The New York Times has a compelling new puzzle game called Strands, and it feels like a mix of a traditional word search and a topic-focused puzzle like Connections. If you need help getting used to the new game or want some extra hints to help you solve the latest puzzle, we're here to offer as much or as little help as needed.
How to Play Strands
You're dealing with a 6 x 8 grid of letters and need to find words, but unlike a traditional word search, the flow of each word can travel in different directions. In other words, the "strands" of letters pivot all over the place. You can tap or trace your finger on your mobile device to submit a word.
Each day's puzzle has a somewhat obtuse theme that reads like a crossword clue. Official puzzle words are all related to that theme, but there's also a way to receive further hints: if you submit three words not related to the theme, you'll receive a hint. All letters needed for a word related to the theme will be highlighted with circles. Note that all words must be at least four letters long, whether on theme or not. These always need to be four letters or longer.
It'll then be up to you to guess the flow of that particular strand. As you unlock official guesses, they'll be highlighted in blue. Eventually, you'll uncover the theme's name in gold — called a Spangram! — as it bisects the rest of the puzzle and touches two opposite sides of the board.
In the above example from April 9, "Can I have my quarter back?" is the clue, and it's a hint that all of the theme words are related to football. More specifically, words like COWBOY, PANTHER, and PATRIOT are all the singular form of team mascots in the NFL. And the Spangram is TEAM PLAYERS.
April 10 Puzzle Hints
"In closing," is the theme for April 10, which could have a few meanings. Is it related to arguments or debates? You also "close" a deal so that could be the direction this goes in. We'll see!
Today's Non-Theme Words for Strands
As always, once you submit three off-theme words, you'll get a hint highlighting all the letters used in an on-theme word. Every word, whether on- or off-theme, must have at least four characters. Here's an assortment of off-theme words we found that helped us get hints.
- RANG
- KANG
- HANG
- SEER
- HERE
- GARE
- WAYS
- ARSE
- HARE
- THANK
- TING
- THIN
- THING
- GROSS
- REGARD
- AWAY
- REEL
- SINCERE
- SING
- RING
- ROIN
- REAR
- CHANG
- SKAG
WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW
Today's On-Theme Words for Strands
Our first on-theme word was BEST which didn't exactly clarify the theme. But as soon as we got ALWAYS, it became clear that tall of the on-theme words are the sorts of words you'd use to sign a letter or email. Best wishes on your Strands attempt.
- BEST
- ALWAYS
- THANKS
- CHEERS
- REGARDS
- SINCERELY
- SINGING OFF (Spangram)
