The New York Times’ Connections puzzle for February 11, #976, has been released. This daily word game challenges players to group four words together based on shared themes. For those seeking assistance, here are hints and the complete answers.
Gameplay and Player Tracking
The game is designed to test pattern recognition and associative thinking. The Times now offers a “Connections Bot” that scores players’ performance, tracks stats (such as win rate and streak), and provides detailed analysis. This data-driven approach caters to competitive players and those who enjoy quantifying their puzzle-solving skills.
Hints by Difficulty
The Connections puzzle groups words into color-coded categories, from easier (yellow) to harder (purple). Here are hints to guide players:
- Yellow: Think of a common theme associated with Valentine’s Day.
- Green: Relates to financial benefits or income.
- Blue: Focuses on dense, solid objects.
- Purple: Involves items that move on wheels.
Today’s Answers
The solutions for each category are as follows:
- Yellow (Act Lovestruck): MOON, PINE, SWOON, YEARN. These words all evoke feelings of romance or longing.
- Green (Earnings): GAIN, NET, RETURN, YIELD. These terms represent various forms of profit or financial outcome.
- Blue (Compact Mass): BLOCK, BRICK, CAKE, PUCK. These words describe dense, solid objects with distinct shapes.
- Purple (Roller ____): BAG, COASTER, DERBY, RINK. All of these fit into the phrase “Roller ____,” referencing things that roll.
Notable Past Puzzles
Some Connections puzzles have proven exceptionally difficult. Examining previous challenges can reveal patterns and strategies for future rounds. For example:
- Puzzle #5 featured the seemingly unrelated words MOOD, RECORD, TABLE, and VOLLEYBALL (all things that can be “set”).
- Puzzle #1 included a mix of definitions for words that “run” such as CANDIDATE, FAUCET, MASCARA, and NOSE.
The Connections puzzle is designed to be challenging, but with the right hints and solutions, players can successfully decode the daily word groupings.
