The New York Times’ Strands puzzle presents a fresh, daily word search challenge that demands a sharp eye and strategic thinking. Like other popular NYT games such as Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can sometimes stump even the most seasoned puzzle solvers. This guide offers helpful hints, reveals today’s spangram, and ultimately provides the complete solution to today’s Strands puzzle.
NYT Strands logo.
Understanding the Rules of Strands
The objective of Strands is to identify the hidden “theme words” within a grid of letters. Players manipulate the letters by dragging or tapping to form words, confirming the final letter with a double-tap. Correct theme words highlight in blue and become locked. Finding non-theme words, while not the primary goal, still provides valuable assistance. Every three non-theme words of at least four letters earns a hint, revealing the scrambled letters of a theme word. Each letter in the grid contributes to spelling the theme words, with no letter used more than once and no overlapping letters. Furthermore, every puzzle includes a “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) reflecting the puzzle’s theme and spanning two opposite sides of the board. The spangram highlights in yellow upon discovery. The ideal strategy involves solving the puzzle swiftly and minimizing hint usage.
Today’s Strands Puzzle Hint and Theme
Today’s theme revolves around “It’s in the cards,” suggesting words associated with different card-giving occasions. Consider the variety of cards sent for various life events and celebrations. This should help narrow down the possibilities within the grid.
Unraveling Today’s Strands Spangram
The spangram often provides a key insight into the puzzle’s theme. Today’s spangram is “GREETINGS,” a word commonly associated with various types of cards. This should help you decipher the remaining theme words.
Today’s Strands Answers Revealed
If you’re still struggling, here are the complete answers for today’s Strands puzzle:
- CONGRATS
- BIRTHDAY
- WEDDING
- LOVE
- SYMPATHY
- BABY
Strategies for Conquering Future Strands Puzzles
Start by looking for the spangram, as it often reveals the puzzle’s theme. Use the theme as a guide to identify other potential theme words. Don’t underestimate the value of finding non-theme words to earn hints. Consider common letter combinations and prefixes/suffixes related to the theme. Finally, remember that every letter in the grid is used exactly once in the theme words.
