Letter Boxed September 22, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a balance of strategy and word knowledge. Solvers had to think carefully about which sides to use and when, making it a fun and challenging puzzle.

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.

  • TopLTO
  • RightCRM
  • BottomYHA
  • LeftFPE

Par is 4 words. This board accepts 1483 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. 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, avoiding sides with only one or two useful letters. Focus on using sides with letters that appear in many words.

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

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    L · T · O
    Right side
    C · R · M
    Bottom side
    Y · H · A
    Left side
    F · P · E
    Par
    4 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    1483
  3. Hint 3: The opening word, without naming it

    The first word has 5 letters and starts with F. It's a good idea to think of a word that starts with a letter that is commonly used in many words.

  4. Hint 4: How long the opening word was, and where it started
    Opening word
    10 letters, starts with F
    Word 2
    4 letters
  5. Hint 5: The opening word itself

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

    Word 1
    FLYCATCHER
  6. 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
    4 letters, starts with R

Every word of that day's chain

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

  • Word 1 · 10 letters

    FLYCATCHER

    A type of bird, using F, L, Y, C, A, T, C, H, E, R. This word clears the left and top sides, setting up for a word starting with R.

  • Word 2 · 4 letters

    ROMP

    A playful or energetic activity, using R, O, M, P. This word uses the right side and sets a good challenge for the next word.

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

    AFLAPPHEOCHROMOCYTE

  • Alternate chain 2 · 2 words

    CATFLAPPATHOMETRY

  • Alternate chain 3 · 2 words

    COMFORTTELETHERAPY

This board by the numbers

Date
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
4 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
1483 on this board
Other chains we verified
3

More Letter Boxed

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