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Verified archive for September 30, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1207

NYT Connections #1207 Hints & Answers (September 30, 2026)

Connections puzzle #1207 for September 30, 2026 combines securities, things that are shaken, gangster-movie titles and words beginning with month abbreviations.

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

Need more than a hint?

Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

September 30, 2026 puzzle explained

Connections #1207 overview

Several entries have meanings or associations beyond their official groups. Treat those as possible player-facing distractions and verify that every proposed category covers all four words literally.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes direct category matches with titles and a letter-pattern group, so checking exact wording matters.Biggest trapBOND may suggest James Bond when OCTOPUSSY is also visible, but BOND belongs with the financial securities while OCTOPUSSY starts with a month abbreviation.Best first moveTest BOND, FUTURE, OPTION and STOCK together under the broad category SECURITIES; all four match the official relationship without narrowing it.

Why the board is deceptive

One group is based on a shared financial category, while another links four things through the same physical action.

The remaining sets require recognizing movie titles and inspecting the opening letters of otherwise unrelated words.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Begin with the four securities, then gather the four things that are shaken. From the remaining eight entries, separate the gangster movies from the words whose openings spell abbreviated month names.

Spoilers below

September 30, 2026 groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Financial setReveal this group

What connects BOND, FUTURE, OPTION and STOCK?

BOND · FUTURE · OPTION · STOCK

SECURITIES. BOND, FUTURE, OPTION and STOCK are the four entries in the official SECURITIES category.

Best anchor: Look for the shared financial category.

Same physical actionReveal this group

What connects ETCH A SKETCH, MARTINI, SPRAY PAINT and TAMBOURINE?

ETCH A SKETCH · MARTINI · SPRAY PAINT · TAMBOURINE

THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED). ETCH A SKETCH, MARTINI, SPRAY PAINT and TAMBOURINE all fit the exact category THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED).

Best anchor: Apply the same action to each entry.

Crime-film titlesReveal this group

What connects BUGSY, CASINO, DONNIE BRASCO and SCARFACE?

BUGSY · CASINO · DONNIE BRASCO · SCARFACE

GANGSTER MOVIES. BUGSY, CASINO, DONNIE BRASCO and SCARFACE form the official category GANGSTER MOVIES.

Best anchor: Read each remaining entry as a movie title.

Abbreviated months at the frontReveal this group

What connects DECENT, NOVELTY, OCTOPUSSY and SEPTUM?

DECENT · NOVELTY · OCTOPUSSY · SEPTUM

STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS. DECENT, NOVELTY, OCTOPUSSY and SEPTUM start with DEC, NOV, OCT and SEPT, respectively, matching the official category.

Best anchor: Read only the opening letters of each word.

September 30, 2026 supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideHow the SECURITIES group worksExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy these are THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED)Explain this connection Supporting clue guideHow the GANGSTER MOVIES group fitsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS worksExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use this puzzle’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    SECURITIES

    Look for the shared financial category.

  2. 2
    THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED)

    Apply the same action to each entry.

  3. 3
    GANGSTER MOVIES

    Read each remaining entry as a movie title.

  4. 4
    STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS

    Read only the opening letters of each word.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

This puzzle’s best first move: Test BOND, FUTURE, OPTION and STOCK together under the broad category SECURITIES; all four match the official relationship without narrowing it..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

The relationship is broad and applies directly to all four terms. groupFinancial set
SECURITIES: Look for the shared financial category.
The category becomes workable once the parenthetical wording is kept intact. groupSame physical action
THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED): Apply the same action to each entry.
Solving requires reading all four entries as titles rather than relying on their other possible senses. groupCrime-film titles
GANGSTER MOVIES: Read each remaining entry as a movie title.
The relationship depends on inspecting initial letters rather than the meanings of the complete words. groupAbbreviated months at the front
STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS: Read only the opening letters of each word.

Language background

Useful guides for this puzzle’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Questions players ask

Questions about this puzzle

What makes Connections #1207 tricky?

BOND may suggest James Bond when OCTOPUSSY is also visible, but BOND belongs with the financial securities while OCTOPUSSY starts with a month abbreviation.

Where should I start with the September 30, 2026 puzzle?

Test BOND, FUTURE, OPTION and STOCK together under the broad category SECURITIES; all four match the official relationship without narrowing it.

About the guide editor

Ethan Park

Ethan turns word patterns and solving routes into concise, accessible guidance for daily players.

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