A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #961
hints & answers for January 27, 2026

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 27, 2026. 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, C and J. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CARD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

QUITE THE LAUGH

Reveal all four words
  • CARD
  • CHARACTER
  • CUTUP
  • JOKER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DEVIL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

NHL TEAM MEMBER

Reveal all four words
  • DEVIL
  • FLYER
  • PENGUIN
  • RANGER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FRIAR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES

Reveal all four words
  • FRIAR
  • MAID
  • ROBIN
  • SHERIFF

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BALLROOM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR

Reveal all four words
  • BALLROOM
  • BASEMENT
  • BATMOBILE
  • CAPSTONE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: QUITE THE LAUGH
  • Green: NHL TEAM MEMBER
  • Blue: FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
  • Purple: STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

QUITE THE LAUGH

CARD · CHARACTER · CUTUP · JOKER

Green

NHL TEAM MEMBER

DEVIL · FLYER · PENGUIN · RANGER

Blue

FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES

FRIAR · MAID · ROBIN · SHERIFF

Purple

STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR

BALLROOM · BASEMENT · BATMOBILE · CAPSTONE

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.