Connections Guide
Connections Categories Guide and Pattern Library
A living encyclopedia of recurring Connections categories, color orders, and decoy patterns so solvers can anticipate traps.
Overview
This entry supports intent around studying the game. It leans into taxonomy, examples, and teaching users how the NYT team recycles ideas across weeks.
Key Strategies
- Category taxonomy updated weekly
- Example words straight from the archive
- Tips for spotting curveball decoys
Pattern tracker data
Quick Facts
38
Recurring buckets
12 days
Average repeat window
9k+
Readers using it
Color order cheat sheet
Break down how yellow/green/blue/purple difficulty really plays out and why some weeks invert expectations. Link to real puzzle examples in each subsection.
Decoy recognition training
Teach players to look for verb tense mismatches, pop-culture mini themes, and proper-noun traps using annotated screenshots from past grids.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do categories repeat?
Yes, but never the exact same set of words. We log every appearance so you can study when a bucket might resurface.
Does this spoil future puzzles?
No. It only references historical boards to help you build pattern recognition.
Ready to Play?
Get today's hints, check your answers, or explore our archive of past puzzles.