Wordle is blowing my mind.

[Tom Montgomery]

.
I began checking out the official New York Times "Wordle Bot" after each morning's play of the game. The Bot analyses one's play.

Yesterday morning I solved the puzzle in five guesses. My first guess was "RAISE." The Bot analysis: "This is a great opening word. On average this will cut the number of possible solutions to 61." My second guess - "TASER" - surprised the Bot, "I'll have to be honest. I had to look that one up." But that guess reduced the number of correct solutions to two... according to the Bot. My third guess - "ASPEN" was a valid guess and accepted by the game... but was NOT in the game's database of 2,309 solutions! WTF? Nevertheless the Bot said my guess had "narrowed it down to one possible solution." My fourth guess was "ASKED." Puzzle solved? No! Once again a valid choice but "isn't one of 2,309 Wordle solutions." Sheesh.... My fifth choice was the solution: "ASKEW."

My first thought was that this was all a result of the NYT admitted editing of Josh Wardle's original game database to eliminate British word usage and dumb down the game for Americans. But all my guesses are words in common use.

Then this morning I did it once again! I solved the puzzle in 4 guesses. But after my second guess the Bot analysis was: "You've narrowed it down to one possible solution. You should solve the puzzle on the next turn." But my next guess, while accepted as a valid choice, was not among the game's database of solutions. The Bot told me, "Sorry, I don't make the rules." Totally FUBAR. Or maybe I'm too smart to be playing the NYT version game?

[willin woodworks]

Its fun, I do it after the crossword on the train in the morning. I get all the vowels up in my first two lines, usually solve by third or fourth

[WszystekPoTrochu]

Or maybe I'm too smart to be playing the NYT version game?

Definitely that.

[AlanMc]

yeah, my problem playing the game is that i keep using somewhat obscure words. i had one last week where on the second guess i had all but one letter in the right spot. i still didn't get the word in 6 tries as i was using all kinds of strange words when it turned out to be something basic

[David G]

I did that same 'asked/askew' misstep. <sigh>

[nick.kohl]

Love this game! But there is always a significant element of lucky guessing, regardless of how many goes it takes you. For example, the other day I quickly got to the position of knowing it was _IGHT - but then guessed might, night and fight before getting the correct answer (light). When it's tough to find words, use this word finder. Works fine for me

[WszystekPoTrochu]

Love this game! But there is always a significant element of lucky guessing, regardless of how many goes it takes you. For example, the other day I quickly got to the position of knowing it was _IGHT - but then guessed might, night and fight before getting the correct answer (light).

it took you four attempts, while doing flame + light would have taken two

[WszystekPoTrochu]

Three attempts if it were night instead of light.

if neither l,f nor m light up, you try night on the second attempt

unless there's a fifth word we're missing?

[AndyG]

Got in two, this morning.

"MAGNIFICENT" was my badge today.

Andy

[David W Pratt]

Three attempts if it were night instead of light.

Would B,D,E,R,S,T, and W also fit?

[Anthony Zucker]

If you like Wordle, please try the NYTimes Spelling Bee. It can take longer than the crossword puzzle some days, a real challenge.

The Times also has Quardle, which is four dimensional Wordle.

The Times has moved on from being the grey, old newspaper

[WszystekPoTrochu]

If you like Wordle, please try the NYTimes Spelling Bee. It can take longer than the crossword puzzle some days, a real challenge.
The Times also has Quardle, which is four dimensional Wordle.
The Times has moved on from being the grey, old newspaper

Quordle is neat!

I sometimes play mathler, give it a try
+ three difficulty levels
+ trains basic math
+ international
- less laid back

[David G]

Having used it twice... I think maybe WordleBot is imperfect.

[AlanMc]

now there's octordle as well.

[David G]

Wordle is fine for me. Tried Spelling Bee also, but it's too involved. I'm not looking to fill an empty schedule, or kill time. But Wordle is a fun, quick, little brain limbering snippet. That's why I leave the NYT crossword to my sweetie, only serving as a backup when she's stuck.

