On January 9, 2026, fans of word games across the globe gathered once again around their screens for the daily ritual that has become a staple of modern puzzle culture: the New York Times Connections puzzle. Puzzle #943, as it happened, was no ordinary challenge—its clever blend of trivia, wordplay, and pop culture references left even seasoned solvers reaching for hints and second-guessing their instincts. But what exactly made this day’s grid so compelling, and how did players ultimately crack its code?
For those new to the phenomenon, NYT Connections is a daily word game that tests pattern recognition and lateral thinking. Each morning, players are presented with a four-by-four grid of sixteen seemingly unrelated words. The objective? To sort these words into four groups of four, each group sharing a hidden thematic connection. As Fortnite Insider explains, the game’s rules are simple: “Once you think you have figured out a group, simply click on the four words and click on submit to see if you got it right. You are allowed to get 4 mistakes to solve the puzzle.” The challenge lies in the subtlety of the connections and the presence of red herrings that can easily throw off even the most careful analyst.
The groups in each puzzle are color-coded by difficulty: yellow (the easiest), green, blue, and purple (the trickiest). According to Rock Paper Shotgun, “Categories increase in difficulty, denoted by colors: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest). Misgrouping incurs mistakes, with four resulting in an automatic reveal.” The game’s design ensures that even the most confident solvers can find themselves stumped by a clever twist or an obscure reference.
So what did Puzzle #943 have in store for its solvers? The sixteen words for the day were: FORTH, LEST, CARDINAL, DIRECTION, 8 BALL, SOLO CUP, NON BLONDES, OAST, 3 BALL, THIN ICE, HEART EMOJI, CHAINZ, 6 MAFIA, DEEP END, COUTH, and LIMB. At first glance, the words seemed to have little in common, but as players began to test combinations, patterns emerged—some obvious, others devilishly elusive.
The hints provided by various outlets helped nudge players in the right direction. Fortnite Insider offered, “One of the groups is ‘USED IN METAPHORS FOR PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS’” and “CHAINZ and DIRECTION are in the same group.” Meanwhile, Lifehacker and CNET distilled the categories with single-word clues: “Cardinal,” “8 ball,” “Non blondes,” and “Oast.” The yellow group, as Mashable put it, involved “items sharing a vivid hue, akin to barbecue sauce, molten rock, or an insect’s shell.”
Ultimately, the solutions for the day’s puzzle were as follows:
- Things That Are Red: 3 BALL, CARDINAL, HEART EMOJI, SOLO CUP
- Used in Metaphors for Precarious Situations: 8 BALL, DEEP END, LIMB, THIN ICE
- Musical Artists Minus Starting Numbers: 6 MAFIA, CHAINZ, DIRECTION, NON BLONDES
- Cardinal Directions With First Letter Changed: COUTH, FORTH, LEST, OAST
Let’s break down each group to see how they were constructed and why they proved so challenging.
The yellow group, “Things That Are Red,” included 3 BALL (the red ball in pool), CARDINAL (the red bird), HEART EMOJI (the classic red emoji), and SOLO CUP (the iconic red party cup). As CNET noted, “Pool’s 3-ball, bird, symbol, party cup logo—all red.” While this might have seemed straightforward, the inclusion of 3 BALL tripped up some players familiar only with the more famous 8 BALL.
Green, “Used in Metaphors for Precarious Situations,” brought together 8 BALL, DEEP END, LIMB, and THIN ICE. These are all phrases that evoke risk or instability: “behind the 8 ball,” “off the deep end,” “out on a limb,” and “skating on thin ice.” As Mashable describes, “Phrases evoking risk, such as navigating turbulent waters or evading pitfalls.” For many, this group was a satisfying ‘aha!’ moment once the metaphors clicked into place.
Blue, “Musical Artists Minus Starting Numbers,” was a favorite among pop culture aficionados. Here, the puzzle referenced musical acts whose names include a number, but with the number omitted: 6 MAFIA (Three 6 Mafia), CHAINZ (2 Chainz), DIRECTION (One Direction), and NON BLONDES (4 Non Blondes). As TechRadar pointed out, “Blue required music trivia,” and the category was a clever nod to the way numbers often define band identities—remove the digit, and you’re left with a cryptic clue for the solver.
The purple group, “Cardinal Directions With First Letter Changed,” demanded true wordplay prowess. The words COUTH, FORTH, LEST, and OAST are all one letter removed from SOUTH, NORTH, WEST, and EAST, respectively. “Navigational terms from a compass rose, subtly altered,” as Mashable explained. This category was rated the trickiest of the day, with Connections Companion reporting that many streaks ended here, as players struggled to see past the surface meanings of these obscure or archaic words.
But what about the overall difficulty? According to the Connections Companion, puzzle #943 was rated a 2.8 out of 5—a moderately challenging grid. “Rated 2.8/5, #943 proved accessible yet devious: yellow evaded some due to niche reds (3 BALL), blue required music trivia, purple demanded wordplay insight (e.g., OAST as altered EAST),” the Companion noted. Some players breezed through with perfect scores, while others found themselves tripped up by the subtle twists and turns, especially in the purple category.
For those who enjoy the thrill of the chase, NYT Connections offers more than just a daily brainteaser—it’s a community event. Players share their grids on social media, compare streaks, and swap strategies for tackling the trickiest categories. As Fortnite Insider encourages, “If you would like us to cover any other puzzles, let us know in the comments section below.” The puzzle’s growing popularity has inspired a cottage industry of companion guides, hint sites, and analysis columns, each dissecting the day’s grid and offering tips for tomorrow.
In the end, Puzzle #943 was a masterclass in what makes Connections so addictive: a blend of trivia, cultural knowledge, and linguistic ingenuity, all wrapped up in a friendly competition. For the thousands who played on January 9, it was another memorable test of wit and wisdom—one that left solvers eagerly awaiting the next morning’s grid.
