TodayHint

Letter Boxed September 15, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a strategic approach to connect the words. Solvers had to think creatively to find a chain that used all the letters on the board. The official chain was a good example of this, but other chains were also possible.

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.

  • TopJUM
  • RightSHN
  • BottomIQY
  • LeftKGR

Par is 6 words. This board accepts 322 words in total.

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.

  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 common letter with multiple options. The words SHN and KGR have less common letters, so consider starting with JUM or IQY. A good opening word should have a strong connection to multiple other words.

  2. Board facts: letters, par and how many words fitted

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    J · U · M
    Right side
    S · H · N
    Bottom side
    I · Q · Y
    Left side
    K · G · R
    Par
    6 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    322
    Back to the twelve letters
  3. The opening word, without naming it

    Consider a 4-letter word starting with H. It's a common letter with many word options.

  4. How long the opening word was, and where it started
    Opening word
    9 letters, starts with H
    Word 2
    7 letters
  5. The opening word itself

    The recap above already named it; this rung is for a replay.

    Word 1
    HIGHJINKS
  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
    7 letters, starts with S
    Open the full chain

Every word of that day's chain

All the words, folded. Each one stays hidden until you open it.

  • Word 1 · 9 letters

    HIGHJINKS

    This word is a rare or obsolete term for a type of trick or deception. It clears the letters H, I, G, J, N, K, and S.

  • Word 2 · 7 letters

    SQUIRMY

    This word means wriggling or twisting, often used to describe something that is squirming. It clears the letters S, Q, U, I, R, M, and Y.

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 · 3 words

    HIGHHIGHJINKSSQUIRMY

  • Alternate chain 2 · 3 words

    HIGHJINKSSIMSSQUIRMY

  • Alternate chain 3 · 3 words

    HIJIKIINQUIRINGGYMS

This board by the numbers

Date
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
6 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
322 on this board
Other chains we verified
3

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