The Mini Crossword is designed to be considerably quicker than the full New York Times Crossword, but its small grid does not always mean an effortless solve. A single unfamiliar abbreviation, proper name or piece of wordplay can hold up the entire grid.
Today’s puzzle mixes everyday expressions with a poker reference, an Ivy League school, a unit of measurement, technology, furniture, money-transfer services, and a familiar dog breed.
If you are looking for the NYT Mini Crossword answers today, the hints below can give you a way forward before you reveal the complete solutions.
NYT Mini Crossword Hints for October 1, 2026
There are four Across clues and five Down clues in today’s puzzle.
Across Hints
1A: Word before “a hand” or “a hoot”
The answer is a four-letter word beginning with G. It works in both expressions and is one of the more familiar phrases in the puzzle.
5A: Card game for Phil Ivey
This five-letter answer refers to the classic card game associated with professional players. The answer ends in R.
6A: Philly Ivy
This clue points to the commonly used abbreviation for a prestigious university in Philadelphia. The five-letter answer ends in N.
7A: Basic unit of mass
Think about the standard metric unit used to measure mass. The answer begins with G and contains four letters.
8A: Not bad, but not great
This informal expression describes something that is acceptable without being particularly impressive. The four-letter answer ends in O.
Down Hints
1D: Enter the N.F.L. draft, say
This clue uses a verb that can describe entering the NFL draft. The five-letter answer begins with G.
2D: Furniture stores in giant blue warehouses
Think of the famous Swedish furniture retailer known for its enormous blue-and-yellow stores. The clue asks for the plural form and produces a five-letter answer beginning with I.
3D: Cash App alternative
This clue points to another widely known money-transfer service. The five-letter answer ends in O.
4D: Suffix with north, south, east or west
This is a short geographical abbreviation that can follow each of the four cardinal directions. The answer has three letters and begins with E.
5D: Dogs with smushed-looking faces
The clue refers to a recognizable group of dogs known for their short, flattened facial appearance. The answer has four letters and ends in S.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, October 1, 2026
Spoiler warning: The complete solutions are below. If you still want to solve the puzzle yourself, stop here.
Across Answers
1A: Word before “a hand” or “a hoot” = GIVE
The opening Across answer is GIVE, which works in familiar expressions such as “give a hand” and “give a hoot.”
5A: Card game for Phil Ivey = POKER
The answer is POKER, the five-letter card game associated with professional players including Phil Ivey.
6A: Philly Ivy = UPENN
The answer is UPENN, the commonly used shortened form for the University of Pennsylvania. The clue uses “Philly” to point toward the Philadelphia-based Ivy League institution.
7A: Basic unit of mass = GRAM
The answer is GRAM, the familiar metric unit of mass.
8A: Not bad, but not great = SOSO
The answer is SOSO, an informal expression meaning something is merely adequate or mediocre.
Down Answers
1D: Enter the N.F.L. draft, say = GOPRO
The answer is GOPRO, using the phrase “go pro” to describe entering professional sports.
2D: Furniture stores in giant blue warehouses = IKEAS
The answer is IKEAS, referring to IKEA stores and their recognizable warehouse-style locations.
3D: Cash App alternative = VENMO
The answer is VENMO, the peer-to-peer payment service and a familiar alternative to Cash App.
4D: Suffix with north, south, east or west = ERN
The answer is ERN, which completes northern, southern, eastern, and western.
5D: Dogs with smushed-looking faces = PUGS
The answer is PUGS, referring to the distinctive short-muzzled dog breed.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Grid
The October 1, 2026 puzzle is a 5×5 grid, consistent with the standard Mini format. Current puzzle listings identify nine clues in total, with four Across clues and five Down clues.
The longest entries are five letters, including POKER, UPENN, GOPRO, IKEAS, and VENMO. The three-letter ERN entry is particularly useful because it connects several surrounding answers.
If you are trying to solve the puzzle without immediately seeing every answer, start with the clues whose meanings are most direct. Entries such as GRAM, POKER and VENMO can provide crossing letters that make the more ambiguous clues easier.
For players maintaining a daily puzzle routine, the next challenge will arrive with the following NYT Mini Crossword.
