Thankfully, there are ways to increase your chances of succeeding at Connections.
Try not to think of Connections as you battling against the puzzle itself.
This tip will also help you beatStrands, another addictive NYT game.
It’s very easy to assume that the placement of each word is random.
However, this is unlikely.
Therefore, the best policy is to shuffle the words before making your first guess.
Dave Parrack/MakeUseOf
And if shuffling once doesn’t help you see at least one potential grouping, take another crack.
However, every single Connections puzzle includes more than four words that share something in common.
Some words could even fit in three or more of the groups you end up with.
Therefore, beating Connections means looking for differences as well as similarities.
Which four sit together most comfortably?
Which four can only sit together without there being another possible solution?
4Plan and Execute Rather Than Hit and Hope
Beating Connections requires a measured approach.
So don’t just hit and hope, picking four words you have an idea work together.
Instead, properly plan out your moves and execute them in a logical fashion.
The most common theme or genre is a simple description that applies to all four words in that grouping.
Four different words for “backside,” for example (as seen in the screenshot above).
To help you find common themes the NYT uses regularly, revisit old puzzles atthe unofficial Connections archive.
6Never Fall for the “One Away!”
However, that’s a huge mistake.
Yes, you could guess correctly, swapping the one wrong answer out for the one right answer.
Dave Parrack/MakeUseOf
But the odds are stacked against you, especially if you’re only just starting.
So instead, start again to avoid your mistakes dwindling.
And it also doesn’t matter.
If you make three mistakes while solving Connections, that’s fine.
The key is solving it without making that fourth mistake and failing for the day.
So don’t get caught up trying to play the perfect game.
Just play the game, enjoy yourself, and aim to beat Connections every day.
Connections can be a tough game.
