The New York Times Connections puzzle for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, marks the 1,220th entry in the daily series. Edited by Wyna Liu, this session offers a mix of functional verbs and specific sports terminology that might catch players off guard if they focus too heavily on surface-level similarities.
October 13 Hints for Connections
Before looking at the final solutions, these hints can help narrow down the categories for puzzle No. 1,220:
- Yellow: These words describe an innate ability to recognize quality or style.
- Green: All of these verbs describe the act of securing one object to another.
- Blue: Think of the physical objects awarded to winners in professional sports like golf, hockey, or boxing.
- Purple: Every word in this group follows the same common adjective to form a well-known phrase.
Potential Red Herrings
Players should be wary of several overlapping themes today. Words like BELT, JACKET, and TIE initially look like a category for clothing, but they belong to three different groups. Similarly, EYE and LIPS might suggest a body parts category, though they serve different roles in the “Discernment” and “Loose” categories respectively.
If you find yourself stuck, the NYT Connections Bot can provide a breakdown of your specific path and difficulty rating after you finish the game.
Spoiler Warning: The final answers and group names for the October 13 puzzle follow below.
Connections Answers for October 13, No. 1,220
Yellow: Discernment
EYE, FLAIR, SENSE, TASTE
These terms refer to a person’s natural talent for perceiving or appreciating specific details, often in art, fashion, or social situations.
Green: Fasten
HITCH, LASH, TETHER, TIE
This group consists of verbs that describe different methods of binding or attaching things together, often using rope or cord.
Blue: Sports Championship Prizes
BELT, CUP, JACKET, RING
These items represent the physical trophies given to champions in various sports: the Green Jacket in golf, the Stanley Cup in hockey, Championship Belts in combat sports, and Championship Rings in the NBA, NFL, or MLB.
Purple: Loose ____
CANNON, CHANGE, ENDS, LIPS
The final group is a fill-in-the-blank category where each word follows “Loose” to create common idioms or nouns: Loose Cannon, Loose Change, Loose Ends, and Loose Lips.
