Puzzle 8142/6 correct (33%) · $0.1794
814 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: NECKLACE, OUROBOROS, MOUSE, PLEATHER VEST, SWEARING, MESH SHIRT, HERRING, HOUSE, FOUR-LETTER WORDS, PROFANITY, HISTAMINE, EXPLETIVES, MYSTERY, STIRRING, CHRISTMAS, EARRING
prompt: 507
Show thinking
Several words end with the suffix "RING": EARRING, HERRING, STIRRING, and SWEARING. This forms a clear pattern group based on a shared ending, which is a frequent category type in NYT Connections. Other potential groups (e.g., profanity synonyms: SWEARING, PROFANITY, EXPLETIVES, FOUR-LETTER WORDS; or clothing: PLEATHER VEST, MESH SHIRT) are less complete or overlap, so this suffix group is a strong early guess to gain information with the allowed mistakes.
<guess>
EARRING, HERRING, STIRRING, SWEARING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75</confidence>
completion: 2,809 · cost: $0.007589
INCORRECT. 3 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 682
Show thinking
The previous guess of words ending in "RING" failed, so shifting focus. A clear category emerges around curse words and profanity: SWEARING, PROFANITY, EXPLETIVES, and FOUR-LETTER WORDS (slang for oaths/swears). These four are strong synonyms/related terms for vulgar language, fitting typical Connections patterns. This avoids overlap with prior guess and uses remaining mistakes to confirm.
<guess>
SWEARING, PROFANITY, EXPLETIVES, FOUR-LETTER WORDS
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 1,820 · cost: $0.005335
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 819
Show thinking
With the profanity group (SWEARING, PROFANITY, EXPLETIVES, FOUR-LETTER WORDS) confirmed and removed, the remaining words include several clearly wearable items: NECKLACE and EARRING (jewelry) plus PLEATHER VEST and MESH SHIRT (clothing). These form a cohesive "things you can wear" category common in Connections puzzles. Other potential groups (e.g., rhyming pairs like HOUSE/MOUSE or HERRING/STIRRING) are incomplete or weaker, so this is the prioritized guess while mistakes remain available.
<guess>
EARRING, NECKLACE, MESH SHIRT, PLEATHER VEST
</guess>
<confidence>
0.7</confidence>
completion: 2,442 · cost: $0.006726
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 993
Show thinking
The profanity and clothing groups are solved and removed. The remaining 8 words are: OUROBOROS, MOUSE, HERRING, HOUSE, HISTAMINE, MYSTERY, STIRRING, CHRISTMAS. Among them, exactly four contain the consecutive letters "ST": CHRISTMAS (positions around "ST" in the spelling), HISTAMINE ("ST" in "HIST"), MYSTERY ("ST" in "MYS T"), and STIRRING (starts with "ST"). This matches a common Connections pattern of "words containing a specific letter sequence." The other four (OUROBOROS, MOUSE, HOUSE, HERRING) do not share this subsequence, making this a clean group to test next.
<guess>
CHRISTMAS, HISTAMINE, MYSTERY, STIRRING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.6</confidence>
completion: 13,851 · cost: $0.035466
INCORRECT. 2 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 1,204
Show thinking
Clothing and profanity groups solved/removed. Remaining: OUROBOROS, MOUSE, HERRING, HOUSE, HISTAMINE, MYSTERY, STIRRING, CHRISTMAS. A strong potential category is words commonly paired with color adjectives in common English phrases: white HOUSE, red HERRING, white CHRISTMAS, white MOUSE. This fits a classic Connections pattern. If correct, the final group will be the other four. Testing this now uses one of the two remaining mistakes productively.
<guess>
HOUSE, HERRING, CHRISTMAS, MOUSE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.5</confidence>
completion: 18,825 · cost: $0.048164
INCORRECT - ONE AWAY. 1 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 1,368
Show thinking
The last guess (HOUSE, HERRING, CHRISTMAS, MOUSE) was one away, meaning exactly three belong together. The strong category is "famous houses": the White House, Winchester Mystery House, House of Mouse (Disney series), and Christmas House (holiday attraction/tourist spot). This leaves HERRING as the intruder. Replacing it with MYSTERY completes the set perfectly, fitting a classic NYT Connections pattern of named landmarks/buildings. Once solved, the final four would be OUROBOROS, HERRING, HISTAMINE, STIRRING.
<guess>
HOUSE, CHRISTMAS, MOUSE, MYSTERY
</guess>
<confidence>
0.65</confidence>
completion: 29,780 · cost: $0.076093
814 → FAILED
prompt: 5,573 · completion: 69,527 · guesses: 6 · correct: 2 · time: 16:16 · cost: $0.1794
Puzzle 8304/6 correct (67%) · $0.2044
830 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: READY, GAME, SUBARU, OUTFIT, EAGER, PREPARE, ABLE, EQUIP, N.F.L., EAVE, PARAMOUNT, CANE, NOAA, WILLING, DOWN, NASA
prompt: 486
Show thinking
Looking at the available words, several function as adjectives that complete the phrase "I'm [word]" (or "be [word]") to indicate readiness, willingness, or capability to participate in something. This common pattern fits perfectly for ABLE ("I'm able"), EAGER ("I'm eager"), GAME ("I'm game"), and WILLING ("I'm willing"). This is a classic Connections-style synonym/usage category. Other potential groups like prepare-related verbs (EQUIP, OUTFIT, PREPARE, READY) or organizations (NASA, NOAA, etc.) exist, but this one stands out as strongly cohesive early on.
<guess>
ABLE, EAGER, GAME, WILLING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.65
</confidence>
completion: 19,981 · cost: $0.050493
INCORRECT - ONE AWAY. 3 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 669
Show thinking
The previous guess of ABLE, EAGER, GAME, WILLING was one away, strongly indicating that three of those belong in a group of adjectives/slangs meaning "willing" or "up for something" and one must be swapped out. ABLE ("capable") is the weakest fit for pure willingness, while DOWN ("I'm down" = willing) fits the slang pattern perfectly alongside EAGER, GAME ("I'm game"), and WILLING. This creates a tight category: DOWN, EAGER, GAME, WILLING.
This also frees up READY to pair with the strong synonym group of preparation verbs: EQUIP, OUTFIT, PREPARE, READY (all mean "to get something ready or supplied"). The two groups have zero overlap and use the "one away" information efficiently. Other potential categories (agencies, brands) among the leftovers do not conflict with this. Guessing the willingness group now leverages the clue directly.
<guess>
DOWN, EAGER, GAME, WILLING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75
</confidence>
completion: 9,207 · cost: $0.023451
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 907
Show thinking
With DOWN/EAGER/GAME/WILLING confirmed as synonyms for "willing/ready to participate," the strongest remaining category is clearly the preparation/synonym group: EQUIP, OUTFIT, PREPARE, READY. All four are verbs meaning to supply, furnish, or get something set for use. This uses the clue from the first incorrect guess (where PREPARE/READY/EQUIP/OUTFIT were close but not included). No overlap with the solved group, and the remaining words (ABLE, SUBARU, EAVE, PARAMOUNT, CANE, NOAA, N.F.L., NASA) leave room for other categories like agencies or brands later.
