Letter Boxed October 13, 2026: Hints & Answers
Recap
This puzzle required strategic thinking to connect the words. Solvers had to carefully choose each word to set up the next one, using letters from different sides of the board.
The board that was printed
Twelve letters, three to a side. A word could hop from any side to any other but never twice in a row from the same side, and each word had to start on the letter the last one ended on.
- TopGSE
- RightIZO
- BottomULN
- LeftQAB
Letter Boxed hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the chain, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
-
Hint 1: How the board wanted to be attacked
Method only — no word from the chain.
The board has a mix of common and uncommon letters. Look for a starting word that uses a side with multiple common letters. The goal is to find a word that sets up good options for the next word, using letters that appear on different sides to keep the chain going.
-
Hint 2: Board facts: letters, par and how many words fitted
Read off the board.
- Top side
- G · S · E
- Right side
- I · Z · O
- Bottom side
- U · L · N
- Left side
- Q · A · B
- Par
- 6 words
- Official chain
- 2 words
- Words this board accepted
- 1035
-
Hint 3: The opening word, without naming it
The first word has 8 letters and starts with Q. It's a good idea to think of a word that starts with a strong letter like this.
-
Hint 4: How long the opening word was, and where it started
- Opening word
- 8 letters, starts with Q
- Word 2
- 6 letters
-
Hint 5: The opening word itself
The recap above already named it; this rung is for a replay.
- Word 1
- QUISLING
-
Hint 6: What each remaining word had to do
Last rung before the full chain.
Each word after the first began on the letter the previous one ended on, and between them they covered all 12 letters.
- Word 2
- 6 letters, starts with G
Every word of that day's chain
All the words, folded. Each one stays hidden until you open it.
Word 1 · 8 letters
QUISLING
A quisling is a traitor or collaborator, especially with an enemy occupying their country. This word uses Q, U, I, S, L, I, N, and G, clearing several letters.
Word 2 · 6 letters
GAZEBO
A gazebo is a freestanding structure in a garden or park, often used for seating or decoration. This word uses G, A, Z, E, B, and O, connecting to the previous word's last letter.
Other chains that solved that board
Any chain using all twelve letters, each word starting where the last ended, was a win. These came out of that board's own word list, so every one of them was playable.
Alternate chain 1 · 2 words
AZEQUIAALBUGINEOUS
Alternate chain 2 · 2 words
BONANZASSQUEALING
Alternate chain 3 · 2 words
BONZEEQUALISING
This board by the numbers
- Date
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Board
- 4 sides of 3 letters
- Par
- 6 words
- Official chain
- 2 words
- Words accepted
- 1035 on this board
- Other chains we verified
- 3
More Letter Boxed
See the live Letter Boxed hints and answers page for the current board, or browse every archived Letter Boxed date by month.
Try another puzzle
-
The live NYT Mini Crossword clues and answers page
One extra nudge per clue, so one square can be unstuck alone.
-
The live NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers page
Six theme words plus the spangram, with a read-only board that traces each answer.