TodayHint

Letter Boxed September 30, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a strategic approach to connect the letters across different sides of the board. Solvers had to balance the use of common and less common letters to create a coherent chain. The official chain provided a clear example of how to effectively utilize the letters to form a valid sequence.

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.

  • TopRXT
  • RightVAI
  • BottomOCP
  • LeftENL

Par is 5 words. This board accepts 1930 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. Focus on using high-frequency letters like E, A, O, and T to create a strong foundation. Look for words that can bridge between different sides of the board, using letters like X, P, and L to connect. Avoid getting stuck with too many consecutive letters from one side.

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

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    R · X · T
    Right side
    V · A · I
    Bottom side
    O · C · P
    Left side
    E · N · L
    Par
    5 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    1930
    Back to the twelve letters
  3. The opening word, without naming it

    A 5-letter word starting with C could be a good fit. Consider a word that starts with a common letter and has a good balance of vowels and consonants.

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

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

    Word 1
    CLOVE
  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 E
    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

    CLOVE

    A type of fragrant spice or herb, often used in baking and cooking. It clears the letters C, L, O, V, and E.

  • Word 2 · 10 letters

    EXPIRATION

    The act or process of expiring, or the date after which something is no longer valid. It clears the letters E, X, P, I, R, A, T, I, O, and N.

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

    ACTOOVEREXPLOITATION

  • Alternate chain 2 · 2 words

    ALTIPLANOOVEREXACT

  • Alternate chain 3 · 2 words

    ALVEARIEEXCEPTION

This board by the numbers

Date
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
5 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
1930 on this board
Other chains we verified
3

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