You're on the right track! I could write a whole long thread about SqW… but I'll make it short(ish) here. CAVEAT: other W+SqW players think I spend TOO MUCH TIME on the puzzles. Playing "just for fun" it should be possible to get 8s most days, with many 7s and the odd 6 or 9. My strategy… …🧵 1/n
…🧵 2/n …is to start w RATES, STARE, SNARE, SEARS, ARISE; one of a small no. of words w E A R T S N I O. End w S or E (or ER) - those are common in answer-rows. I'm not sure if SqW grids are random daily or in a pattern, but I use a starter that was good for 2-3 days ago. Screen-cap finished games!
… 🧵 3/n Use vowels to suss "shape" of words. _A_ER and E_E__ or A_O__ are common patterns (ditto with I). On scratch paper fill some in w the info known. Rule out to narrow down, e.g. no words start with SR; TS is always TSARS; AE rare exc. NOVAE ALGAE or AERIE. 2nd guess: add letters e.g. O I L D…
… 🧵 4/n …but re-guess some in new slots to test scratch-grid. Recurring words: in rows AND columns: ARENA EDGED ABODE ELOPE ABIDE ERASE and e.g. SxEEy, x = T N H L & y=L K R (many combos!) 2fers! e.g. if you have a row _T_R_ and suspect STARE, guess e.g. SHALE SNAKE SPACE. …end for now 😅
Very scientific! I appreciate the detail 😊
I have a self imposed starter word rule that applies to all word games- it's got to be something from my environment, something appropriate, or a word I just heard on TV/read in a book. That means it's different every day. I like a challenge!
That's a great rule! Would be esp suited to Wordle 👍
It definitely makes it more interesting.
It means the first word I think of is often storm, rainy, or windy, or tired, because it's often midnight and the weather is often bad!