949 "2023-10-25T10:12:02Z")

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Wordle 858 3/6\*

\begin{aligned} &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt B} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt D} \\ &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt M} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt Y} \\ &\bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt T} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt Y} \\ \end{aligned}

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3950 "2023-10-25T10:19:12Z")

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Wordle 858 5/6

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨  
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨  
⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛  
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

**FLAME**  
 **SHUNT**  
 **BRICK**  
 **PODGY**  
 **RETRY**

If I had used my old starter words, SALET ROUND CHIMP BAGGY, I might have gotten it in 3. It would’ve looked like this:

Wordle 858 3/6 (example only)

⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨  
🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

**SALET**  
**ROUND** — _leaving retch retry; and I probably would’ve gone with_  
**RETRY**

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3951 "2023-10-25T10:39:00Z")

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Wordle 858 3/6

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟨  
⬛🟨⬛🟩🟨  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

PLANT  
STORE  
RETRY

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3952 "2023-10-25T12:34:23Z")

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Wordle 858 3/6

🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨  
🟩🟩⬜⬜🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

RAISE  
REPLY  
RETRY

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3953 "2023-10-25T13:00:34Z")

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Wordle 858 3/6

⬜🟩⬜🟩🟨  
⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

HEART  
METRE  
RETRY

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![mattgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mattgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattgg)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3954 "2023-10-25T13:47:35Z")

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> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> It has indeed been 400 games since PARER.
> 
> Since then, I have 22 2’s, 182 3’s, 158 4’s, 32 5’s, 5 6’s, and a loss (JOKER, Wordle #675). Averaging the loss in as a 7, I have an average of 3.5475 guesses per game since PARER. (In the 232 games I’d played up through PARER, my average was 3.978; the less said about my play back then, the better.)

I don’t keep track of game-by-game stats so I can’t break my results down like that but I can say that before I started playing using the same strategy as Wordlebot I had a lot more 4s than 3s. Now I get a 3 five times out of seven and my 3s have surpassed my 4s.

I daresay that I’m better at Wordle than Wordlebot is because I have two advantages. First, I have some knowledge of which words have been answers before. I don’t consult a list; I rely on my memory (which let me down recently when I guessed SHIRK over SMIRK, having forgotten that SHIRK had already been used). Second, I think I’m a better judge than Wordlebot of what’s likely to be an answer. For example, when the answer was TEMPO Wordlebot recognized that the possible remaining words after my first two guesses (ignoring past tense words formed by adding -ED) were BEGOT, DETOX, DEPOT, and TEMPO. I remembered that DEPOT had been used before and felt that BEGOT and DETOX were unlikely answers (BEGOT more so than DETOX), so I went with TEMPO for the 3. Wordlebot chose DEPOT in that situation. My 14-game average as shown by Wordlebot is 3.2 and has been as low as 3.0.

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3955 "2023-10-25T14:36:09Z")

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Wordle 858 4/6

⬜🟦⬜⬜🟦  
⬜⬜⬜🟦🟦  
⬜🟧🟦🟧🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

CRANE  
DIVER  
MERRY  
RETRY

---

<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: [October 25, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3956 "2023-10-25T15:37:57Z")

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Wordle 858 4/6\*

🟨🟨🟨⬛⬛  
⬛🟨⬛🟩🟨  
🟨⬛⬛🟩🟨  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

TREAD  
STORE  
EXERT ← stupid! I already tried the E there.  
RETRY

I can’t believe I didn’t see this. It’s a very common word in Octordle.

ETA: Way to go, @psychobunny !

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3957 "2023-10-25T16:41:33Z")

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> **Wordle 858 4/6\* 10/25/2023**
>
> ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨  
> ⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨  
> 🟩🟩⬜⬜🟨  
> 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
> 
> CAUS_E_ → Nice to KO three vowels with the first guess. Try only one other vowel, to go with three comcons next  
> LON_ER_ → Good R pickup, and that looks like a nice prefix. Last vowel, and a T, to try  
> **RE** MI_T_ → Ah, but it wasn’t the last vowel, was it?  
> **RETRY**
> 
> Took me an awfully long time to see the solution, because I was thinking about repeated Es.

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3958 "2023-10-25T16:45:12Z")

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> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> **SALET**  
> **ROUND** — _leaving retch retry; and I probably would’ve gone with_  
> **RETRY**

Wouldn’t RETIE have also been a possibility?

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Beesnest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@Beesnest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beesnest)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3959 "2023-10-25T17:05:29Z")

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NICE work Psyhcobunn  
Wordle 858 4/6

🟨⬜🟨🟨⬜earth

⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨prose  
🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨timer  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩retry I am tired of wordlebot criticising my elimination words when it does the same thing.

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<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: [October 25, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/3960 "2023-10-25T19:33:35Z")

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Wordle 858 5/6

⬛⬛⬛⬛🟦  
⬛⬛⬛🟦🟦  
⬛⬛🟦🟧🟧  
⬛🟧🟦🟧🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

ASIDE  
LONER  
QUERY  
BERRY  
RETRY

Step by step… Inch by inch…  
Since U was the only vowel left at three, I felt really good about QUERY. What a fool I was. Had I jumped into the \_ERRY trap one sooner, I would have saved a step.

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