Connections Hint
Puzzle #1113 · June 28, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for June 28, 2026

Start with the spoiler-free hints. Go deeper only when you need to. Reveal answers on your own terms.

Sunday, June 28, 2026
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Today’s 16 Puzzle Words
Tap any word to see how it’s used in this puzzle
CORPORATIONSLIDEGONOWCHESSPRIMESTARTBEGINDARTSSELECTSURFERPICKFINECHOICECAPOSTRAP

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • These words suggest something of the very best kind.
  • You’ll hear these when it’s time to move.
  • Handy items that help create a particular sound.
  • Think of what these might be used on or with.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • These words are used to indicate premium quality or excellence.
  • They are all signals that it’s time to get moving.
  • Think of the gear that a string musician might need.
  • The connection involves a common noun that pairs with each of these.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • These are all adjectives meaning first-rate.
  • Each is a command to start something.
  • A guitarist's toolkit — these small accessories are essential.
  • Each one pairs with a specific kind of board, giving you a common term.

Today’s Trap Words

The words engineered to mislead

Every Connections board plants a few decoys. Here are today’s, and why they pull you the wrong way.

GO

It's also the name of a classic board game, which might lead you to group it with CHESS and DARTS.

FINE

The word can refer to a penalty, disguising its adjective meaning of high quality.

SLIDE

Often associated with playgrounds or photography, not music gear.

CAPO

Commonly known as a crime boss in popular culture, obscuring its musical use.

Connections Answers — June 28, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
HIGH-QUALITY
SELECT · CHOICE · PRIME · FINE
Tap to reveal
SIGNALS TO COMMENCE
START · GO · BEGIN · NOW
Tap to reveal
ACCESSORIES FOR A GUITARIST
PICK · SLIDE · STRAP · CAPO
Tap to reveal
THEY HAVE BOARDS
CHESS · CORPORATION · SURFER · DARTS
Tap to reveal
SEE ALSO:
NYT Wordle hints for June 28, 2026 NYT Pips hints for June 28, 2026 NYT Strands hints for June 28, 2026

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1113

Why each group works — not just what it is

HIGH-QUALITY

These four adjectives—CHOICE, FINE, PRIME, and SELECT—all convey a sense of top-tier excellence.

SIGNALS TO COMMENCE

BEGIN, GO, NOW, and START are all urgent cues that tell someone to get moving immediately.

ACCESSORIES FOR A GUITARIST

CAPO, PICK, SLIDE, and STRAP are tools of the trade for guitar players, each serving a specific function.

THEY HAVE BOARDS

Each word pairs with a type of board: CHESS (chessboard), CORPORATION (board of directors), DARTS (dartboard), and SURFER (surfboard).

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
CORPORATION
A large company or business entity; it has a board of directors.
SLIDE
A tube worn on a guitarist's finger to smoothly change pitch; also a playground fixture.
GO
A word used to initiate movement or action; also a board game, but here it's a starting signal.
NOW
Indicating immediate commencement; a prompt to act without delay.
CHESS
A strategic board game with pieces; here, it pairs with 'board' to form 'chessboard'.
PRIME
First-rate or best; like prime rib. It indicates the highest quality.
START
To begin doing something; a common signal to get going.
BEGIN
To start an activity; often used as a command or signal to commence.
DARTS
A game of throwing small missiles at a circular board; the target is a dartboard.
SELECT
Chosen as the best from a group; used to suggest exclusivity and premium status.
SURFER
A person who rides waves on a surfboard; the word hints at the board used.
PICK
A small flat piece of material used to pluck guitar strings; also a verb meaning to choose.
FINE
Can mean 'of superior quality' or something acceptable. It's an adjective describing something top-notch.
CHOICE
Of very high quality; synonymous with 'select' or 'prime'. Here it means something excellent.
CAPO
A clamp used on a guitar neck to raise the pitch; a handy tool for guitarists.
STRAP
A strip of leather or fabric used to hold a guitar over the shoulder.

Puzzle Design Analysis

Why the editor constructed it this way

This puzzle cleverly layers a straightforward synonym group under a musical niche, then springs the highlight: 'THEY HAVE BOARDS.' The purple category hides a common suffix in plain sight across games, business, and sports, with GO serving as a cunning decoy. Wyna Liu's craft shines in planting a board game name that isn't part of the board group, testing solvers' discipline against false groupings.

Difficulty & Analysis

How tough today’s board really plays
Overall
6.5/10
Most deceptive
GO

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
THEY HAVE BOARDS

requires lateral thinking

Connections Strategy Guides

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