[David G]

I'm playing Wordle regularly now. Sharing scores and analysis with some high school buddies. I'm finding it enjoyable. One complication is that the 4 year old grandson finds it fascinating. So he's been 'helping' me. And we've been trying different ways for him to be involved without buggering it up too badly. The latest is: I come up with the words, and he gets near-veto power of approval. Worked today. Anyone else playing regularly now that the fad aspect has maybe worn off a bit?

Wordle 338 3/6


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[StevenBauer]

I play still. I’ve gotten it in two just once. My longest streak is 8. Because I forget to play sometimes. I usually get it in 4. 3 just twice.

[Paul Pless]

and he gets near-veto power of approval.

how very democratic

[David G]

how very democratic

Not hardly. He doesn't grok 'democracy'. At 4, he reckons he should rule the world. It's a stongly-held belief. But back in Reality... he spends a lot of time trying to avoid the 'authoritarian' (he would say tyrannical if he had the vocabulary) dictates of the adults in his life. <G> He regards adult discussions for joint decision-making as incomprehensibly tedious and pointless. He just figures that [insert whatever adult is in favor at the moment] should decide. It is a hoot.

[Jimmy W]

I usually play at night before going to bed. Got it in 3 last night.

[AndyG]

It's become part of 'start the day' here. The wife and I swap our personal tribulations and horror stories.

Thing is, my current streak is 29, and - over the past five days - I've two'd it three times. (Mostly by lucky first words, of course).

Andy

[Stiletto]

I usually play Wordle just after going through the WBF. I've got it in two a couple of times.

[AndyG]

A scary six this morning.

...but the tea's not kicked in yet.

Andy

[epoxyboy]

I did have an almost perfect bell curve going on with the stats graph, but a spate of 4's and 5's has skewed it badly lately. I tried that wordle bot thing mentioned in the OP, and rapidly decided it was a load of bollocks after a very similar experience.
Anyway, I do it most mornings first thing at work while filtering through the usual morass of email. Helps engage the brain.

Pete

[Tom Montgomery]

.
I solved it in 3 this morning. I play first thing most mornings.

[mike9199]

I read that AUDIO is one of the most popular choice on the first round.
I always start the game with the same opening world few times made it in 2 trials.
Also starting the game with vowel is a better choice from my experience https://word-finder.com/words-that-start-with/a/.
Anyone agrees with that?

[David G]

Started with a bust, but recovered --

Wordle 340 4/6


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[StevenBauer]

On my first try this morning I got the last four letters correct! And I still didn’t get it in two. Dammit!

[Tom Montgomery]

^
Yeah, I hate when that happens.

Wordle 340 5/6
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[David G]

I play still. I’ve gotten it in two just once. My longest streak is 8. Because I forget to play sometimes. I usually get it in 4. 3 just twice.

I've just hit 99 tries. Totally missed a solution 7 times. Current streak is 1 (started a game and forgot to come back to it recently)... and longest is 39. The bulk of my solves have been in 3 or 4 moves (26 & 27). Seven in 2 moves. One in 1 move.

My stats would be better of course, if 4 hadn't gotten interested/involved... but not all that much better, methinks. Some of his First Word choices have been 'whacky' but surprisingly useful.

[WI-Tom]

I've never finished in more than one guess. Then again, I've never played yet.

Tom

[David G]

I've never finished in more than one guess. Then again, I've never played yet.

Tom

I think what you mean to say is that - of all the times you've tried - you've yet to solve even one. <G>

[WI-Tom]

I think what you mean to say is that - of all the times you've tried - you've yet to solve even one. <G>

No, no. I've yet to fail to solve even one! That's the proper spin!

Tom

[David G]

No, no. I've yet to fail to solve even one! That's the proper spin!

Tom

<snort>

[WszystekPoTrochu]

The Times also has Quardle, which is four dimensional Wordle.

I must say I enjoy even losing that one

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