<guess>
EQUIP, OUTFIT, PREPARE, READY
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8
</confidence>
completion: 1,280 · cost: $0.004267
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,092
Show thinking
The two solved groups account for 8 words, leaving these 8: ABLE, SUBARU, N.F.L., EAVE, PARAMOUNT, CANE, NOAA, NASA.
A clear semantic cluster among them is the set of prominent U.S.-based organizations, leagues, and entertainment companies: NASA (space agency), NOAA (weather/ocean agency), N.F.L. (professional sports league), and PARAMOUNT (major film studio). These share the category of well-known American institutions/entities, fitting the typical Connections style of "proper-name institutions."
This leaves the other four (ABLE, CANE, EAVE, SUBARU) for the final group once this is confirmed. Guessing this set now is efficient given remaining guesses.
<guess>
NASA, NOAA, N.F.L., PARAMOUNT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.45
</confidence>
completion: 21,888 · cost: $0.055682
INCORRECT - ONE AWAY. 2 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 1,306
Show thinking
The "one away" feedback on the last guess (NASA, NOAA, N.F.L., PARAMOUNT) means three of those words belong together and one must be swapped. Replacing NOAA with SUBARU yields NASA, N.F.L., PARAMOUNT, SUBARU — a cohesive group of well-known brand names and organizations (NASA as space agency, N.F.L. as sports league, PARAMOUNT as film studio, SUBARU as auto brand). This fits the clue exactly. The remaining words (ABLE, CANE, EAVE, NOAA) form the last group as 4-letter words (or alternatively words ending in a vowel). This pairing exhausts the list with no conflicts and leverages the prior information efficiently.
<guess>
NASA, N.F.L., PARAMOUNT, SUBARU
</guess>
<confidence>
0.6
</confidence>
completion: 25,163 · cost: $0.064473
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,502
Show thinking
The remaining words are exactly ABLE, CANE, EAVE, NOAA. These are homophones of four famous figures from the Bible (Genesis): ABLE → Abel, CANE → Cain, EAVE → Eve, NOAA → Noah. This is a standard NYT Connections category type (sound-alikes for proper names). The pattern is tight and uses all leftover words cleanly.
<guess>
ABLE, CANE, EAVE, NOAA
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85
completion: 1,688 · cost: $0.006030
830 → SOLVED
prompt: 5,962 · completion: 79,207 · guesses: 6 · correct: 4 · time: 14:01 · cost: $0.2044
Puzzle 8314/6 correct (67%) · $0.1188
831 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: MASCARA, SWEAT, CLIP, GRADE, RANK, TIGER, RATE, SCORE, DYE, STOCKINGS, BLUSH, TRAIL, PACE, NOSE, FIDGET, TOWEL
prompt: 485
Show thinking
I see a strong thematic connection in four words that all relate to evaluating or classifying performance/quality: GRADE (as in assign a letter grade), RANK (classify in order), RATE (assign a rating), and SCORE (assign points). These are closely related as verbs meaning to assess or value something. No other groupings are as tight initially (e.g., makeup-related words like MASCARA and BLUSH need more matches, and jogging-related like PACE, TRAIL, SWEAT, TOWEL are looser). This is a high-confidence starting guess per the strategy of testing strong candidates early.
<guess>
GRADE, RANK, RATE, SCORE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 8,311 · cost: $0.020981
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 649
Show thinking
The first category was correctly identified as evaluation methods. Now focusing on the remaining words, a clear group emerges around personal care and appearance enhancement: BLUSH (facial makeup), MASCARA (eye makeup), DYE (hair dye/tint), and CLIP (hair clip or cosmetic accessory like eyelash clip). This fits the puzzle's style of grouping synonyms or related items in a lifestyle theme. The guess is strong enough to test early per the rules, as an incorrect result will provide useful "one away" feedback to adjust. Remaining words after this would likely split into exercise-related (SWEAT, PACE, TOWEL, TRAIL) and other associations (FIDGET, NOSE, TIGER, STOCKINGS).
<guess>
BLUSH, CLIP, DYE, MASCARA
</guess>
<confidence>
0.7</confidence>
completion: 4,559 · cost: $0.011806
INCORRECT. 3 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 854
Show thinking
After the evaluation category, the next clearest grouping from remaining words is around physical activity and running: SWEAT (from exertion), PACE (set your speed), TRAIL (run along a path), TOWEL (wipe down after). This matches common puzzle patterns for exercise-related terms. Testing it now leaves room to adjust remaining groupings (like potential nervous reactions or grooming) based on the result, per the early-guess strategy.
<guess>
SWEAT, PACE, TRAIL, TOWEL
</guess>
<confidence>
0.6</confidence>
completion: 18,416 · cost: $0.046435
INCORRECT. 2 INCORRECT GUESSES REMAINING.
prompt: 998
Show thinking
With two incorrect guesses used, the failed running items category (SWEAT/PACE/TRAIL/TOWEL) and failed beauty items attempt eliminate some pairings. From remaining words a clear category is physical responses to stress or nerves: BLUSH (cheeks flush), FIDGET (restless movements), PACE (walk worriedly), SWEAT (from anxiety). This fits typical Connections patterns for behaviors/reactions and uses none of the previously eliminated sets. Next step would test grooming or accessory groups from what is left.
<guess>
BLUSH, FIDGET, PACE, SWEAT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.65</confidence>
completion: 6,883 · cost: $0.018052
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,150
Show thinking
After eliminating the grading/evaluation words and the nervous reactions words, the remaining set points clearly to two word-play categories. The strongest match is the "paper _____" group: paper clip (CLIP), paper tiger (TIGER), paper towel (TOWEL), and paper trail (TRAIL). This is a classic NYT Connections pattern of common phrases and fits perfectly without overlap from prior guesses. The other four (MASCARA, DYE, STOCKINGS, NOSE) then logically form the "things that can run" group (run in stockings, mascara runs, dye runs, runny nose), confirming the split. I'll test the paper group first as the more distinctive match.
<guess>
CLIP, TIGER, TOWEL, TRAIL
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 7,039 · cost: $0.018968
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,336
Show thinking
With three categories solved (grading words, nervous reactions, paper-themed compounds), the four remaining words form a classic Connections category: items that can "run" (MASCARA runs/smudges, DYE runs/spreads, STOCKINGS run/ladder, NOSE runs). This is a tight, standard word-play grouping with no overlaps from prior guesses.
<guess>
MASCARA, DYE, STOCKINGS, NOSE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 820 · cost: $0.002578
831 → SOLVED
prompt: 5,472 · completion: 46,028 · guesses: 6 · correct: 4 · time: 09:02 · cost: $0.1188
Puzzle 8424/4 correct (100%) · $0.0820
842 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: CHUCK, WOOD, COULD, STIFF, FOGHORN, AWKWARD, GUTHRIE, THEREFORE, SCROOGE, CLASSICS, WOODSTOCK, WOODCHUCK, WOODY, WOODEN, STILTED, CREATE
prompt: 496
Show thinking
The most obvious and clever category among these words is the famous woodchuck tongue twister: "How much WOOD would a WOODCHUCK CHUCK if a WOODCHUCK COULD CHUCK WOOD?" This uses exactly CHUCK, COULD, WOOD and WOODCHUCK. This is classic Connections puzzle material, so a strong early guess.
