For those who’re in search of hints and solutions for Strands for Saturday, Could 2, 2026, learn on—I’ll share some clues and suggestions, and eventually the answer to the puzzle with the theme “All the suitable strikes.”
For a straightforward option to come again to our Strands hints each day, bookmark this web page. You too can discover our previous hints there as properly, in case you wish to know what you missed in a earlier puzzle. (For those who play Wordle or Connections, try our hints for these video games, too.)
Beneath, I’ll offer you some indirect hints at as we speak’s Strands solutions. And farther down the web page, I’ll reveal the spangram and the solutions. Scroll slowly and take simply the hints you want!
Credit score: Strands/NYT
Trace for the spangram in as we speak’s Strands puzzle
What you may see (or take part in) at a country-western bar.
Trace for the theme phrases in as we speak’s Strands puzzle
Particular strikes.
BEWARE: Spoilers observe for as we speak’s Strands puzzle!
We’re about to present away the solutions to as we speak’s Strands puzzle.
What’s the spangram in as we speak’s Strands?
As we speak’s spangram is LINEDANCE.
What are the theme phrases in as we speak’s Strands?
The theme phrases as we speak are: PONY, SCUFF, KICK, SHUFFLE, WIZARD, SAILOR, COASTER.
Right here’s what the board appears like when the puzzle is solved:
Credit score: Strands/NYT
How I solved as we speak’s Strands
I’ll begin in search of dance-related phrases.
Effectively, there goes that principle: WIZARD is within the higher proper. 🔵 Possibly basketball groups?
PONY is within the higher left. 🔵 I don’t assume that’s a staff identify.
SHUFFLE is within the backside left. 🔵
CUFF, beneath PONY, isn’t a theme phrase—however SCUFF is. 🔵 I nonetheless don’t know what this puzzle theme is.
KICK is above SHUFFLE. 🔵
Oh, I see the spangram: LINEDANCE. 🟡 I assume it’s dance moves in line dancing?
What do you assume to this point?
SAILOR is beneath WIZARD. 🔵
Lastly, COASTER. 🔵
Strands #790 “All the suitable strikes” 🔵🔵🔵🔵 🔵🟡🔵🔵
The best way to play Strands
You will discover the Strands sport on the New York Occasions web site and within the NYT Video games app.
If you begin taking part in, you’ll see a sport board with an assortment of letters, flanked by a clue that provides a touch on the board’s theme—this shall be a phrase, like “Higher with age.” Your job is to seek out the hidden phrases inside the board that replicate the puzzle’s theme.
A crossword crossed with a phrase search
Crucial phrase to seek out is the “spangram,” a phrase that extra explicitly states the puzzle’s theme. (For instance, the spangram for the puzzle with the theme “Higher with age” is FERMENTED, which describes merchandise which might be, you guessed it, higher with age.) The spangram will span the complete sport board, both from left to proper or high to backside (therefore the identify). If you discover the spangram, will probably be highlighted in yellow. Fixing the spangram often makes the remainder of the puzzle a lot simpler to finish.
In Strands, phrases can journey any route (up, down, left, proper, and diagonal), and you’ll solely use every letter as soon as. There is just one appropriate resolution. If you appropriately establish one of many puzzle’s phrases (for instance, KOMBUCHA, MISO, or KIMCHI), will probably be highlighted in blue.
In case you are struggling to unravel the puzzle, you’ll be able to submit any non-theme phrases you see (so long as they’re 4 letters or extra) to obtain credit score towards a single trace. For those who submit three non-theme phrases, the “Trace” button shall be clickable; when you click on it, the entire letters in one of many theme phrases shall be highlighted for you. You’ll nonetheless need to hyperlink these highlighted letters in the suitable order to type one of many theme phrases. If there’s already a touch on the board and you utilize one other trace earlier than fixing for that phrase, that phrase’s letter order shall be revealed.
The best way to win Strands
In contrast to Connections and Wordle, you can’t fail Strands. If you submit guesses, you’ll both appropriately establish a solution, obtain credit score towards a touch, or the textual content will shake backwards and forwards, indicating that the phrase you submitted is simply too quick or not legitimate. You’ll be able to’t run out of guesses, and there’s no time restrict.
You win if you’ve appropriately used all of the letters on the board, that means that you’ve got recognized the spangram and the entire theme phrases. Like different NYT video games, upon fixing the puzzle, you will notice a shareable card that signifies the way you carried out that day: blue dots 🔵 point out theme phrases you discovered, the yellow dot 🟡 signifies if you discovered the spangram, and a lightbulb 💡 signifies phrases that you just acquired a touch for.
Not the day you are after? Here is the answer to yesterday’s Strands.