Do you do Wordle, the daily word puzzle? I started doing it back in January, and have done it most days since. On Sunday I completed my 300th puzzle
It took me five steps, but I was pretty HAPPY with my result. During the year, I've got the answer within 6 steps apart from 3 times. Twice I was rushing and made a typo, the third time I had two possible answers in my head, but chose the wrong one. I always start with STARE, and usually use POUND or CLIMB next. I dislike Wordles which have repeated letters or American spellings, or both [HONOR] and I don't do ANY of the variations [nerdle, quordle, dordle etc] I have friends who do it as a family challenge, and compete to get the daily word in fewer goes than their relatives - but I solve it by myself. Bob is not particularly interested, even though he introduced me to the idea.
I usually do an online crossword and a killer sudoku everyday. If only I could develop the habit of regular daily physical exercises as well as these mental ones! They all have health benefits I'm sure.
If you are a player, what is your preferred starting word?
And have you ever "got it in one"?
Never one, but occasionally successful in two guesses.
ReplyDeleteIt took all six to get to HAPPY!
My starting word is ‘audio’
Audio certainly gives you a good idea about the vowels!
DeleteStare is a word I have started with quite a few times but I just tend to change it for variation. I have a Wordle WhatsApp group with my 3 of my inlaws which I only joined in August on holiday. Sadly, never got it in one though I remember Kirsten saying she got it in one once on one of my posts!
ReplyDeleteI found today hard! I think I've not got it in 6 between 1-3 times- can't remember!
Glyph was an awful one!
Kezzie x
It can only be chance if you get it in one - not skill. I like STARE, POUND , CLIMB because they cover more than 50% of the alphabet and most of the frequently used letters.
DeleteMy starter word is 'audio' too, and I am from Dorset as well, Jane!!
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting coincidence
DeleteOn the advice of my granddaughter I usually start with adieu, sometimes audio or radio.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI do Wordle with varying success. I use ADIEU as a starter as it has 4 vowels. I have managed so score some in 2 goes but mostly in 4 or 5.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise that adieu was an acceptable word - it's French !!
DeleteI don't do the official Wordle anymore since it became a paid for purchase, but since August I do one on my phone that is an English app and therefore virtually all English spellings. My chosen starter words are usual GREAT or an anagram of it, if none of those letters are in place, I usually try something obscure like NYMPH. The best I have ever done it in is 2, a couple of times actually, more by chance than skill. I have failed completely four times :-(
ReplyDeleteI like nymph as a second word choice. You can get the official wordle free from the New York Times website (not an app)
DeleteYes, I do Wordle every day and can usually get the word in 3 or 4. I have changed my starting words from suite and broad to omega and quits. I must admit I throw the towel in when it's an American word.
ReplyDeleteOmega us a good 3 vowel starter
DeleteGreat minds must think alike because I always start with stare too. What makes me crazy is when I have all the letters but one or two and keep guessing the wrong word! The best I've ever done is getting it in two tries.
ReplyDeleteYes, so frustrating when it's something like munch, lunch, bunch of hunch!!
DeleteI don't do Wordle - at the moment - but looks interesting
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It has the virtue of being only one a day, so you can't get sucked into "I'll just do another and then start housework"...
DeleteI always start with ARISE and then, if that isn't helpful, with POUND. I've at least covered all the vowels then. We have a family Wordle group, but I'm not competitive. I don't know if the others are!! :-)
ReplyDeleteARISE is good (esp if you're like me, and sitting up in bed with a morning cuppa as you solve it)
DeleteThis takes me back to my childhood where we played a game where you each chose a 5-letter word with no duplicate letters and you took turns in giving 5-letter words to each other and saying how many of those letters were in the word to be guessed. You were not told if any of the letters were in the correct place so that made it harder. One day my brother chose “dairy” for his word and I chose “diary”. We were both afraid to say our word in case we were wrong and it gave the other the answer. My favourite - and probably the last time we played - I chose “parse”. The letters can also be used to spell pears, pares, spare, spear, and rapes (though we would NEVER have used such a word in any game). He was so infuriated at getting “5 letters correct - but not the right word” for an answer several times in a row!
ReplyDeleteNow that does sound a fun game
DeleteYes, it is, and all you need is two pieces of paper and two pencils. I imagine someone would repackage it with fancy answer pads etc and charge a fortune for it similar to yahtzee which only needs 5 dice plus paper and pencil to keep score. The rules are in Hoyles (or these days just search online) so why spend all that money? I find it amusing/infuriating to see so many simple games repackaged commercially when you can play them simply with just Hoyles to tell you how. You don’t need a special deck of cards or a boxed game to play crazy eights, or rummy, or hearts, or old maid, or fish….. What a waste of money - and storage space.
DeleteYou are absolutely right, so many "commercial" games are just repackaged versions of the simple parlour games our grandparents played (with just dice, pencil& paper, or a regular pack of cards)
Delete8 start with SLATE and then use OCHRE. I agree with another blogger that getting it 2 or 3 is more of a skillcthan a whole in one!
ReplyDeleteOCHRE is a fun word - I know someone who uses TAUPE as a started. I wonder what other 5letter colours you could have (Brown, mauve, olive, black....)
DeleteMy husband and I do the Norwegian version every morning :) I always start with RADIO. Our son introduced us to the game this summer.
ReplyDeleteRADIO is clearly a popular start word
DeleteI often do Wordle and if I'm in the mood I will go on to Quordle and Octordle. Sometimes I do well, sometimes not so well. I've been using TIGER as a starter followed by MOUND. I can see that there are better starters to try!
ReplyDeleteTIGER is a good word, in terms of frequency of the letters - plus you get 2 vowels
DeleteAt the beginning, I tried different words to start - ocean; ratio; clean; adopt, until I finally settled on 'stare', just like you. If that brings no joy, I use 'cloud' although I like your 'climb' too. I think which starting word is best depends on how one sees words. Some like to have the vowels first; I prefer the structure of the consonants.
ReplyDeleteI have never been so lucky to get it in one try, but usually need 3-5 chances. I have very few 2s or 6s. Let's hear it for average! ~ skye
That's interesting about the consonants. Do you watch Only Connect? They have a "missing vowels" round which I like and I suspect its because, like you, I see the structure of the consonants!
DeleteWordle is something my daughter and I play when we video chat each night. We've always chosen random starting words - I must suggest starting with a word like "stare" to her. :)
ReplyDeleteThis game seems very popular with families who are separated
DeleteBread and spout are usually my first choices. Then maybe fling or ching. My husband always starts with irate, which often seems quite appropriate as the game progresses!
ReplyDeleteI misread that as BREAD and SPROUT! Obviously the Christmas menu is high in my thoughts at the minute. IRATE does seem apt.
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