Strands #574 leans into cards. If you’re staring at the grid and not seeing it yet, start with the theme hint, grab a few clue words to unlock in-game reveals, then use the full answers below when you’re ready.

Play today’s Strands

Open the daily puzzle at the official Strands page: nytimes.com/games/strands.

Today’s theme hint

Theme: “Hit the deck!”

Additional nudge: Shuffle and deal.

Clue words to bank in-game hints

Any valid four-letter (or longer) word advances your hint meter. These worked today:

CHATCHATSMADSNINESASS
PASSMOSSCLUBHEARHEARS

Tip: Every three qualifying words earns a revealed theme word.

Strands #574 answers (spoilers)

Spangram INTHECARDS
Theme answers JACK
QUEEN
KING
CLUBS
HEARTS
DIAMONDS
SPADES

Note: The spangram is the theme-defining entry that snakes from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.

Quick Strands refresher

  • Find hidden words tied to the daily theme. Letters connect in any direction without reusing a tile within the same word.
  • Submit any three valid words of four letters or more to trigger a hint reveal for a theme word.
  • The spangram summarizes the theme and spans from one side of the board to the other.
  • When you’ve solved the puzzle, every letter on the board is used. The number of theme words can vary by day.

If you’re chasing a streak, bank a few clue words early to surface a theme entry, then scan for the spangram path — it usually unlocks the rest. Check back tomorrow for a fresh grid.