How to play Strands

The rules

1. 1Read the theme clue. It is often a pun or a sideways hint rather than a plain category name.
2. 2Make words by joining neighboring letters. A path can turn in any direction, including diagonally, but it can't reuse a letter.
3. 3Theme words light up blue when you find them. Every theme word fits the clue.
4. 4One answer is the spangram. It names the theme, lights up yellow and touches two opposite sides of the board, either left and right or top and bottom.
5. 5Other real words of four or more letters aren't wasted: every three of them earns a hint, which highlights the letters of one theme word.
6. 6The puzzle is done when every letter on the board is used.

Tips for solving

• Hunt for the spangram early. Once you have it, the theme is clear and it splits the board into smaller areas.
• Look at the edges and corners. Letters there have fewer neighbors, so the words that use them are easier to trace.
• If the clue is a pun, say it out loud and think of phrases it could come from.
• Watch for unusual clusters such as Q, Z, X or double letters. They narrow down which words can run through them.
• Count what's left. When only a few letters remain, the last word often has to follow one path.
• Spend a few minutes making ordinary words if you're stuck. The built-in hint is free and doesn't break your streak.

Strands questions