A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #8
hints & answers for June 19, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows June 19, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
Gentle hint

A table, some pieces and an evening together.

Show one word

BACKGAMMON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BOARD GAMES

Reveal all four words
  • BACKGAMMON
  • CHECKERS
  • CHESS
  • GO

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, K, Q and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FULL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MATTRESS SIZES

Reveal all four words
  • FULL
  • KING
  • QUEEN
  • TWIN

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Picture their usual colour, rather than their purpose.

Show one word

CHERRY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE RED

Reveal all four words
  • CHERRY
  • FIRE TRUCK
  • RUBY
  • STOP SIGN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, F, L and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CRYPTOGRAPHY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH KEYS

Reveal all four words
  • CRYPTOGRAPHY
  • FLORIDA
  • LOCKSMITH
  • PIANO
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BOARD GAMES
  • Green: MATTRESS SIZES
  • Blue: THINGS THAT ARE RED
  • Purple: THINGS WITH KEYS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BOARD GAMES

BACKGAMMON · CHECKERS · CHESS · GO

Green

MATTRESS SIZES

FULL · KING · QUEEN · TWIN

Blue

THINGS THAT ARE RED

CHERRY · FIRE TRUCK · RUBY · STOP SIGN

Purple

THINGS WITH KEYS

CRYPTOGRAPHY · FLORIDA · LOCKSMITH · PIANO

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.