The New York Times’ Strands puzzle for February 23, #722, tests players’ word association skills with a musical theme. If you’re stuck, this guide provides hints and the complete solution without unnecessary fluff.
Understanding the Puzzle
Strands challenges players to identify hidden words within a grid of letters, all connected by a single theme. The game offers in-game hints after finding three words of four or more letters, and includes a “spangram” – a theme word that spans the entire grid. This puzzle’s theme is related to music, specifically stringed instruments.
Hints and Clues
The theme for today’s puzzle is “Strike a chord.” A direct clue: Rockers sometimes smash them.
To unlock in-game hints, start by finding any four-letter words within the grid. Some useful starting words include:
- CENT
- CENTS
- CONK
- RITE
- DOTE
- CITE
- BITE
- STOCK
Full Solution
The non-spangram theme words for today’s puzzle are:
- BODY
- NECK
- PEGS
- STRING
- HEADSTOCK
- FRETBOARD
- BRIDGE
The spangram, which connects the puzzle from left to right, is GUITAR. Locate the starting ‘G’ four rows down on the leftmost vertical column, then trace the word across the grid.
Strands is designed to be challenging, but by strategically finding initial words, players can unlock further hints and ultimately solve the puzzle.
