A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #111
hints & answers for September 30, 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 September 30, 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
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, D, H and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CLUB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PLAYING CARD SUITS

Reveal all four words
  • CLUB
  • DIAMOND
  • HEART
  • SPADE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with I, P, W and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

IRON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GOLF CLUBS

Reveal all four words
  • IRON
  • PUTTER
  • WEDGE
  • WOOD

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Want something with a deep, persistent longing.

Show one word

ACHE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

YEARN

Reveal all four words
  • ACHE
  • LONG
  • PINE
  • THIRST

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with L, S, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

LOW belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

INSUFFICIENT

Reveal all four words
  • LOW
  • SHORT
  • SHY
  • WANTING
Show categories only
  • Yellow: PLAYING CARD SUITS
  • Green: GOLF CLUBS
  • Blue: YEARN
  • Purple: INSUFFICIENT

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PLAYING CARD SUITS

CLUB · DIAMOND · HEART · SPADE

Green

GOLF CLUBS

IRON · PUTTER · WEDGE · WOOD

Blue

YEARN

ACHE · LONG · PINE · THIRST

Purple

INSUFFICIENT

LOW · SHORT · SHY · WANTING

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.