You frequently have to fight against your first impulses when you first launch Connections, a new Times game. It's a game where a little perseverance can go a long way.

We've decided to devote the entirety of today's newsletter to a description of Connections because Morning readers routinely let us know how much they like brief daily games and how anxious they are to try new ones. We now have one for you to think about.

Your task is to divide the 16 terms shown in each day's Connections Gamepuzzle into four sets of four, like in the example above, which was released last week. Each combination of four belongs to a recognizable category of words, objects, or other things. Consider, for example, four colors or four joyful shouts. This concept will seem familiar to those who have played the board game Codenames

Yet, Connections frequently has a twist, and the preceding puzzle is a prime example. Instead of four, there are six state names:

How are you expected to choose which two belong in one category and which four to put in the "states" category?

The difficulty and enjoyment of the game heavily depend on how you respond to that question. On most days, you will see one clear potential category that comprises more than four elements, like the state names in this puzzle. The next step is to determine whether of those objects can also be placed in another category. There is only one solution to each day's problem.

Warning: I'm about to reveal the solutions to this puzzle, so feel free to stop reading now if you'd prefer to work it out on your own.

Kansas, maybe

When I play Connections, generally with my wife, we frequently skip over the categories with more than four things and move on to the next category. In particular, we concentrate on one of the more odd phrases and attempt to determine which category it might reasonably belong to. We considered genesis in this instance.

It's a book from the Bible, of course, but there were no other Bible terms in the grid. We tried to come up with popular sentences that used the word, but were unsuccessful. We did thought of the rock band Genesis, but then we saw the names of two other rock bands, yes and rush. Even though I couldn't recall any of Kansas' songs, I had a hazy impression that the band might also have existed as we searched for a fourth. (Sorry, Kansas supporters.)

Editors' Choice

The Search for a Crocodile Dictionary

Confused, Angry, and Stranded at the Airport with a Service Animal

I Messed Up the Family Movie, Honey

From there, the answer came together. My wife observed the names of four soda brands, and we thought we noticed the last names of four Tony characters from popular culture. (We were somewhat incorrect about Tony Hawk; he is a real skateboarder. Still, Connections accepts right responses even when the logic is weak.) Tony Montana from "Scarface" was one of the four.

At that moment, we had down the list of states to only four, and the mystery was solved:

After playing Connections for a few weeks, I enjoy how challenging it is. On most days, my wife and I can figure out the problem with a little help, but not always. Connections lets you know you've lost after four incorrect guesses and displays the answers.