NYT Connections Tips: How to Solve Every Puzzle (Strategy

The Connections word game has become a daily obsession for millions of players. The concept is simple: sort 16 words into 4 groups of 4. But the execution can be maddeningly difficult. Here's how to get better at solving Connections puzzles.

How Connections Works

You're given a grid of 16 words. Your job is to find 4 groups of 4 words that share a common connection. Each group is color-coded by difficulty:

• Yellow — easiest, most obvious connection
• Green — moderate difficulty
• Blue — tricky, requires lateral thinking
• Purple — hardest, often involves wordplay or obscure connections

You get 4 mistakes before the game ends. Correct groups lock in and can't be changed.

Core Strategies

1. Scan for the Easiest Group First

Before making any guesses, read all 16 words and look for the most obvious connection. Is there a clear category like "colors," "countries," or "animals"? Start with what you're most confident about. Getting yellow correct first narrows the remaining words and makes harder groups easier to spot.

2. Look for Red Herrings

The puzzle designers intentionally include words that could fit multiple categories. For example, "BASS" could be a fish, a musical instrument, or a sound quality. When a word seems to fit two groups, set it aside and come back to it after solving easier groups.

3. Think Beyond Surface Meaning

The hardest groups (blue and purple) often use:

• Wordplay: Words that contain another word (CARPET contains PET)
• Prefixes/suffixes: Words that all follow "___WOOD" or "BACK___"
• Double meanings: Words with an unexpected second meaning
• Pop culture: Song titles, movie names, celebrity connections

4. Count to Confirm

Before selecting a group, make sure you have exactly 4 words. If you can find 5 words that seem to fit, one is a red herring that belongs to a different group. If you can only find 3, you're missing one.

5. Use Process of Elimination

Once you've solved 2-3 groups, the remaining words must form the final group(s). Even if you can't see the connection, the math does the work for you. This is why solving easier groups first is so important.

Advanced Techniques

The Grid Scan Method

Read across each row and down each column looking for patterns. Sometimes the puzzle layout accidentally clusters related words near each other, giving you a visual hint.

The "If This, Then Not That" Rule

When you identify a potential group, check if any of those words could belong to a different, stronger group instead. If "ORANGE" could be a fruit OR a color, and you already see three other fruits, it's probably a fruit.

Guess Strategically

If you have 3 words you're confident about for a group but aren't sure about the 4th, try your best guess. Even if wrong, the attempt reveals information. If 3/4 were correct, you know the 4th word belongs elsewhere.

The Purple Group Pattern

Purple (hardest) groups often follow one of these patterns:

• Things that can follow a specific word ("___ BALL": BASKET, FOOT, BASE, SNOW)
• Things a specific word can precede ("FIRE ___": WORK, PLACE, FLY, TRUCK)
• Abstract connections (things that are "light": FEATHER, BEER, WEIGHT, HEARTED)
• Creative wordplay that requires thinking differently

Common Mistakes

1. Guessing too quickly — always verify you have exactly 4 words
2. Fixating on one interpretation — if a word doesn't fit, consider its other meanings
3. Ignoring purple clues — purple is often a "fill the blank" or wordplay category
4. Not using process of elimination — it's your most powerful tool in the endgame
5. Giving up too early — even 3 mistakes in, you can still solve it

Practice Unlimited Connections

Want to practice without waiting for the daily puzzle? Play Connections on PlayBrain for unlimited rounds. Our version generates fresh puzzles so you can practice these strategies anytime.

Also try these related word games:

• Word Categories — sort words into categories with a twist
• Odd One Out — find the word that doesn't belong
• Word Association — connect related words in chains
• Waffle — swap letters to solve a crossword-style grid

How to Streak

The key to maintaining a daily Connections streak:

1. Start with what's obvious
2. Take your time
3. Use all the information from correct guesses
4. Save your mistakes for when you're most uncertain (blue/purple)

With practice, you'll go from barely finishing to solving without mistakes.

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• Best Word Games to Play Online
• Top Brain Training Games That Actually Work
• 15 Best Free Browser Games in 2026