To think that if you get Wordle on the second guess it’s more luck than judgment?

[AuntyJanet]

My friend is extremely boastful about the fact she got Wordle right on the second guess. Thinks it’s down to inate skill and excellent vocabulary. However, I think getting it right on the second guess is largely down to getting lucky with the letters in your first guess.

Who’s right?

Adieu is a handy word to start with, 4 vowels.

@HollowTalk

I haven't checked on Twitter but are people revealing the words there? That might be what's happening with your friend.

No, they're just sharing the pattern. (as above)

@MakeMineALarge1

What are good starting words to use?

Words with two vowels.

And I usually try to get S, T, R, C, or H. in there. And not words with the same letter twice to start with.

Having said that, I always change words every day as using the same one is boring.

yuk - has American spellings without "U"s
think COLOR rather than COLOUR

not one that I came across, but to give you an idea

audit is a good starter word

@MakeMineALarge1

What are good starting words to use?

I quite like Teary & Pious and us them as openers quite often. Sometimes I pick Teams & Rough. I've also used Weary, orate, tonic, learns. Depends!

Depends on your first word. I always start with as many vowels as possible in my first word and work it from there. The only word that is a total guess is the first one.

I like ouija, adieu and saver as my first words.

@Jconnais1chansonquivavsenerver

I like ouija, adieu and saver as my first words.

I would have suggested saner as it uses n which is more common than v

It's also down to the quality of your first word. I love things like this, I don't play them often but I do enjoy them. So far my majority of right answers have been 2nd and 3rd guesses. I put it down to the word I use first being a good one... and then the extent of my vocabulary and spelling.

My friends also post their quick guesses, we now all know how to post the little picture. We also post the ones when it takes us all of the lines to get it right.

It's our thing. And on our Facebook we will crow, giggle, be smug, self congratulatory for as long as we remain interested. And we all know it just a bit of fun!

I have been using PARTY it's been quite useful.

I think getting it in two is luck, more guesses can be luck or strategy. For example the previous answer someone gave above being light, if you've got _ight after the first go, then if you pick light it's luck. A good strategy on the other hand would be to use an extra guess - which you know won't be right to reduce the number of possibilities e.g. ferns - if none of those letters go orange, you've ruled out five equally possible guesses (fight/eight/right/night/sight) in one guess, whereas if you'd just guessed each of those you'd have lost even though you used exactly the same strategy as the person who guesses light on their second turn.

You are negating the skill of choosing the first word. Done well, as in many of the examples here, that can really reduce the possible variations, making an early correct guess more likely.

It really is strategy built around literacy.

I've got several in 2, most in 3, some in 4 and 1 in 5.
The other trick is don't rush to play quickly, work out what the various choices are from your first and decide carefully your second word.

@Ariela - you're right, I have no idea where "saver" came from, I meant "stare"

Definitely a skill in choosing the first word but I still think you need a dose of luck to get it in 2.

I usually use a 3-vowel word or adieu.

Getting it on the first go is lucky. Getting it on the 2nd involves a fair bit of luck but also a bit of skill. Getting it on the 3rd go might not need any luck. Getting it on the 4th go involves neither luck nor skill. Getting it on the 5th or 6th go is embarrassing.

@Tulipomania

Definitely a skill in choosing the first word but I still think you need a dose of luck to get it in 2.

I usually use a 3-vowel word or adieu.

I use adieu too as if there is none of these vowels you know its either tryst rhythm or something with an O

You also need to remember they're American spellings.

I'm normally 3 or 4, but there is a huge element of guesswork anyway

I use a mixture of stare, adieu, audio and train as my first word. I actually love it when it takes me ages to get it! One I did in the archive the other day; boozy. Omg it took me a pencil and paper to get that one!

I just did the Dutch one in two, using a starting word which means both hangover and entire tom cat in Dutch. It's a weird language.