Wordle #1810: A Small Cutout That Could Test Your Streak
Welcome to May 14th, Wordle warriors. Today’s puzzle, Wordle #1810, is the kind that makes you pause before pressing that final ‘Enter’ key. The New York Times’ WordleBot reports the average player is solving it in 3.9 moves in easy mode, or 3.8 if you’re playing by hard rules. That’s a tick over the global average, which means it’s a little trickier than your usual Tuesday slice of wordy goodness.
Before we dive into the clues, a quick note: if you’re here looking for yesterday’s answer, we’ve got that covered too. But for now, let’s focus on the task at hand. Spoilers lie ahead for game #1,810, so only read on if you’re ready to crack the code or need a gentle nudge in the right direction.
Today’s Wordle Hints: Three Levels of Clues
Our first tip is always to use one of the best Wordle start words. But if you want something more specific, here’s a progressive ladder of hints, from subtle to direct.
Level 1: Soft Hints (No Direct Spoilers)
This word is a noun. It describes a small cutout, often found in wood or metal. It contains two vowels, and they sit in the second and fourth positions. The theme is decidedly physical—think of a notch in a belt or a V-shaped indentation.
Level 2: Intermediate Hints
The answer starts with the letter N. The first vowel is an O, and the second is an I. It’s a word you might use when describing a tally mark or a groove in a piece of lumber.
Level 3: Advanced Hints
The letter structure is _ O _ _ H. Specifically, it’s N O T C H. Synonyms include “indent,” “nick,” or “groove.” You’d use it in a sentence like, “He carved a notch into the stick.”
Wordle #1810 Difficulty Analysis
Let’s break down the factors that make this puzzle a bit of a brain teaser. We’ve scored each element out of 10 to give you a clear picture.
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 7/10 | Four of the top ten most common Wordle letters appear (N, O, T, C). The H is a bit trickier. |
| Patterns | 5/10 | The “-OTCH” ending is moderately common, but the initial N is less frequent in five-letter words. |
| Vowels | 6/10 | Only two vowels, which is average. Their positions (second and fourth) are reasonable. |
| Traps | 7/10 | There are a few potential pitfalls, like COUNT or COUCH, which can steal an attempt if you’re not careful. |
A Step-by-Step Walkthrough of Today’s Solve
Here’s how a typical solve might unfold, based on the strategy our Wordle expert used.
- First Word: ORATE. This classic starter turned ‘O’ and ‘T’ yellow, leaving 56 possible answers. Solid, but not optimal. WordleBot suggests CLEAT (24 answers) or CORPS (18 answers) as better openers today.
- Second Word: TONIC. This was a genius move. It flipped ‘O’ green, ruled out ‘T’ in two new spots, and revealed ‘N’ and ‘C’ as yellow letters.
- Third Word: COUNT. This was a bit of a stumble. It didn’t give any new green letters, but it did confirm the remaining possibilities.
- Fourth Guess: NOTCH. The moment of discovery. With only one option left, typing in NOTCH secured the win in four moves.
The key “aha” moment came after TONIC, when the pattern became crystal clear: _ O _ _ H with N and C floating around.
Strategies for This Specific Puzzle
If you found yourself stuck at the third position, here’s what to do. The H at the end is a strong signal. Don’t waste guesses on words like BATCH or CATCH unless you’ve already ruled them out. The real trap today is the letter combination “OU,” which leads many astray toward words like COUNT or COUCH. To avoid this, focus on the fact that the second letter is O, and the fourth is a vowel that must be I. That drastically narrows the field.
Interesting Stats About Today’s Word
The word “notch” doesn’t top the frequency charts in English. It’s a mid-range word, sitting around the 8,000th most common in the language. In Wordle’s history, words ending in “-OTCH” are rare, appearing only a handful of times. This makes today’s puzzle a bit of an outlier. Estimated player success rates hover around 85%, meaning about 15% of players might drop a streak today.
For the Curiosos: The Etymology of “Notch”
The word “notch” has an interesting history. It likely comes from the Middle English word “nocche,” meaning a nick or a cut. Its first recorded use was in the 15th century. Beyond the obvious woodworking context, “notch” has a cool cultural presence—think of the “Notch,” the character from the “Minecraft” universe, or the term “taking it up a notch.” In other languages, the concept varies: in Spanish, it’s “muesca”; in French, “encoche.”
Yesterday’s Wordle: Game #1,809
Yesterday’s answer, for game #1,809, was BASIS. That one was a bit easier, with a double-S twist that caught some players off guard. Compared to today’s NOTCH, yesterday’s puzzle was more forgiving, with a lower average move count. If you nailed BASIS, you’re in good shape for today. If you didn’t, well, there’s always tomorrow.
General Wordle Strategy Tips for Future Puzzles
Here are a few takeaways from today’s solve that you can apply to any future Wordle battle.
- Use strong openers: Words like ORATE, CLEAT, or LANCE cover the most common letters. Your first guess sets the tone.
- Think about double letters: NOTCH doesn’t have them, but BASIS does. Always keep the possibility of repeated letters in mind.
- Don’t fall for vowel traps: If you see an O in position two and a vowel in position four, consider that it might be an I instead of an E or A.
- Practice pattern recognition: The “-OTCH” pattern is rare, but once you’ve seen it, you’ll never forget it.
- Trust the process: The four-move win is the gold standard. Don’t rush your third guess.
That’s it for today’s Wordle. Whether you’re celebrating a fresh win or mourning a broken streak, remember: there’s always another puzzle tomorrow. Keep your head in the game, and may your letters always turn green.
