Hi, I’m Ray Thomas, and I’ve been solving the Letter Boxed game from The New York Times every day for a long time now. It’s one of those rare word puzzles that’s both fun and frustrating—but once you get the hang of it, it becomes deeply satisfying.
When people ask me how I consistently solve it, or how I find those clean two-word answers, I always tell them the same thing: Letter Boxed is less about knowing big words and more about how you think. It’s part vocabulary, part strategy.
Here are the exact tips and tricks I use every day to stay sharp and get better solves.
1. Use the Hardest Letters First
Start by scanning the board for the most difficult or unusual letters—things like Q, X, Z, J. These are the ones that often block a solution if you leave them for last.
When I see a Q or X, I immediately try to build a word around it. The earlier you use them, the easier the rest of the puzzle becomes.
2. Go for Long Words Up Front
I always try to open with a word that knocks out as many letters as possible. A good first word should cover 5–7 letters, and ideally include one or two of the tricky ones.
Think about words that have common suffixes like -ing, -tion, -ment, or look for compound words that naturally stretch across the grid. The more letters you clear early, the fewer variables you deal with later.
3. Think Two Steps Ahead
The last letter of your first word must start the second one. This rule is what makes Letter Boxed so clever—and so challenging.
Before I commit to any word, I check: Can I realistically follow this up with another word that connects and uses the remaining letters? If not, I drop it and look for another option.
This one habit alone has saved me from dozens of dead ends.
4. Visualize Letter Bridges
Some letters just connect better than others. I call them bridges—letters that often work well in transitions, like S → T or N → E.
With practice, you’ll start noticing natural flows between letter sides. These are your building blocks. Once you understand how to build a smooth bridge between the sides, the rest becomes easier.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Reset
If you’re five or ten minutes into the puzzle and still stuck, stop and start fresh. I do this all the time. Sometimes the first few words you try put you on the wrong track, and your brain keeps trying to make them work.
Clear the board. Take a breath. Look at the letters with new eyes. A completely different solution path might open up.
6. Practice With Purpose
Solving Letter Boxed isn’t about guessing until something clicks—it’s about developing a rhythm. If you play regularly, you’ll start to notice letter patterns, word families, and transition habits.
I also suggest going back to previous day’s puzzles and replaying them with a new approach. The more you experiment, the more your brain adapts to how the game works.
7. Chase the Two-Word Solve (But Don’t Force It)
There’s nothing more satisfying than solving the puzzle in just two words. But chasing that perfect finish can sometimes distract you from just solving the puzzle at all.
My advice? Go for the win first. Then, if you’re feeling confident, take what you’ve learned from that solve and see if you can shorten it. Many two-word solves reveal themselves once you’ve found a valid path.
Final Thought
Letter Boxed isn’t just a word game—it’s a mindset. It teaches you to think in layers, to plan ahead, and to be flexible. The best players aren’t the ones with the biggest vocabulary—they’re the ones who know how to move through the grid with purpose.
If you apply even a few of these tips consistently, I promise you’ll start seeing better results. And who knows? That two-word solve might be waiting for you tomorrow.
Keep solving.