<guess>
CHUCK, COULD, WOOD, WOODCHUCK
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 17,876 · cost: $0.045243
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 613
Show thinking
The woodchuck tongue-twister group is solved. Remaining words include AWKWARD, STILTED, STIFF, and WOODEN, which are strong candidates for a category of words describing unnatural/rigid/clumsy performance or speech (e.g., wooden acting, stilted dialogue, stiff manner, awkward delivery). This fits typical Connections patterns well, so it's worth guessing early. Other potential groupings (like cartoon characters) feel weaker at this stage.
<guess>
AWKWARD, STILTED, STIFF, WOODEN
</guess>
<confidence>
0.65</confidence>
completion: 2,450 · cost: $0.006824
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 756
Show thinking
With the first two groups solved (woodchuck tongue-twister and words meaning "not natural/rigid"), the remaining terms point to a clear category of famous cartoon bird characters: FOGHORN Leghorn, WOODY Woodpecker, WOODSTOCK (Peanuts), and SCROOGE McDuck. This is a classic Connections-style grouping based on well-known animated figures. If correct, the final four (CREATE, CLASSICS, GUTHRIE, THEREFORE) can be analyzed next with the information gained.
<guess>
FOGHORN, SCROOGE, WOODY, WOODSTOCK
</guess>
<confidence>
0.7</confidence>
completion: 8,182 · cost: $0.020795
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 916
Show thinking
With three groups solved correctly, only four words remain: CLASSICS, CREATE, GUTHRIE, and THEREFORE. These must form one final category by process of elimination. While a clear thematic link (possibly names, literary references, or a wordplay category like "things associated with Woody Guthrie" or "formal/creative terms") is not immediately obvious, the structure of the game guarantees they belong together. I'll submit them directly to complete the solve.
<guess>
CLASSICS, CREATE, GUTHRIE, THEREFORE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 3,512 · cost: $0.009186
842 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,781 · completion: 32,020 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 03:26 · cost: $0.0820
Puzzle 8334/4 correct (100%) · $0.0565
833 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: HIVE, BOOTH, COUNTER, ALE, PINCH, TAP, EEK, LOAF, SCROLL, BAR, CHILL, QUASH, TABLE, VEG, SWIPE, LOUNGE
prompt: 483
Show thinking
These four words are common touch gestures on mobile screens and tablets: pinch (for zooming), swipe (left/right), scroll (up/down), tap (to select). This type of category is common in Connections puzzles. I'll start with this as an early strong guess to gain info.
<guess>
PINCH, SCROLL, SWIPE, TAP
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85
</confidence>
completion: 12,049 · cost: $0.030659
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 586
Show thinking
The first group (gestures on a screen) is confirmed correct. Now looking at remaining words: HIVE, BOOTH, COUNTER, ALE, LOAF, EEK, BAR, CHILL, QUASH, TABLE, VEG, LOUNGE.
Strong candidate group: CHILL, LOAF, LOUNGE, VEG. These are all verbs meaning to relax or be idle (chill out, loaf around, lounge around, veg out). This is a classic synonym-style category in Connections. If wrong, it will narrow things down nicely for the seating group (BAR, BOOTH, COUNTER, TABLE) or beer-related words next.
<guess>
CHILL, LOAF, LOUNGE, VEG
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8
</confidence>
completion: 1,940 · cost: $0.005515
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 767
Show thinking
Two groups solved correctly. Remaining words: HIVE, BOOTH, COUNTER, ALE, EEK, BAR, QUASH, TABLE.
Strong category: BOOTH, COUNTER, BAR, TABLE — all are seating or serving structures in a bar/restaurant (booth seating, bar counter, table, etc.). This is a very common Connections grouping. If correct, the final four (HIVE, ALE, EEK, QUASH) will be analyzed next.
<guess>
BAR, BOOTH, COUNTER, TABLE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9
</confidence>
completion: 960 · cost: $0.002956
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 910
Show thinking
Three groups solved correctly. Only four words remain ungrouped: HIVE, ALE, EEK, QUASH. These must form the final category by definition of the puzzle structure. The four words (in any order) are the only possible guess left to complete the solve. (Possible connecting theme: each becomes a valid word when prefixed with "S" — SHIVE, SALE, SEEK, SQUASH.)
<guess>
HIVE, ALE, EEK, QUASH
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95
</confidence>
completion: 6,807 · cost: $0.017416
833 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,746 · completion: 21,756 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 02:31 · cost: $0.0565
Puzzle 2464/4 correct (100%) · $0.0551
246 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: ECHO, FREEZE, LAG, FANTASTIC, GENIE, SAILOR, PRISONER, SAMURAI, PARROT, MONKEY, CANDLES, MIME, PRINCESS, APOLLO, REFEREE, DROP
prompt: 492
Show thinking
The words ECHO, FREEZE, LAG, and DROP form a coherent group related to common technical problems encountered during online calls, video chats, or video games (e.g., hearing your own voice echo, video freezing, network lag, or a dropped connection). This seems like a classic Connections-style category based on shared real-world context, so I'm guessing this group first to get quick feedback.
<guess>
ECHO, FREEZE, LAG, DROP
</guess>
<confidence>
0.55</confidence>
completion: 5,407 · cost: $0.014065
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 617
Show thinking
The first group (ECHO, FREEZE, LAG, DROP) correctly identified connection/communication glitches. For the next group, GENIE, PRINCESS, MONKEY, and PARROT strongly point to Disney's Aladdin as the unifying theme: Genie (the Genie), Princess (Jasmine), Monkey (Abu), Parrot (Iago). This type of pop-culture/movie tie-in is a classic Connections category, so I'm guessing it next for quick confirmation.
<guess>
GENIE, PRINCESS, MONKEY, PARROT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.60</confidence>
completion: 5,559 · cost: $0.014266
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 760
Show thinking
The remaining words are FANTASTIC, SAILOR, SAMURAI, MIME, PRISONER, CANDLES, APOLLO, REFEREE. Four of them (MIME, PRISONER, REFEREE, SAILOR) share a strong common association: all are known for wearing (or historically associated with) black-and-white striped clothing. This is a classic type of subtle category Connections loves to use for wordplay. The other four don't form as tight a group yet, so I'll test this one next.
<guess>
MIME, PRISONER, REFEREE, SAILOR
</guess>
<confidence>
0.45</confidence>
completion: 5,102 · cost: $0.013100
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 918
Show thinking
With three groups already solved and confirmed correct, the puzzle is down to its final set. The remaining words are FANTASTIC, SAMURAI, CANDLES, and APOLLO; these must form the fourth and final category (connections-style categories are exhaustive). I'll submit them directly to complete the puzzle. This keeps the solve efficient with only four total guesses used so far and no mistakes.
