A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #213
hints & answers for January 10, 2024

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 January 10, 2024. 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, C, H and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHARM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BIT OF MAGIC

Reveal all four words
  • CHARM
  • CURSE
  • HEX
  • SPELL

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FLUE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FOUND AROUND A FIREPLACE

Reveal all four words
  • FLUE
  • GRATE
  • LOG
  • POKER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CARDS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS SEEN AT A CASINO

Reveal all four words
  • CARDS
  • CHIPS
  • DICE
  • SLOTS

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CRUMBLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WAYS TO PREPARE CHEESE

Reveal all four words
  • CRUMBLE
  • MELT
  • SHRED
  • SLICE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BIT OF MAGIC
  • Green: FOUND AROUND A FIREPLACE
  • Blue: THINGS SEEN AT A CASINO
  • Purple: WAYS TO PREPARE CHEESE

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BIT OF MAGIC

CHARM · CURSE · HEX · SPELL

Green

FOUND AROUND A FIREPLACE

FLUE · GRATE · LOG · POKER

Blue

THINGS SEEN AT A CASINO

CARDS · CHIPS · DICE · SLOTS

Purple

WAYS TO PREPARE CHEESE

CRUMBLE · MELT · SHRED · SLICE

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.