# "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:** 298

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### Author: ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5941 "2024-02-19T21:41:04Z")

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Ah, I’m not the only 2!

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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: [February 19, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5942 "2024-02-19T21:43:30Z")

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_You may say I’m a dreamer, but…_

> [@SuntanLotion](#):
>
> I’m not the only 2!

😁

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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: [February 20, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5943 "2024-02-20T01:49:13Z")

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Wordle 975 2/6\*

⬜🟩⬜🟨🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

TROPE  
PRICE

@SuntanLotion joining you and Aspenglow with another 2! My first 2 in several weeks.

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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: [February 20, 2024, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5944 "2024-02-20T05:19:02Z")

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**Tuesday, February 20**

Wordle 976 4/6

⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨 294  
🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜ 8  
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜ 1  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

SLANT  
CHORE  
BUMPY  
MATCH

BUMPY was of course a sleuth word to get out of the -ATCH trap, and fortunately the H and W words had already been used.

---

<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: [February 20, 2024, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5945 "2024-02-20T05:21:01Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6

⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

RATIO  
LATCH  
HUMPS  
MATCH

Found the trap early but had 6 options, two of which CATCH and HATCH, required a sleuth word to either start with the letter or have a double letter. The best I could come up with was to eliminate three and a second sleuth word would at least guarantee a five. I am curious how much easier this would be if I used the prior word list.

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<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: [February 20, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5946 "2024-02-20T05:24:09Z")

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**Wordle 975 3/6**

⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩  
🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

SLATE  
CHOIR  
PRICE

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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: [February 20, 2024, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5947 "2024-02-20T08:14:45Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6

⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛  
🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛  
⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

**STERN**  
**CLOUD**  
**GIMPY**  
**MATCH**

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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: [February 20, 2024, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5948 "2024-02-20T08:57:08Z")

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> **Wordle 976 3/6\* 2/20/2024**
>
> ⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜  
> ⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜  
> 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
> 
> PRI **C** E → Good start, more for eliminations than anything. What should go after that C? I’ll try a K. A would be a good choice for a vowel. Then, two comcons to make  
> SL_A_ **C** K → So maybe try a terminal H, A moves to second, ?ANCH goes nowhere, ?ATCH gives [BMW]ATCH, the ultimate Wordle trap machine. I think I’m safe. Trust the B? No, try the M  
> **MATCH**
> 
> I was not safe, as I hadn’t seen [CH] as first-letter options. I had a fifty-fifty shot at losing if it had been one of them. It’s enough to drive a player to checking used-word lists.

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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: [February 20, 2024, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5949 "2024-02-20T09:33:57Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6\*

🟦⬛⬛⬛⬛  
🟦⬛🟦⬛🟧  
⬛🟧🟧🟧🟧  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

ALONE  
TRASH  
WATCH  
MATCH

Chalk one up for dumb luck!

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2024, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5950 "2024-02-20T10:08:08Z")

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[spoiler]Wordle 976 3/6

🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜  
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩[/spoiler]

CHALK  
WATCH  
MATCH

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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: [February 20, 2024, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5951 "2024-02-20T10:33:26Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6\*

\begin{aligned} &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt B} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[yellow,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[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt S} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt P} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt I} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt C} \\ &\bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt C} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt L} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt O} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt K} \\ &\bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt M} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt T} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt C} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt H} \\ \end{aligned}

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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: [February 20, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5952 "2024-02-20T12:17:04Z")

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Wordle 976 3/6

⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜  
⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

RAISE  
BALMY  
MATCH

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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: [February 20, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5953 "2024-02-20T13:07:50Z")

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Wordle 976 6/6

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

Doing my Fred Astaire impression and dancing all around the solution  
HEART  
WATCH  
LATCH  
BATCH  
HATCH  
MATCH

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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: [February 20, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5954 "2024-02-20T16:03:47Z")

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Ugh.

Wordle 976 5/6

⬜⬜🟦🟦⬜  
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟦  
🟦🟧⬜⬜⬜  
⬜🟧🟧⬜🟦  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

SLATE  
POINT  
TARRY  
DATUM  
MATCH

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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: [February 20, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5955 "2024-02-20T17:01:08Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6

⬛⬛⬛🟧⬛  
⬛🟧⬛🟧🟧  
⬛⬛⬛⬛🟦  
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧

OUNCE  
LARCH  
SWEPT  
MATCH

Tough trap today. Had to lay up and shoot for the par.

> [@psychobunny](#):
>
> I am curious how much easier this would be if I used the prior word list.

It was helpful to know that CATCH and HATCH were already used, so there were no repeat letters to worry about. Of course I screwed up on my sleuth word because WATCH has been used and BATCH has not - I got it backwards, but caught a little luck anyway.  
I used to never look at the list; now I feel like I rely too heavily on it. I should probably take a step back and rely on my own wits (or lack there of) again.

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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: [February 20, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5956 "2024-02-20T20:25:08Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6

⬛⬛🟨⬛🟨  
⬛🟩🟩⬛⬛  
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

PLANT  
RATES  
BATCH  
MATCH

After 2 I got stuck on fatty/catty, but I didn’t really like either of those as wordle answers. Eventually I did see the \_atch trap, which has almost entirely been used before except for batch and match. And then of course between those two choices my dumb ass trusted the B.

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<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: [February 20, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5957 "2024-02-20T21:59:18Z")

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Wordle 976 6/6\*

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

LEAST  
TABOO  
GAUNT \<— played the T in 5th spot again  
FATTY  
PATCH  
MATCH

Whew!

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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: [February 21, 2024, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5958 "2024-02-21T01:32:00Z")

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Wordle 976 4/6\*

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜  
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜  
🟩🟩⬜🟨⬜  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

TROPE  
STAIN  
MALTY  
MATCH  
I had a hard time with this one, but looking at others’ struggles I count myself lucky. When I saw the solution, I thought that my 3rd guess was dumb, but WordleBot praised it: “Terrific choice. MALTY would have been one of my top picks. There’s only one possible solution left — you should solve the puzzle on your next turn.”

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<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: [February 21, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5959 "2024-02-21T01:43:09Z")

</div>

Wordle 976 4/6\*

⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛  
⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨  
🟨🟩⬛⬛⬛  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

IRATE  
BLOAT  
TANSY  
MATCH

Yeah, I’ll gladly take the par today.

---

<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: [February 21, 2024, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5960 "2024-02-21T05:29:04Z")

</div>

Wordle 977 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜  
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜  
⬜🟨🟩⬜🟨  
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

RATIO  
SHINE  
CLIMB  
BUILD

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