<guess>
FANTASTIC, SAMURAI, CANDLES, APOLLO
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 5,055 · cost: $0.013718
246 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,787 · completion: 21,123 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 03:59 · cost: $0.0551
Puzzle 8284/4 correct (100%) · $0.0417
828 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: MONITOR, TRIX, SQUID, PRINTER, TRACK, WATCH, PEN, ROGER, JUROR, ROSE, VELVETEEN, MONTH, DONUT, FOLLOW, WHITE, TATTOO MACHINE
prompt: 487
Show thinking
The words form several clear categories. One strong group is famous fictional rabbits: The Trix Rabbit, Roger Rabbit, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The White Rabbit. This fits perfectly as a Connections category. Other groupings include verbs meaning to observe (MONITOR, WATCH, TRACK, FOLLOW), items associated with ink (SQUID, PEN, PRINTER, TATTOO MACHINE), and items that commonly come in dozens (DONUT, JUROR, MONTH, ROSE). I'll start by submitting the rabbits group as it is very distinctive and clear.
<guess>
TRIX, ROGER, VELVETEEN, WHITE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 13,207 · cost: $0.033223
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 650
Show thinking
Remaining words: MONITOR, SQUID, PRINTER, TRACK, WATCH, PEN, JUROR, ROSE, MONTH, DONUT, FOLLOW, TATTOO MACHINE.
Strong categories visible:
• Verbs for observing/supervising: MONITOR, WATCH, TRACK, FOLLOW (all mean to keep track of or monitor something).
• Items related to ink: SQUID (squid ink), PEN (ink pen), PRINTER (printer ink), TATTOO MACHINE (tattoo ink/machine).
• Things associated with a dozen/12: DONUT (dozen donuts), ROSE (dozen roses), JUROR (12 jurors), MONTH (12 months in a year).
I'll submit the observing verbs group next, as the words are clear synonyms.
<guess>
MONITOR, TRACK, WATCH, FOLLOW
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 1,548 · cost: $0.004279
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 849
Show thinking
Remaining words: SQUID, PRINTER, PEN, JUROR, ROSE, MONTH, DONUT, TATTOO MACHINE.
Two strong possible categories:
• "Things that come in a dozen": DONUT (dozen donuts), ROSE (dozen roses), JUROR (12 jurors), MONTH (12 months).
• Ink sources: SQUID (squid ink), PEN, PRINTER, TATTOO MACHINE (tattoo ink).
The "dozen" category feels like the intended one due to the precise match with 12 items. I'll submit that next.
<guess>
DONUT, JUROR, ROSE, MONTH
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 842 · cost: $0.003099
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,017
Show thinking
Remaining words: SQUID, PRINTER, PEN, TATTOO MACHINE.
These perfectly fit a category of "ink" or "ink sources": squid ink, printer ink, pen (ink), and tattoo machine (which uses ink). This is the final group.
<guess>
SQUID, PRINTER, PEN, TATTOO MACHINE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 292 · cost: $0.001128
828 → SOLVED
prompt: 3,003 · completion: 15,889 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:34 · cost: $0.0417
Puzzle 8274/4 correct (100%) · $0.0388
827 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, LAMINATE, SPARK, SHORE, FIREWORKS, PIP, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, BANSHEE, CARPET, TILE, COAST, BANK, STRAND, WOOD
prompt: 488
Show thinking
The words LAMINATE, CARPET, TILE, and WOOD are all standard types of flooring materials (laminate flooring, carpet flooring, tile floors, and wood/hardwood flooring). This seems like a clear and high-confidence category based on common real-world associations. The remaining words may form groups like shoreline terms (BANK, COAST, SHORE, STRAND), romantic relationship indicators (SPARK, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS), and a potential final group (BANSHEE, HEARTBREAKER, PIP, WAILER), but I'll test this clear group first.
<guess>
CARPET, LAMINATE, TILE, WOOD
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8
</confidence>
completion: 7,220 · cost: $0.018257
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 655
Show thinking
With CARPET, LAMINATE, TILE, WOOD correctly grouped as flooring types, the remaining words are WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, SPARK, SHORE, FIREWORKS, PIP, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, BANSHEE, COAST, BANK, STRAND.
BANK, COAST, SHORE, STRAND form a strong group as terms for land bordering water (river bank, coast, shore, beach strand). This is a very common puzzle category and fits perfectly.
The other likely groups would be SPARK, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS (romantic attraction metaphors) and then WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, BANSHEE, PIP (possibly vocal/emotional cries like wail, cry, pip as in high-pitched sound or cheer). I'll test the shoreline group next to confirm.
<guess>
BANK, COAST, SHORE, STRAND
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85
</confidence>
completion: 1,217 · cost: $0.003794
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 873
Show thinking
With the first two groups solved (flooring and shoreline terms), the remaining words are WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, SPARK, FIREWORKS, PIP, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, BANSHEE.
A very strong category stands out: SPARK, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS – these are all standard metaphors for romantic or interpersonal attraction (sparks flying, having chemistry, feeling a connection, seeing fireworks). This fits typical Connections groupings perfectly.
The final group would then be WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, BANSHEE, PIP (likely related to cries, wails, or emotional outbursts: wailer calls/laments, banshee wails, pip as a shrill cry or pip-squeak, heartbreaker evoking sobbing/tears). I'll test the romance group next.
<guess>
SPARK, CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8
</confidence>
completion: 1,790 · cost: $0.004894
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,084
Show thinking
The three confirmed groups leave exactly these words: WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, BANSHEE, PIP.
These match famous backing groups in band names:
• Bob Marley and the Wailers
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Siouxsie and the Banshees
• Gladys Knight and the Pips
This is a classic NYT Connections “___ and the ___” category, even though the puzzle gives the singular forms of the group names.
This is the only remaining set that fits a coherent, puzzle-style theme.
<guess>
WAILER, HEARTBREAKER, BANSHEE, PIP
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75
</confidence>
completion: 4,558 · cost: $0.011876
827 → SOLVED
prompt: 3,100 · completion: 14,785 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 01:45 · cost: $0.0388
Puzzle 8174/4 correct (100%) · $0.0348
817 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: JACK, RAM, SINGLE, SOLO, HAN, BUCK, PUNCH, MING, KICK, SONG, FREE, ZING, ZEST, BILLY, STAG, TANG
prompt: 484
Show thinking
The clearest group from the word list is the four Chinese dynasties: HAN, MING, SONG, TANG. This is a textbook Connections category with no overlaps or doubt. The remaining words form logical follow-on groups (male animals: BILLY, BUCK, JACK, RAM; energy/liveliness synonyms: KICK, PUNCH, ZEST, ZING; unmarried/unaccompanied man: FREE, SINGLE, SOLO, STAG). Guessing the absolute surest match first maximizes early information with minimal risk.
<guess>
HAN, MING, SONG, TANG
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95
</confidence>
completion: 7,491 · cost: $0.018929
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 640
Show thinking
Male animal terms form a clear category with the remaining words: BILLY (goat), BUCK (deer/rabbit), JACK (rabbit), RAM (sheep). STAG is deliberately left out because it's likely used for the "unaccompanied" group. The other groups (energy/vigor: KICK/PUNCH/ZEST/ZING; unaccompanied: FREE/SINGLE/SOLO/STAG) look plausible to follow.
<guess>
BILLY, BUCK, JACK, RAM
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8
</confidence>
completion: 4,123 · cost: $0.010704
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 775
Show thinking
The remaining words are SINGLE, SOLO, FREE, STAG, PUNCH, ZING, ZEST, KICK. Two clean categories stand out: (1) synonyms for being unaccompanied/unattached — FREE (as in fancy-free), SINGLE, SOLO, STAG (stag night/party); (2) additions of flavor/energy — KICK, PUNCH, ZEST, ZING. I’ll guess the unaccompanied group next.
