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Verified archive for October 6, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1213

NYT Connections #1213 Hints & Answers (October 6, 2026)

Connections #1213 for October 6, 2026 asks solvers to separate abbreviated financial-firm names, kinds of chairs, words before INN in hotel names, and four words ending in talents.

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

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

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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.

October 6, 2026 puzzle explained

How the October 6 board fits together

Proper-name readings and everyday-word readings can coexist on this board. Confirm the literal relationship for all four entries before submitting a set.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes abbreviated firm names, chair kinds, hotel-name completions, and words whose endings name talents.Biggest trapSeveral entries can be read as surnames, places, or everyday words, so a plausible pair may not extend to an official four-word relationship.Best first moveInspect CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, and STABILITY from the right edge: they end in SKILL, KNACK, FORTE, and ABILITY, all talents.

Why the board is deceptive

The board combines names and ordinary vocabulary, making it useful to test complete four-word sets instead of relying on a single interpretation.

One category depends on visible word endings, while the other three use names: short firm names, chair kinds, and completions of hotel names.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Start with the four visible talent endings, then test ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, and WINGBACK as kinds of chairs. Complete the ___ INN HOTELS set next, leaving the four short financial-firm names.

Spoilers below

October 6, 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.

Short firm namesReveal this group

What connects BERKSHIRE, CITI, GOLDMAN and MERRILL?

BERKSHIRE · CITI · GOLDMAN · MERRILL

FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT. BERKSHIRE, CITI, GOLDMAN, and MERRILL are the four entries grouped by the official relationship FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT.

Best anchor: Read each entry as a shortened firm name.

Chair namesReveal this group

What connects ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR and WINGBACK?

ADIRONDACK · EAMES · WINDSOR · WINGBACK

KINDS OF CHAIRS. ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, and WINGBACK all satisfy the official category KINDS OF CHAIRS without requiring a narrower shared feature.

Best anchor: Test all four as names for kinds of chairs.

Words before InnReveal this group

What connects COMFORT, DAYS, HAMPTON and HOLIDAY?

COMFORT · DAYS · HAMPTON · HOLIDAY

___ INN HOTELS. COMFORT, DAYS, HAMPTON, and HOLIDAY each fill the blank in the official category ___ INN HOTELS.

Best anchor: Place INN directly after every listed word.

Talent endingsReveal this group

What connects CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE and STABILITY?

CATSKILL · KNICKKNACK · PIANOFORTE · STABILITY

ENDING IN TALENTS. CATSKILL ends in SKILL, KNICKKNACK in KNACK, PIANOFORTE in FORTE, and STABILITY in ABILITY, preserving the category ENDING IN TALENTS.

Best anchor: Read the talent hidden at each word’s end.

October 6, 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 guideWhy BERKSHIRE, CITI, GOLDMAN, and MERRILL Go TogetherExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, and WINGBACK Go TogetherExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy COMFORT, DAYS, HAMPTON, and HOLIDAY Go TogetherExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, and STABILITY Go TogetherExplain 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
    FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT

    Read each entry as a shortened firm name.

  2. 2
    KINDS OF CHAIRS

    Test all four as names for kinds of chairs.

  3. 3
    ___ INN HOTELS

    Place INN directly after every listed word.

  4. 4
    ENDING IN TALENTS

    Read the talent hidden at each word’s end.

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: Inspect CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, and STABILITY from the right edge: they end in SKILL, KNACK, FORTE, and ABILITY, all talents..

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.

This group requires reading four standalone names as shortened references to financial firms. groupShort firm names
FINANCIAL FIRMS, FOR SHORT: Read each entry as a shortened firm name.
This group becomes available when each name is tested against the broad relationship of being a kind of chair. groupChair names
KINDS OF CHAIRS: Test all four as names for kinds of chairs.
The relationship depends on placing the same word after each entry and recognizing the resulting hotel names. groupWords before Inn
___ INN HOTELS: Place INN directly after every listed word.
This is a letter-pattern relationship: the relevant talent appears at the end of each complete board entry. groupTalent endings
ENDING IN TALENTS: Read the talent hidden at each word’s end.

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 #1213 tricky?

Several entries can be read as surnames, places, or everyday words, so a plausible pair may not extend to an official four-word relationship.

Where should I start with the October 6, 2026 puzzle?

Inspect CATSKILL, KNICKKNACK, PIANOFORTE, and STABILITY from the right edge: they end in SKILL, KNACK, FORTE, and ABILITY, all talents.

About the guide editor

Ethan Park

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

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