Stuck on today’s Strands? Here’s what you need to finish puzzle #561. You can play the puzzle in the NYT Games app or on the web at Strands. The New York Times’ Sidekick post for this puzzle marks today’s difficulty as “easy” and notes daily release timing; it’s posted here for reference: Strands Sidekick No. 561.

Today’s theme and spangram

Theme: For a fortune

Spangram: Tarot Cards (vertical)

All theme words

  • Fool
  • Devil
  • Moon
  • Star
  • Lovers
  • Empress
  • Magician

Need a nudge before you peek?

  • Think names you’d see on a tarot deck’s Major Arcana.
  • The spangram runs top-to-bottom and ties the set together.

How Strands works (quick refresher)

Each day presents a six-by-eight grid. You’re looking for theme words tied to a single idea. Letters can connect in any direction and can turn corners; every letter on the board is used exactly once by the time you’re done. One special entry—the spangram—captures the theme and spans the grid from one side to the opposite. You can play or practice directly at Strands.

Tips

  • Scan for obvious category anchors first; proper nouns and distinctive letter pairs often reveal paths.
  • Use hints strategically: every three valid non-theme words earns a reveal for a theme word’s letters.
  • Map the spangram early if possible; it often partitions the grid and reduces guesswork.
  • If a path seems blocked, backtrack one turn—most misses come from one unnecessary corner.

When new puzzles and difficulty arrive

New Strands boards unlock at midnight in your time zone. Sidekick posts are published on an Eastern Time schedule and include a crowd-tested difficulty label (today’s is “easy”) along with optional hint mechanics and community notes in the comments; details are collected on the day’s Sidekick post.

Once you’ve cleared the spangram and the seven theme words above, every letter on the grid should be accounted for. If your board isn’t fully resolved, retrace the theme words to make sure no paths overlap or skip a letter.