My Wordle "house" rules
To add a bit of flavor to the daily word guessing game
I enjoy the game Wordle. It’s usually quick and engaging, and it is very easy to play. Also free! The game play is simple. You have six attempts at guessing 5-letter words to discover that day’s word. One new word per day.
I’ve found, however, that each Wordle can start off fairly rote if you use the same starter word, or a small group of starter words that include high-frequency letters, the famous Wheel of Fortune R-S-T-L-N-E. Or others like A-C-H, etc. For example, the words “feast” or “learn” or the vowel-heavy “adieu.” Worse, if you use the same starter word, you will never have the opportunity to guess that days word on the first guess, which is extremely elusive, but would be astounding. Why not at least try? Use a new word each day, which is my first rule below.
Also, after you have correctly guessed letters, but before you have guessed the whole word, Wordle doesn’t require you to use correctly guessed letters in subsequent guesses. So you can guess words with other non-used letters to give yourself a greater chance at finding non-used letters which you can use in future guesses. There’s nothing wrong with that, and in fact it might help you solve the Wordle more quickly. But you could take a different approach to give yourself a bit more of a Wordle challenge. See my rules #3 and #4 below.
Here they are, my “house rules” Maybe you would like these unwritten rules too:
Your first guess must be the most recent 5-letter word you came across in life, no exceptions. By “came across” I am referring to 5-letter words from something you read, heard on the news, or in conversation. That first 5-letter word can be from literally any source of words. If you use the NY Times Games app, and you play Spelling Bee before playing Wordle, you will often have a new 5-letter word handy. Optional Pro Rule: keep of list of starter words and never repeat a starter word.
You may not use any plural nouns.
If you find a green letter (correct letter, correct space), you must use it in the same space in every following guess.
If you find a yellow letter (correct letter, incorrect space), you must use it in every following guess, and you may not use it in the same space.
Give my rules a try, and see what you think. It might mean you don’t discover the word of the day as frequently. But I find the rules make Wordle more exciting! I’d love to hear your thoughts. Comment below if you have any other Wordle house rules.
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