Guide for Novices on New York Times Puzzles

In the bustling city of New York, students from Bronx Science have found a unique way to exercise their minds/brains - by tackling the various word and logic puzzles offered by the New York Times. These games, including Strands, The Mini, Connections, and the popular Wordle, require a strategic blend of quick, intuitive thinking and slow, deliberate reasoning.

Connections, for instance, challenges players to group sixteen random words into four categories, relying on quick pattern recognition to spot obvious associations, but slowing down to verify and resolve ambiguous cases to avoid both overthinking and underthinking mistakes. The game categories are colour-coded based on difficulty, with yellow being the easiest and purple being the hardest. If three of the four words guessed to be in the same group are actually meant to go together, then the strike is paired with a message reading "ONE AWAY."

Wordle, though not explicitly detailed, seems to follow a similar strategy. Players start with a word and refine their choices based on the feedback received, balancing intuition and logic. A recommended starting word is one filled with vowels and devoid of double letters.

The Mini, a smaller version of the daily crossword puzzle, requires players to figure out the entire game on their own, as it does not provide hints. The best approach to The Mini is treating it like a timed exam and skipping questions if needed. The game can be completed in under 30 seconds by most dedicated players.

Strands, a new game from the New York Times, is similar to a word search but without given words and with a theme. Players can use hints to help them find words, as demonstrated by Maysha Chowdhury '25 and Zoe Levitt '25.

The popularity of these games is evident, with the New York Times Games played over eight billion times last year. They are not just a source of entertainment for the students, but also a way to form deeper connections between words and concepts, as Jordana Franklin '25 attests. Furthermore, playing these games makes students feel smarter and provides them with interesting topics to discuss with class friends, as Maysha Chowdhury '25 notes.

Practice can improve skills in The Mini, and the Daily Themed Crossword app is recommended to build up those skills. Georgie Barth '26 has noticed that some clues in The Mini are recycled frequently, with 'a poet's before' always being the word 'ere.'

Aviv Kotok plays Strands, The Mini, Connections, and Wordle every morning in the same order. The strategic approach across these games is managing the interplay of quick, automatic insights and conscious, careful thinking to efficiently and accurately solve puzzles.

After a rigorous mental workout playing word and logic puzzles, students from Bronx Science often delve into diverse topics such as photography, delving into the spotlight of lifestyle.
In the world of fashion-and-beauty, they keep up with the latest trends, carefully analyzing sports-related athleisure fashion and discussing their opinions.
The vivacious conversations about sports don't just limit to football (soccer) and American football; they extend to sports analysis, dissecting strategies and performances of various games.
After a fulfilling meal from their favorite food-and-drink spot, they engage in stimulating debates about travel destinations, sharing personal growth experiences and insights.
For those with a passion for cars, there are vibrant discussions about the latest models and car-related innovations, complemented by educational articles on self-development.
In the realm of home-and-garden, they swap ideas on gardening techniques and home renovation tips, focusing on creating an aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly living space.
Relationships are an essential part of life, and they openly discuss relationship dynamics, using learning from the games to make decisions rooted in both intuition and careful thought.
For pet enthusiasts, they connect over stories about their beloved pets, offering helpful advice on pet care and the joy it brings to their lives.
Moving on to shopping, they exchange advice on career development, focusing on job-hunting and interview skills to ensure a successful future.
As learners, they seek to improve their knowledge in various fields through self-development resources, making a conscious effort to grow personally and professionally.
All throughout this journey, they engage in invigorating discussions, both online and offline, in shopping malls, cafes, and even in quiet study corners, reminiscent of a thriving community of life-long learners and seekers.