<guess>
FREE, SINGLE, SOLO, STAG
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85
</confidence>
completion: 1,215 · cost: $0.003334
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 914
Show thinking
The remaining words are KICK, PUNCH, ZEST, ZING. These form a clear final category of synonyms for "energy/vigor" or things that add "spice/flavor/pep" (common NYT Connections trope). All four remaining words fit this perfectly with no leftovers or overlaps.
<guess>
KICK, PUNCH, ZEST, ZING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9
</confidence>
completion: 594 · cost: $0.001821
817 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,813 · completion: 13,423 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 01:22 · cost: $0.0348
Puzzle 8184/4 correct (100%) · $0.0277
818 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: CALL, BROKE, SHADE, AMERICANA, SPIRIT, READ, BURST, BLEW, FORECAST, JAZZ, SPLIT, RAP, DIVINE, WIGHT, CHORAL, SPECTER
prompt: 488
Show thinking
I see four potential strong categories from the word list: (1) words meaning "to predict/foretell" - CALL, DIVINE, FORECAST, READ; (2) music genres - AMERICANA, CHORAL, JAZZ, RAP; (3) synonyms for "ghost/apparition" - SHADE, SPECTER, SPIRIT, WIGHT; (4) words meaning "ruptured/exploded/split apart" - BLEW, BROKE, BURST, SPLIT. I'll start with the predict group as it seems like a very clean synonym category. If wrong, the feedback will narrow things down quickly.
<guess>
CALL, DIVINE, FORECAST, READ
</guess>
<confidence>
0.65</confidence>
completion: 8,935 · cost: $0.022880
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 668
Show thinking
First group confirmed correct: CALL, DIVINE, FORECAST, READ. Remaining words: SHADE, AMERICANA, SPIRIT, BROKE, BLEW, BURST, JAZZ, SPLIT, RAP, WIGHT, CHORAL, SPECTER. Strong next category is music genres: AMERICANA, CHORAL, JAZZ, RAP. This is a very clean and direct fit with zero ambiguity.
<guess>
AMERICANA, CHORAL, JAZZ, RAP
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 494 · cost: $0.002003
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 807
Show thinking
Two groups confirmed. Remaining words: SHADE, SPIRIT, BROKE, BLEW, BURST, SPLIT, WIGHT, SPECTER. Clear category left is ghost/apparition synonyms: SHADE, SPECTER, SPIRIT, WIGHT. This fits perfectly with no overlap.
<guess>
SHADE, SPECTER, SPIRIT, WIGHT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 485 · cost: $0.001549
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 915
Show thinking
Three groups confirmed. Remaining words: BROKE, BLEW, BURST, SPLIT. These are clear synonyms for "explode" or "rupture suddenly" (blew up, broke apart, burst, split open). This completes the puzzle cleanly.
<guess>
BLEW, BROKE, BURST, SPLIT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 362 · cost: $0.001242
818 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,878 · completion: 10,276 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:17 · cost: $0.0277
Puzzle 8364/4 correct (100%) · $0.0252
836 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: SIXTEEN, SPRINKLE, PICTURE, CREPE PAPER, TALK, SCATTER, FEATURE, PRUNE, LITTER, POTATO, SHAR PEI, FLICK, PEPPER, TOOTH, FILM, BRAIN
prompt: 493
Show thinking
The words include several clear synonyms for "movie": FEATURE (feature film), FILM, FLICK (colloquial), and PICTURE (motion picture). This forms a cohesive, standard Connections-style category. Other potential groups (e.g., dispersal verbs like SPRINKLE/SCATTER/PEPPER/LITTER) are less tight and can be tested later if needed. Given the early stage and 4 incorrect guesses allowed, I'll start with this obvious set to get quick information.
<guess>
FEATURE, FILM, FLICK, PICTURE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75</confidence>
completion: 3,107 · cost: $0.008317
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 640
Show thinking
The previous guess of the movie words was correct, removing FEATURE, FILM, FLICK, and PICTURE. Now, among the remaining words (SIXTEEN, SPRINKLE, CREPE PAPER, TALK, SCATTER, PRUNE, LITTER, POTATO, SHAR PEI, PEPPER, TOOTH, BRAIN), an obvious strong category is phrases that pair with "SWEET": SWEET SIXTEEN, SWEET TALK, SWEET POTATO, and SWEET TOOTH. This is a classic Connections-style grouping based on common idiomatic or compound phrases. This seems much tighter than alternatives like scattering verbs (SPRINKLE/SCATTER/PEPPER/LITTER). I'll submit this as the next guess.
<guess>
SIXTEEN, TALK, POTATO, TOOTH
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 2,548 · cost: $0.007103
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 845
Show thinking
After the first two correct groups, remaining words: SPRINKLE, CREPE PAPER, SCATTER, PRUNE, LITTER, SHAR PEI, PEPPER, BRAIN. These form two tight categories: "verb synonyms for strew/scatter" (SPRINKLE, SCATTER, LITTER, PEPPER) and "wrinkled things" (PRUNE as in the fruit, CREPE PAPER with its crinkled texture, SHAR PEI the wrinkly dog breed, BRAIN with its cortical folds/gyri). The wrinkled category is very Connections-like in its wordplay, so I'll guess that now to potentially confirm faster.
<guess>
PRUNE, CREPE PAPER, SHAR PEI, BRAIN
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 3,292 · cost: $0.008614
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,029
Show thinking
All previous groups were correct. The final four remaining words (SPRINKLE, SCATTER, LITTER, PEPPER) all mean to disperse or throw loosely, forming a clean synonym category. This completes the puzzle.
<guess>
SPRINKLE, SCATTER, LITTER, PEPPER
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 292 · cost: $0.001143
836 → SOLVED
prompt: 3,007 · completion: 9,239 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 01:27 · cost: $0.0252
Puzzle 8394/4 correct (100%) · $0.0239
839 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: WING, FIN, TENDER, TRIFLE, SWEET, FIDDLE, POPPER, WARM, KIND, ARM, THROW, STOVETOP, FLIPPER, KETTLE, MICROWAVE, FRITTER
prompt: 491
Show thinking
The words suggest several clean categories without overlap. One strong group is synonyms for "gentle" or "caring": KIND, SWEET, TENDER and WARM. Another is animal/movement appendages: ARM, FIN, FLIPPER, WING. A third is verbs that idiomatically pair with "away" to mean waste: FIDDLE, FRITTER, THROW, TRIFLE. The final group is kitchen devices/methods associated with popcorn or heating: KETTLE, MICROWAVE, POPPER, STOVETOP. I'll start with the synonym group as it's a common Connections pattern and low-risk.
<guess>
KIND, SWEET, TENDER, WARM
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75</confidence>
completion: 5,784 · cost: $0.015007
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 667
Show thinking
With KIND/SWEET/TENDER/WARM solved, remaining words are WING, FIN, TRIFLE, FIDDLE, POPPER, ARM, THROW, STOVETOP, FLIPPER, KETTLE, MICROWAVE, FRITTER. Clear next group is words that pair with "away" to mean "waste": FIDDLE (fiddle away), FRITTER (fritter away), THROW (throw away), TRIFLE (trifle away). This is a classic Connections pattern and fits without overlap. I can save the animal appendages (ARM/WING/FIN/FLIPPER) and kitchen devices (STOVETOP/KETTLE/MICROWAVE/POPPER) for later guesses.
