Play Strands #956
The same letter grid NYT shows. Drag across touching letters, or tap them one by one and tap the last letter again to check. Theme words turn blue and the spangram turns yellow. Hint outlines one word you haven't found. Nothing is saved, so your real game stays untouched.
Strands #956 hints
Today's official theme is "Sailor's guide". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for words that name the parts and features you would find in or on a tall coastal building that warns ships away from danger.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of the whole building that helps ships stay safe near the shore at night, and remember it spans the board from one side to the other.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, D, G, L, S, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 10 letters and runs from top to bottom.
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Strands #956 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 9 letters
Strands #956 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 15, 2026.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (4 letters)
DOME. It starts in row 2, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
TOWER. It starts in row 8, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters)
BEACON. It starts in row 2, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (7 letters)
GALLERY. It starts in row 5, column 5, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters)
LANTERN. It starts in row 3, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (9 letters)
STAIRCASE. It starts in row 8, column 2, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
LIGHTHOUSE. It starts in row 1, column 2, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: LIGHTHOUSE
Theme words: BEACON, DOME, GALLERY, LANTERN, STAIRCASE, TOWER
A lighthouse is a sailor's guide, and the other answers are its parts: the TOWER, the STAIRCASE inside, the LANTERN room, the BEACON light, the DOME on top, and the GALLERY walkway around it. Each one helps make up the structure that guides ships safely along the coast.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 14 | #955 | Folk & fairy tale twosomes |
| Oct 13 | #954 | Well, this is awkward |
| Oct 12 | #953 | In a manner of speaking |
| Oct 11 | #952 | They don't make 'em like they used to |
| Oct 10 | #951 | A slow drizzle |
| Oct 9 | #950 | That can't be right |
| Oct 8 | #949 | A star is born |
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Oct 15
Strands #956 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 15, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #956 was LIGHTHOUSE, for the theme "Sailor's guide".
What were the Strands theme words on October 15, 2026?
BEACON, DOME, GALLERY, LANTERN, STAIRCASE, TOWER, plus the spangram LIGHTHOUSE.
What did the Strands #956 clue mean?
A lighthouse is a sailor's guide, and the other answers are its parts: the TOWER, the STAIRCASE inside, the LANTERN room, the BEACON light, the DOME on top, and the GALLERY walkway around it. Each one helps make up the structure that guides ships safely along the coast.