Today’s NYT Connections (Puzzle #968) for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, serves up a mix of culinary skills, hospitality, and sports equipment. The Purple category is a classic “fill-in-the-blank” challenge that might require you to jog your memory (pun intended).
Whether you are stuck on the cooking terms or the golf bag essentials, we have the full breakdown below.
Difficulty Level
Today’s puzzle is Moderate.
- Yellow & Green: Synonyms that are commonly used in everyday language.
- Blue: Requires specific knowledge of sports equipment (Golf).
- Purple: A phrase completion category that can be tricky if you don’t spot the pattern early.
Hints for Today’s Groups
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here are the themes for each color-coded group:
- Yellow Group Hint: Methods of preparing food with a knife.
- Green Group Hint: To give someone a bed for the night.
- Blue Group Hint: Equipment you would find in a caddie’s bag.
- Purple Group Hint: Words that follow “Memory” to form a common phrase or object.
Spoilers Below!
Warning: The sections below contain the direct answers for today’s puzzle.
Yellow Group Answer
Theme: Cut Into Pieces
- CUBE
- DICE
- HASH
- MINCE
Green Group Answer
Theme: Provide With a Place to Stay
- BOARD
- HOUSE
- LODGE
- QUARTER
Blue Group Answer
Theme: Kinds of Golf Clubs
- IRON
- PUTTER
- WEDGE
- WOOD
Purple Group Answer
Theme: Memory ____
- CARD
- FOAM
- HOLE
- LANE
Puzzle Analysis
The Yellow group (“Cut Into Pieces”) is fairly straightforward for anyone who cooks, though “Hash” might initially be confused with “Corned Beef Hash” or other food items.
The Blue group (“Kinds of Golf Clubs”) is a solid category, but words like “Wood” and “Iron” can easily be mistaken for materials rather than sports gear, acting as red herrings for other potential groups.
The Purple group (“Memory ____”) is the clever twist. “Memory Foam” and “Memory Card” are common, but “Memory Lane” and “Memory Hole” require a bit more idiomatic knowledge.
How to Play Connections
If you are new to the daily challenge, here is the breakdown:
- Grid: You start with 16 words.
- Goal: Group them into four sets of four words that share a common theme.
- Mistakes: You have four lives. If you guess a group incorrectly, you lose a life.
- Colors: The groups are color-coded by difficulty:
- Yellow: Easiest
- Green: Medium
- Blue: Hard
- Purple: Tricky/Abstract
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the answer to the Purple group in Connections today?
The Purple group answers are CARD, FOAM, HOLE, and LANE. The theme is “Memory ____.”
What is the “Memory Hole”?
It is a concept from George Orwell’s 1984, referring to a mechanism for the alteration or disappearance of inconvenient or embarrassing documents or photos.
When does the Connections puzzle reset?
The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.