<guess>
FIDDLE, FRITTER, THROW, TRIFLE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 1,549 · cost: $0.004303
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 866
Show thinking
Two groups solved: KIND/SWEET/TENDER/WARM and FIDDLE/FRITTER/THROW/TRIFLE. Remaining words: ARM, FIN, FLIPPER, WING, KETTLE, MICROWAVE, POPPER, STOVETOP. These split neatly into animal body parts used for movement (ARM, FIN, FLIPPER, WING) and kitchen appliances (KETTLE, MICROWAVE, POPPER, STOVETOP). I'll guess the appendages group next.
<guess>
ARM, FIN, FLIPPER, WING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 547 · cost: $0.001778
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 1,017
Show thinking
With three groups confirmed correct, the only words remaining are KETTLE, MICROWAVE, POPPER, and STOVETOP. These form the last category, which is popcorn preparation methods or appliances (microwave popcorn, stovetop popping, air popper, kettle corn). This solves the puzzle with the final available guess.
<guess>
KETTLE, MICROWAVE, POPPER, STOVETOP
</guess>
<confidence>
1.0</confidence>
completion: 763 · cost: $0.002776
839 → SOLVED
prompt: 3,041 · completion: 8,643 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:42 · cost: $0.0239
Puzzle 8194/4 correct (100%) · $0.0215
819 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: ROUNDOFF, ARABESQUE, TIANA, AERIAL, AREAL, LINEAR, MERIDA, VERDANA, SPLIT, ANGULAR, AURORA, GEORGIA, ARIAL, ARIEL, IMPACT, VOLUMETRIC
prompt: 497
Show thinking
The most obvious starting category is Disney princesses: Ariel (Little Mermaid), Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Merida (Brave), and Tiana (Princess and the Frog). These are four direct matches with no stretch. Other potential groups like fonts (Arial, Georgia, Impact, Verdana) exist but I will start here to get information quickly via response.
<guess>
TIANA, MERIDA, AURORA, ARIEL
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 4,221 · cost: $0.010771
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 618
Show thinking
The Disney princess group (ARIEL, AURORA, TIANA, MERIDA) was accepted as correct, so those words are removed. Among the remainders, ARIAL, GEORGIA, VERDANA, and IMPACT form a clear category of common Microsoft/typeface fonts. This matches the usual Connections pattern of grouping by shared category, and the other plausible group (geometric/dimensional terms like LINEAR, AREAL, ANGULAR, VOLUMETRIC) can be tested later if needed. Guessing this now uses one of the free early guesses.
<guess>
ARIAL, GEORGIA, VERDANA, IMPACT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 1,238 · cost: $0.003464
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 782
Show thinking
With two groups solved (Disney princesses and fonts), eight words remain. Two clear categories fit perfectly: (1) mathematical/dimensional adjectives - ANGULAR, AREAL, LINEAR, VOLUMETRIC; (2) gymnastics/tumbling moves - ARABESQUE, AERIAL, ROUNDOFF, SPLIT. I'll test the math group first to confirm.
<guess>
ANGULAR, AREAL, LINEAR, VOLUMETRIC
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75</confidence>
completion: 1,773 · cost: $0.005343
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 908
Show thinking
Three groups confirmed correct. Remaining words are ROUNDOFF, ARABESQUE, AERIAL, SPLIT. These form a clear category of gymnastics moves/positions: roundoff (cartwheel variation), arabesque (balance pose), aerial (no-hands flip), and split (leg position). This is the only logical remaining category.
<guess>
ROUNDOFF, ARABESQUE, AERIAL, SPLIT
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 360 · cost: $0.001968
819 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,805 · completion: 7,592 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:44 · cost: $0.0215
Puzzle 8324/4 correct (100%) · $0.0195
832 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: FLYER, ROCKET, DODGE, DIVE, FORD, STAR, FRY, DUCK, SENATOR, SCRAPER, LINCOLN, CHIP, WING, DIP, RAM, LARK
prompt: 486
Show thinking
The words include multiple car manufacturers/brands: Dodge, Ford, Lincoln, and Ram (as in Ram trucks). This forms a clear, solid category of 4. I'll guess this first to confirm and narrow the space, especially since early guesses are low-cost and provide info if off.
<guess>
DODGE, FORD, LINCOLN, RAM
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 786 · cost: $0.002505
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 593
Show thinking
Remaining words: FLYER, ROCKET, DIVE, STAR, FRY, DUCK, SENATOR, SCRAPER, CHIP, WING, DIP, LARK.
A strong category jumps out: CHIP (potato chip), DIP (sauce for chips), FRY (french fry), WING (chicken wing). These are all common appetizers or bar food/snacks, often served together. This matches a typical NYT Connections theme for casual party foods.
No other group of 4 feels as tight right now (e.g., bird words like DUCK/LARK are only 2; motion/avoid words are incomplete without DODGE). I'll guess this next. If wrong, the info will help narrow further. This keeps early guesses quick and low-cost.
<guess>
CHIP, DIP, FRY, WING
</guess>
<confidence>
0.75</confidence>
completion: 1,887 · cost: $0.005056
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 799
Show thinking
Remaining words: FLYER, ROCKET, DIVE, STAR, DUCK, SENATOR, SCRAPER, LARK.
Strong category: ROCKET (skyrocket), DIVE (skydive), SCRAPER (skyscraper), LARK (skylark). These are all common compound words that start with "SKY". This is a classic Connections pattern and fits perfectly with 4 exact matches.
After this, remaining would be FLYER, STAR, DUCK, SENATOR – still unclear but we'll handle if needed. Guessing this now makes sense as it's a complete, high-confidence set.
<guess>
ROCKET, DIVE, SCRAPER, LARK
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8</confidence>
completion: 1,829 · cost: $0.004966
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 973
Show thinking
Remaining words: FLYER, STAR, DUCK, SENATOR.
These match perfectly as NHL hockey teams (the Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, and Ottawa Senators). This is a typical Connections category type using plural team names/mascots. The pattern stands out strongly from other possibilities (like vague "fly" verbs or political terms) after the previous groupings eliminated cars, foods, and sky compounds. Guessing this completes the puzzle.
<guess>
FLYER, STAR, DUCK, SENATOR
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 2,629 · cost: $0.006982
832 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,851 · completion: 7,131 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 01:43 · cost: $0.0195
Puzzle 8264/4 correct (100%) · $0.0172
826 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: KEY, SCALE, MAIN, BEST, COMPASS, HATCH, WALL, FLEET, GATE, INSET, TOP, DOWNING, PORTAL, BEAT, BETTER, DOOR
prompt: 482
Show thinking
Map elements seem linked: KEY (legend), SCALE, COMPASS (rose), INSET (map). This is a classic Connections category for map features.
<guess>
COMPASS, INSET, KEY, SCALE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 2,227 · cost: $0.006103
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 559
Show thinking
Remaining words group nicely into famous streets: DOWNING (Downing Street), FLEET (Fleet Street), MAIN (Main Street), WALL (Wall Street). Solid category with real-world references. Other logical groups like entrances (DOOR/GATE/HATCH/PORTAL) and defeat verbs (BEAT/BEST/BETTER/TOP) also exist but streets are a clear match now.
