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Ready to test your wits with the New York Times' newest puzzle game? Strands, NYT’s daily word game, is rapidly joining the ranks of popular brain-teasers like Wordle and Connections. This game adds a fresh challenge to the day with themed puzzles, hidden words, and the added twist of a “spangram” to uncover. Here’s everything you need to know about playing Strands, hints for today’s game, and all the answers for Strands puzzle #243 on Friday, November 1.
Playing Strands is all about filling the board with theme words related to that day’s specific category. Here’s a quick guide on how to play:
Find theme words: Theme words related to the day’s topic will turn blue once correctly identified.
Drag or tap letters: Create words by dragging or tapping on letters. To submit a word, double-tap the last letter.
No overlapping: Words won’t overlap, making it easy to spot the theme words on the board.
Discover the spangram: The “spangram” is the key word that spans the puzzle, stretching from one side of the board to the other. Once found, it will be highlighted in yellow.
For every three non-theme words discovered, players receive a hint that reveals part of a theme word's letters or letter order.
Today's theme brings a classic board game to mind. Each word on the board ties back to this well-loved game where every move counts.
Today’s spangram is oriented vertically (top to bottom), giving players a clue to the theme and helping anyone still stuck to find their way forward.
Today’s puzzle features nine theme words, including the all-important spangram. Here’s a nudge in the right direction, showing the first two letters of each word:
RO
KN
BO
BI
TI
KI
PA
QU
CH (This is today’s spangram)
The spangram answer, crucial for anyone still working on the board, is CHECKMATE. This well-known chess term represents a pivotal moment in the game and is at the core of today’s puzzle theme.
To complete today’s board, each of these theme words needs to be discovered. Here’s the full list for Friday, November 1:
ROOK
KNIGHT
BOARD
BISHOP
TIMER
KING
PAWN
QUEEN
CHECKMATE (spangram)
Today’s theme dives into the world of chess, highlighting the game’s iconic pieces and strategy. Each word connects back to this ancient game, where patience, strategy, and foresight are essential. With pieces like the Queen and Rook, and pivotal moments like Checkmate, the theme draws players into the mindset of a chess player strategizing their next move. The Timer adds a nod to competitive chess, where each second counts.
Here are some quick tips for anyone playing NYT Strands for the first time:
1. Scan the board for familiar words: Start with words related to the theme.
2. Look for clues in the spangram: Often, this primary word holds the key to understanding the puzzle’s theme.
3. Use hints wisely: For every three non-theme words found, an extra hint will reveal letters or the order of a theme word.
NYT Strands brings a refreshing way to stretch vocabulary and reasoning skills with its daily themed puzzles. Today’s chess-themed game is a nod to a classic strategy game enjoyed across generations. For fans of wordplay and daily puzzles, Strands offers an engaging new addition to the daily routine.
