The Basics#
Every day, Nerdle hides one 8-character math equation, like 12+35=47. Your job is to find it in at most 6 guesses. After every guess, the tiles change color to tell you how close you are, exactly like Wordle does for words.
- The grid is 8 characters wide and every guess must fill the whole row.
- You can use the digits 0-9 and the symbols + - * / =.
- A new puzzle is released every day at midnight GMT, and everyone in the world plays the same equation.
- There are 17,723 possible answers, so smart guessing matters far more than luck.
These rules cover Classic Nerdle, the original 8-character game. Shorter, longer, and faster versions exist too — see our guide to every Nerdle variant. And if you're curious how the game came to be, read what is Nerdle?
What Counts as a Valid Guess?#
Unlike Wordle, you cannot type random characters. Every guess must be a mathematically correct equation:
- It must contain exactly one equals sign, with a plain number (no operators) on the right side.
- The calculation has to be true: 12+35=47 is accepted, 12+35=46 is rejected.
- Standard order of operations applies. Multiplication and division are evaluated before addition and subtraction, so 3+2*5=13, not 25.
- Commutative variants count: if the answer is 12+34=46, guessing 34+12=46 also wins by default.
One quirk worth knowing: equations with a standalone zero (like 0+12=12) are legal guesses but are never the daily answer. Our strategy guide covers how to use that to your advantage.
What the Tile Colors Mean#
Green — this character is in the answer and in exactly this position. Lock it in.
Purple — this character is in the answer but in a different position. It tells you what to include AND where not to put it.
Black — this character does not appear in the answer at all (or you have used it more times than it appears).
How Repeated Characters Are Scored#
Repeats trip up more players than anything else. Nerdle scores them in a fixed order:
- Characters in the correct position are scored first and show green.
- If your guess has another copy of that character and the answer does too (just in a different spot), the extra copy shows purple.
- If your guess has more copies of a character than the answer contains, the surplus copies show black.
So one green 5 plus one black 5 means the answer contains exactly one 5 — and you already know where it goes. (Any other term tripping you up? The Nerdle glossary defines them all.)
A Worked Example#
Suppose the hidden answer is 43-26=17 and you open with our recommended starter, 48-32=16. Here is the feedback you would see:
The green 4, -, =, and 1 are locked in place. The purple 3, 2, and 6 are in the answer but belong somewhere else. The single black tile proves there is no 8 anywhere in the answer.
After one guess like this, the field of 17,723 possible answers typically collapses to around 31. From there, two more well-chosen guesses usually finish the job — our solver can suggest the mathematically best next move at every step, and our second-guess guide covers the optimal reply to the most common feedback patterns.
Beginner Tips#
Open with coverage
Use a first guess with 8 different characters, like 48-32=16. Eight distinct symbols means eight pieces of information.
Find the equals sign early
In classic Nerdle the = can only sit in position 5, 6, or 7. Pinning it down tells you the whole shape of the equation.
Use purple aggressively
A purple tile is two clues in one: the character is in the answer, and this position is ruled out. Reposition purples in every following guess.
Practice on old puzzles
Replaying puzzles from our archive or a random puzzle builds pattern recognition with zero streak risk.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How many guesses do you get in Nerdle?
You get 6 guesses to find the hidden 8-character equation. Each guess must be a complete, mathematically correct equation.
What does a purple tile mean in Nerdle?
A purple tile means that character appears in the answer, but not in the position where you placed it. It is the equivalent of Wordle's yellow tile.
What time does Nerdle reset?
A new Nerdle puzzle is released at midnight GMT (UK time) every day, so everyone around the world plays the same puzzle on the same day.
Does order of operations matter in Nerdle?
Yes. Multiplication and division are evaluated before addition and subtraction, so 3+2*5=13 is a valid equation while 3+2*5=25 is not.
Can a Nerdle guess be any equation?
Any mathematically correct 8-character equation with one equals sign and a plain number on the right is a valid guess. That includes equations with a standalone zero, even though those are never the daily answer.
Is Nerdle free to play?
Yes. The official game at nerdlegame.com is free to play in any browser, and NerdleBuddy's solver, practice puzzles, and archive are free as well.
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