<guess>
DOWNING, FLEET, MAIN, WALL
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 3,105 · cost: $0.008058
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 684
Show thinking
Remaining words: BEAT, BEST, BETTER, TOP, DOOR, GATE, HATCH, PORTAL. Two clear categories left - types of entrances/openings (DOOR, GATE, HATCH, PORTAL) and synonyms for defeat/surpass (BEAT, BEST, BETTER, TOP). Will try entrances first.
<guess>
DOOR, GATE, HATCH, PORTAL
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 541 · cost: $0.001804
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 799
Show thinking
Remaining words are BEAT, BEST, BETTER, TOP - all clear synonyms for defeating or outperforming (beat/best/better/top someone). Obvious final category after the previous correct groups.
<guess>
BEAT, BEST, BETTER, TOP
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 383 · cost: $0.001284
826 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,524 · completion: 6,256 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:56 · cost: $0.0172
Puzzle 3044/4 correct (100%) · $0.0157
304 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: LAWN, DIRECTOR, GROUNDS, GREEN, HEAD, FICTION, DOGS, FIELD, HAZEL, CHAIR, COCO, CHEST, UNCHAINED, PEA, CHIEF, BROWN
prompt: 486
Show thinking
The available words suggest several clear categories based on common Connections patterns: Tarantino films (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Django Unchained, Jackie Brown), leadership titles (chairman/chair, head of the company, chief, director), grassy areas (field, lawn, grounds, green), and nut prefixes (peanut, chestnut, hazelnut, coconut). These cover all 16 words with no leftovers or overlaps. I'll start by guessing the Tarantino films group since it fits uniquely and uses specific movie titles from the list. If incorrect, that provides information to refine others.
<guess>
BROWN, DOGS, FICTION, UNCHAINED
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 3,035 · cost: $0.008128
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 651
Show thinking
After the correct Tarantino films guess (Brown, Dogs, Fiction, Unchained), the remaining words clearly form three logical groups: leadership roles (Chair, Chief, Director, Head), grassy areas (Field, Green, Grounds, Lawn), and nuts (Chest, Coco, Hazel, Pea as in chestnut, coconut, hazelnut, peanut). No other strong connections remain. I'll guess the leadership group first since the words directly map to "boss" or "head of an organization" without relying on prefixes.
<guess>
CHAIR, CHIEF, DIRECTOR, HEAD
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 1,012 · cost: $0.003277
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 800
Show thinking
With the first two groups confirmed (Tarantino films and leadership titles), the remaining words split cleanly into two strong categories: grassy areas/open spaces (Lawn, Green, Grounds, Field) and types of nuts (Hazel for hazelnut, Coco for coconut, Chest for chestnut, Pea for peanut). Both are textbook Connections patterns. I'll guess the grassy group next as the words are direct matches without needing prefixes.
<guess>
LAWN, GREEN, GROUNDS, FIELD
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 623 · cost: $0.002154
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 930
Show thinking
With three groups confirmed, the last four words (CHEST, COCO, HAZEL, PEA) form the obvious final category of nuts (chestnut, coconut, hazelnut, peanut). This completes the puzzle without any leftovers or ambiguities.
<guess>
CHEST, COCO, HAZEL, PEA
</guess>
<confidence>
0.98</confidence>
completion: 431 · cost: $0.002173
304 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,867 · completion: 5,101 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:28 · cost: $0.0157
Puzzle 8154/4 correct (100%) · $0.0150
815 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: DAY, BOND, MTV, FLOWER, NES, VHS, GENESIS, START, COMBINE, DAWN, ALF, WED, FLY, BIRTH, POLE, FUSE
prompt: 484
Show thinking
The 16 words can be grouped into four categories based on associations:
• Synonyms for joining/uniting: BOND, COMBINE, FUSE, WED
• Synonyms for beginnings: BIRTH, DAWN, GENESIS, START
• Acronyms/initialisms: ALF, MTV, NES, VHS
• "May ____" compounds/things: DAY, FLOWER, FLY, POLE
I am starting with the joining synonyms as the first guess.
<guess>
BOND, COMBINE, FUSE, WED
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85
</confidence>
completion: 3,825 · cost: $0.010100
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 632
Show thinking
Previous guess (BOND, COMBINE, FUSE, WED) was correct, so those words are removed. Remaining: DAY, MTV, FLOWER, NES, VHS, GENESIS, START, DAWN, ALF, FLY, BIRTH, POLE. The next clearest category is words meaning "beginning": BIRTH, DAWN, GENESIS, START.
<guess>
BIRTH, DAWN, GENESIS, START
</guess>
<confidence>
0.8
</confidence>
completion: 416 · cost: $0.001427
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 760
Show thinking
Remaining words: DAY, MTV, FLOWER, NES, VHS, ALF, FLY, POLE.
The group "MAY ____": DAY (Mayday), FLOWER (Mayflower), FLY (Mayfly), POLE (Maypole) is a strong, coherent category. After this, the last four (ALF, MTV, NES, VHS) will be the remaining ones, likely 80s media acronyms.
<guess>
DAY, FLOWER, FLY, POLE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9
</confidence>
completion: 763 · cost: $0.002253
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 895
Show thinking
The three correct groups so far are: joining words, start/beginning words, and "May ____" items. This leaves MTV, NES, VHS, ALF, which are all 1980s media/tech acronyms (MTV, Nintendo Entertainment System, VHS, ALF TV show).
<guess>
MTV, NES, VHS, ALF
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95
</confidence>
completion: 318 · cost: $0.001175
815 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,771 · completion: 5,322 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:23 · cost: $0.0150
Puzzle 4764/4 correct (100%) · $0.0138
476 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: THROW, SHEET, DISCARD, DRAW, JUSTICE, BLANKET, PASS, PLAY, ENERGY, FULFILL, SHAM, LABOR, HONOR, KEEP, STATE, UPHOLD
prompt: 484
Show thinking
I have identified strong potential groups:
• U.S. cabinet departments (ENERGY, JUSTICE, LABOR, STATE)
• Bedding/home textiles (BLANKET, SHEET, SHAM, THROW)
• Card game actions (DISCARD, DRAW, PASS, PLAY)
• Verbs for carrying out obligations (FULFILL, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLD)
I'll start by guessing the departments group as it matches perfectly with known U.S. government agencies and has high certainty. This leaves room to confirm others based on feedback while using the 4 incorrect allowed.
<guess>
ENERGY, JUSTICE, LABOR, STATE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 3,206 · cost: $0.008553
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 651
Show thinking
First group was the U.S. Cabinet departments (ENERGY, JUSTICE, LABOR, STATE), confirmed correct. Remaining words: THROW, SHEET, DISCARD, DRAW, BLANKET, PASS, PLAY, FULFILL, SHAM, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLD. Strong next category is bedding items: BLANKET, SHEET, SHAM (pillow sham), THROW (throw blanket). This is a clear, distinct set with high matching.
