ChainWhich
Rate itBuild a chain of compound words and spot the three decoys.
on chainwhich.com
ChainWhich is a free daily word chain puzzle. The first and last words are fixed, and you choose three of six words to fill the links between them so that every neighbouring pair makes a compound word or common phrase, like coffee table and table salt. Three of the six are decoys, and you have three attempts.
About ChainWhich
ChainWhich builds on one simple idea: a chain of words in which each neighbouring pair forms a compound word or common phrase. SUN, FLOWER, POT and HOLE make a chain because sunflower, flowerpot and pothole are all words. Each day's puzzle gives you the first and last words of a five-word chain, locked in place, and six candidate words for the three gaps.
Only three of the six belong; the other three are decoys chosen to almost fit. You arrange the words you think connect and submit, with three attempts to get the whole chain right. If you are stuck, the first hint removes a decoy and the second reveals one of the words.
A new hand-curated puzzle arrives every day at midnight in your own time zone, dated at the top of the board beside your streak, and a timer runs while you play. First-time players get a one-word practice round, which they can skip. The game keeps your streak and total games, lets you share results without spoilers, and has a colour blind mode. You can also build your own five-word chain with three trap words and share it with a link as a community puzzle, playable for 14 days. ChainWhich is self-published and has been running since December 2025. It is free, with no login and no ads, and an optional daily email sends the puzzle link.
It suits players who like Connections-style deduction and the small pleasure of a compound word clicking into place.
How to play ChainWhich
- Open chainwhich.com; a short practice round comes first, and Skip takes you straight to today's dated puzzle.
- Look at the locked first and last words of the chain.
- Choose three of the six words to fill the gaps, so each neighbouring pair forms a compound word or phrase.
- Watch out for the three decoys that almost fit.
- Press Complete the Chain; you have three attempts, and two hints if you need them.
Screenshots
Tips
- Work from both ends: test which candidates pair with the first word and which with the last.
- A decoy usually pairs with one neighbour but not the other, so check both sides of every link.
- Say each pair aloud; compound words and common phrases both count.
- Use the first hint before the second: removing a decoy often makes the chain obvious.
Questions
How is ChainWhich different from Connections?
Connections groups words into categories. ChainWhich asks you to arrange words into a chain where each neighbouring pair forms a compound word or phrase, with decoys mixed in.
How many attempts do I get?
Three.
Are there hints?
Yes. The first removes a decoy and the second reveals a word.
Is ChainWhich free?
Yes, with no account, download, ads or paywall.
What time does ChainWhich reset?
At midnight in your own time zone: the game picks the day's puzzle by your device's local date.
Ratings and reviews
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