Letter Boxed September 24, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a strategic approach to linking words across the board's sides. Solvers had to balance using common letters to keep options open while ensuring each word met the consecutive letter and dictionary criteria.

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.

  • TopLCT
  • RightODS
  • BottomBRE
  • LeftAKY

Par is 4 words. This board accepts 1969 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. The sides LCT and AKY seem less versatile than ODS and BRE. A good strategy is to start with a word that uses a common letter and sets up multiple possibilities for the next word. Look for a starting word that clears a side with a tricky combination.

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

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    L · C · T
    Right side
    O · D · S
    Bottom side
    B · R · E
    Left side
    A · K · Y
    Par
    4 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    1969
  3. Hint 3: The opening word, without naming it

    The first word has 5 letters and starts with a common letter often used in many words, frequently found in everyday vocabulary, and is a good starting point for a chain.

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

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

    Word 1
    LABOR
  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
    10 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 · 5 letters

    LABOR

    A common noun referring to work or employment, clears the letters L, A, B, O, and R.

  • Word 2 · 10 letters

    ROCKSTEADY

    An adjective describing something stable or firm, uses the letters R, O, C, K, S, T, E, A, D, 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

    ABLATORROCKSTEADY

  • Alternate chain 2 · 2 words

    ACETYLATORROADBLOCKS

  • Alternate chain 3 · 2 words

    ALECKSSTORYBOARD

This board by the numbers

Date
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
4 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
1969 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