<guess>
BLANKET, SHEET, SHAM, THROW
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 747 · cost: $0.002278
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 797
Show thinking
Confirmed: U.S. Cabinet departments and bedding items. Remaining words: DISCARD, DRAW, PASS, PLAY, FULFILL, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLD. Clear next group is card game actions/turns: DISCARD, DRAW, PASS, PLAY. This matches standard NYT Connections patterns perfectly and uses 4 remaining words cleanly.
<guess>
DISCARD, DRAW, PASS, PLAY
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 426 · cost: $0.001389
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 913
Show thinking
With first three groups confirmed (cabinet departments, bedding items, card terms), the final four remaining words are FULFILL, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLD. These form a clean category of synonyms meaning "to abide by or carry out" a duty, promise, or law. This completes the puzzle with zero incorrect guesses.
<guess>
FULFILL, HONOR, KEEP, UPHOLD
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 503 · cost: $0.001592
476 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,845 · completion: 4,882 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:23 · cost: $0.0138
Puzzle 8374/4 correct (100%) · $0.0112
837 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: SHAKE, THEATER, CONE, GOOD SHEPHERD, SPACECRAFT, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, FICTIONAL BOXER, SPLIT, RAINMAKER, GREEK/ROMAN GOD, DEPARTED, MARTIAN, CUP, LEFT, BLUE
prompt: 500
Show thinking
The words include several that fit clear thematic groups. One strong category is items associated with "Apollo": THEATER (Apollo Theater), SPACECRAFT (Apollo missions), FICTIONAL BOXER (Apollo Creed from Rocky), and GREEK/ROMAN GOD (Apollo). This fits perfectly as a purple-level category. Other groups appear to be Matt Damon films (GOOD SHEPHERD, DEPARTED, RAINMAKER, MARTIAN), ice cream items (SHAKE, CONE, SPLIT, CUP), and political left terms (LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, LEFT, BLUE). I'll start by guessing the Apollo group for efficiency.
<guess>
THEATER, SPACECRAFT, FICTIONAL BOXER, GREEK/ROMAN GOD
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 2,321 · cost: $0.006024
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 689
Show thinking
One group confirmed. Remaining words point to three clear categories: Matt Damon films (GOOD SHEPHERD, DEPARTED, RAINMAKER, MARTIAN), ice cream items (SHAKE, CONE, SPLIT, CUP), and political left terms (LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, LEFT, BLUE). I'll guess the Matt Damon films next as they are a strong thematic match.
<guess>
GOOD SHEPHERD, DEPARTED, RAINMAKER, MARTIAN
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 393 · cost: $0.001777
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 820
Show thinking
Two groups correctly guessed so far: Apollo-related and Matt Damon films. The eight remaining words split cleanly into two obvious categories: ice cream/dessert items (SHAKE, CONE, SPLIT, CUP) and left-leaning political terms (LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, LEFT, BLUE). I'll guess the ice cream group next.
<guess>
SHAKE, CONE, SPLIT, CUP
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 767 · cost: $0.002539
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 935
Show thinking
Three groups solved. The remaining four words (LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, LEFT, BLUE) clearly form a category for left-leaning political terms or synonyms for "liberal."
<guess>
LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, LEFT, BLUE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 217 · cost: $0.000905
837 → SOLVED
prompt: 2,944 · completion: 3,698 · guesses: 4 · correct: 4 · time: 00:19 · cost: $0.0112
Puzzle 3145/4 correct (125%) · $0.0102
314 → WIP
HOW TO PLAY
1. Guess 4 related words that belong to the same category.
2. You'll be told "CORRECT", "INCORRECT", "INCORRECT - ONE AWAY" or "INVALID_RESPONSE" with details.
3. If a word has been correctly guessed, it shall not be used again.
4. You have at most 6 total guesses (4 incorrect answers allowed).
5. Once you have guessed 4 correct distinct sets, the puzzle is solved.
SCORING
You are scored on three criteria, in priority order:
1. Solve rate: Did you complete the puzzle? This is all that matters for correctness.
2. Cost: Every token you generate costs money. Cheaper solves are better.
3. Speed: Faster solves are better, but this is secondary to cost.
Incorrect guesses give you free information - use them to narrow the solution space. You are only penalized for incorrect guesses if you fail the puzzle.
With 4 incorrect guesses available, guess quickly early on. Save deeper analysis for when you have 1-2 incorrect guesses remaining.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
Provide your response in this exact structure:
<thinking>
[Your reasoning]
</thinking>
<guess>
[EXACTLY four words, ALL CAPS, comma-separated]
</guess>
<confidence>
[A number between 0.0 and 1.0 indicating your confidence in this guess]
</confidence>
Available words: HAMMER, BEND, SHEEPSHANK, POLE, GOATEE, HURDLE, TAIL, BATON, HORNS, CROCK, BUNK, PITCHFORK, HITCH, HOGWASH, BOWLINE, HORSEFEATHERS
prompt: 501
Show thinking
The words include several types of knots (BOWLINE, SHEEPSHANK, HITCH, BEND), synonyms for nonsense (BUNK, CROCK, HOGWASH, HORSEFEATHERS), track & field implements/events (BATON, HAMMER, HURDLE, POLE), and devil-associated items (GOATEE, HORNS, PITCHFORK, TAIL). I'll start by guessing the knot group as it seems the clearest category.
<guess>
BEND, BOWLINE, HITCH, SHEEPSHANK
</guess>
<confidence>
0.85</confidence>
completion: 1,343 · cost: $0.003917
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 650
Show thinking
Knots group confirmed. Remaining words clearly split into: track & field events/items (BATON, HAMMER, HURDLE, POLE), nonsense synonyms (BUNK, CROCK, HOGWASH, HORSEFEATHERS), and devil features (GOATEE, HORNS, TAIL, PITCHFORK). I'll guess the track & field group next.
<guess>
BATON, HAMMER, HURDLE, POLE
</guess>
<confidence>
0.9</confidence>
completion: 371 · cost: $0.001673
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 779
Show thinking
Knots and track & field groups confirmed. Remaining words split cleanly into nonsense synonyms (BUNK, CROCK, HOGWASH, HORSEFEATHERS) and devil-associated features (GOATEE, HORNS, PITCHFORK, TAIL). I'll guess the nonsense group next.
<guess>
BUNK, CROCK, HOGWASH, HORSEFEATHERS
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 499 · cost: $0.001549
CORRECT. NEXT GUESS?
prompt: 893
The puzzle has gone perfectly so far. We've correctly guessed:
completion: 223 · cost: $0.001607
INVALID_RESPONSE: Expected 4 words, got 1. Available words: GOATEE, HORNS, PITCHFORK, TAIL. You provided: THE PUZZLE HAS GONE PERFECTLY SO FAR. WE'VE CORRECTLY GUESSED:
prompt: 969
Show thinking
Only one group remains: GOATEE, HORNS, PITCHFORK, TAIL. These are all classic features/items associated with the devil in folklore and depictions (horns, tail, pitchfork, and goatee beard).
<guess>
GOATEE, HORNS, PITCHFORK, TAIL
</guess>
<confidence>
0.95</confidence>
completion: 435 · cost: $0.001425
314 → SOLVED
prompt: 3,792 · completion: 2,871 · guesses: 4 · correct: 5 · time: 00:21 · cost: $0.0102