People who start their Wordle with a vowely word like audio or alien are wrong

[AngelaBeverage]

Okay, so you've found out that your word has vowels. Well done. That narrows it down to just about every word.

I think a much better strategy is to start with lots of consonants, and especially consonants that can be used in consonant blends (like R or L) or digraphs (like C or H).

Vowels are less useful than consonants.

Ha! Spoiler for today’s Wordle below….

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I just played ADIEU now to see what the WordleBot scores it as an opener. And I got the answer in 2! Not because of the vowels but because of the consonant! 😂. So I am not sure what that proves but it tickled me.

Anyway WordleBot score ADIEU 80/99 as an opener. The Bot always chooses CRANE. The Bot agrees with OP.

I used to start with the same 2 words, but now to make it more fun/challenging I just look around me and pick something I can see that has 5 letters.

Got it in one once.

Well of course it does IF it has a P in it. But chances are, it won’t have a P in it. So then you have all the other consonants to pick from.

I start with AEONS, sometimes followed by JUICY. That's all the vowels covered. The rest is clever strategy and pure luck.

I usually start with a vowelly word, current favourite ADORE. I seem to alternate between getting it in 3 or 4 so strategy not going too badly. I might try your suggestion though!

I always start with adieu. If it takes me 4 guesses it’s a bad day.

Having voted with the opinion of OP, agreeing those vowel laden openers do nothing, I decided to start with ADIEU this morning and oddly enough I solved it in two tries. Only ever had that happen twice before. Made my day!

I find consonants more useful as well. I usually start with crane and if that gives nothing (or nothing useful like a consonant!) I use pilot. The Wordle Bot tells me they are good choices.

Sometimes I go rogue and try something random.

I’ve gotten it in one a couple of times but as DH points out that is pure luck rather than skill!

I think it's very personal.

I do consonant heavy words - ghost is one I like - because somehow it helps me to see the shape of the word better. But my DH does vowels and feels the same way about them

The bot has 6 equally ranked opening words.
It has been using crane recently but used slate and trace in the past.
The other highest ranked openers are crate, caret and carte

Obviously the other element is luck

I change up my starter word every day as i like to live life on the edge!

I always use Adieu too.
I've not played today as I play against my DH. It's very competitive, sadly he has a better record than me.

The Wordle Bot starts with PLATE. If it is good enough for AI, it is good enough for me.

I start with YEARS
Then go to POINT
And after that MULCH

Obviously I only follow down the list if I don't have enough to sensibly work with.

I generally solve in 2-4, with 3 being the most likely.

I always start with earth. Mainly because having done it a few times, if the answer ever is earth and I miss my chance to get it first time I will be devastated 😂

Those are all in line with OP’s argument that a mix of the most common consonants (with common vowels) is the strongest opener.

Mathematically, there’s no doubt that’s the best way to solve fastest. Hence it’s what the Bot does with its encyclopaedic knowledge.

But human brains work in different ways so some people may find it easier to get an idea of vowel placement first.

ALIEN
TOURS

All the vowels plus five really good consonants gives a strong start almost every day.

If you get a consonant it is more useful, but you are much less likely to find one, and then that’s a lot less useful.

YEARS doesn't seem a great choice because the S is in position five and as far as I am aware Wordle never does plurals.

I tend to start with STALE and might move on to MOUND if that's not informative.

I retired CLOUD after I got it first try.

Knowing you've picked up only a vowel or two in the wrong place can still leave things very open so I favour getting some high frequency consonants in too.

Very clever 🤣🤣

That’s one of the reasons I prefer Xordle: it gives you a starting word, so each day is different. The starter word also has a vague link to the answer which makes it interesting. Quite a bit more challenging than wordle though as you’re solving for two words at once!

Edited: problem with link

@MorrisonsPlatter those are the same words I usually start with ! Sometimes I mix it up changing ARISE to AROSE although then I don't have an obvious back up word if that's completely unsuccessful. I usually solve it in 3 or 4 guesses .

I got it in one once too!

I always use the same starting word and it doesn’t start with a vowel.

I looked up the 10 most used letters in the English language and I have my two opening words using those. I use:

• COAST
• LINER

I know this excludes U but I figure that if my first two don't show up any vowels then I can assume a U is in there. Or Y.

Actually if the first two are very unhelpful I follow on with BUMPY.

I usually get it in 4, sometimes 3 or 5. Unfortunately today was 5.

Now Nerdle I almost always get in 3.