Strands, while perhaps overshadowed by more well-known New York Times games like Wordle and Connections, offers its own unique blend of challenge and fun. Now fully launched out of beta, Strands has joined the official New York Times Games app, which could attract a larger audience. In this article, I’ll break down the rules and strategies to help you get the most out of this game.
Mastering Strands: A How-To Guide
- Understand the Theme: Each day’s puzzle has a theme, and your job is to identify words that align with that topic. Spot a word? Simply drag or click the letters in sequence, and double-click the last letter to submit your guess. Correct guesses light up in blue and remain locked in.
- Collect Clue Words: As you find other valid words (with a minimum of four letters), they serve as hints. Gather three of these ‘clue words,’ and the game will reward you by revealing one of the theme words. If the theme word isn’t clear, find three more hint words to have the letters of the theme word displayed in the correct order.
- The Spangram Challenge: A standout feature of Strands is the “spangram,” a special theme word that spans the puzzle—horizontally, vertically, or across both. This word encapsulates the puzzle’s theme and is the ultimate goal.
- Completion Strategy: Your objective is to use all letters on the board by forming either a theme word or a spangram. Theme words will cover the entire board without overlapping. Once every letter is used, you’ve successfully completed the puzzle.
Today’s Strands Puzzle Hint
Today’s theme? Boots and saddles.
If that clue feels too cryptic, here’s a little nudge: Git along, little dogies. (Western fans might already be catching on.)
Finding In-Game Hints
If you’re stuck, don’t worry! The goal is to uncover hidden words related to the theme. For every three words you discover that have at least four letters, Strands will reveal a new theme word. Here are a few examples of words I used to unlock hints, but remember, any valid four-letter word you find will help:
- FUEL
- RIFE
- RIFF
- BOTS
- STALE
- TALES
- LOOT
- STAR
- RATE
Answers to Today’s Strands Puzzle
The goal is to find all theme words in the puzzle, including the spangram. Typically, puzzles have around eight answers, though this number may vary. Here are the theme words I discovered today:
- DUEL
- HORSE
- BOUNTY
- COWBOY
- OUTLAW
- SALOON
- SHERIFF
Today’s Spangram
The spangram for today’s puzzle is WESTERNS. To find it, start with the “W” five letters down from the far-left column and follow it across the puzzle.
Unique Insights
Strands, though relatively new, stands out for its depth and layers of strategy. The mix of unlocking hints and chasing down the elusive spangram adds a satisfying complexity that sets it apart from other word games. The themed aspect provides a refreshing twist, offering a more focused challenge for puzzle enthusiasts. As more people discover Strands through the New York Times app, it’s likely to grow into a beloved staple alongside its more famous siblings.
