Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren
Your Strands expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Strands today (game #194) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Boots and saddles

NYT Strands today (game #194) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • STORE
  • SNORE
  • COWS
  • COWL
  • TOOL
  • TOOT

NYT Strands today (game #194) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

Open range

NYT Strands today (game #194) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #194) – the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 194 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Strands, game #194, are…

  • COWBOY
  • SHERIFF
  • DUEL
  • BOUNTY
  • HORSE
  • SALOON
  • OUTLAW
  • SPANGRAM: WESTERNS

  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

Here’s yet another easy Strands puzzle to get your day off to a good start. And frankly, it’s been a while since we’ve had a truly difficult one.

Today’s theme is WESTERNS as per the spangram, a concept that was heavily teased by the theme clue of ‘Boots and saddles’ and confirmed the second I uncovered COWBOY. After that it was simply a question of hunting through those letters like a prospector sifting for gold… None were too hard to find, and I completed this one in about five minutes flat.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Thursday 12 September, game #193)

  • LANE
  • STREET
  • ROAD
  • AVENUE
  • HIGHWAY
  • BOULEVARD
  • SPANGRAM: THOROUGHFARE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

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