TodayHint

Letter Boxed September 17, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a strategic approach to clear the board efficiently. Solvers had to balance using common letters to build a chain with avoiding words that would leave them stuck. The official chain provided a smooth solution.

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.

  • TopSYJ
  • RightRCM
  • BottomAEB
  • LeftLIO

Par is 5 words. This board accepts 1608 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 less common letters. Look for a starting word that uses a side with multiple common letters, and try to clear one side quickly. The letters 'M' and 'B' seem awkward, as they appear only once.

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

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    S · Y · J
    Right side
    R · C · M
    Bottom side
    A · E · B
    Left side
    L · I · O
    Par
    5 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    1608
    Back to the twelve letters
  3. The opening word, without naming it

    The first word has 5 letters and starts with a commonly used letter in many words, often found in everyday vocabulary, frequently used as a prefix.

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

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

    Word 1
    EMOJI
  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
    9 letters, starts with I
    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 · 5 letters

    EMOJI

    A small digital image or icon used to express an emotion or idea, clears the letters 'E', 'M', 'O', 'J', and 'I'.

  • Word 2 · 9 letters

    IRASCIBLY

    In an irascible manner, means being easily irritated, clears the letters 'R', 'A', 'S', 'C', 'B', 'L', 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 · 2 words

    BICYCLERSSEMIMAJOR

  • Alternate chain 2 · 2 words

    BICYCLESSEMIMAJOR

  • Alternate chain 3 · 2 words

    CARBYLSSEMIMAJOR

This board by the numbers

Date
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
5 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
1608 on this board
Other chains we verified
3

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