The New York Times launched Strands game game 869 with clues and solves available for July 20, 2026. Hints for the puzzle came through publications among them Mashable, Tom's Guide and PC Guide. Daily tips included the topic, hints and the game's spangram. Upcoming scheduled Strands Sidekick is game #870. Solvers will find the extra hint before diving into the day's full puzzle on tablet. Theme stretches stay the long sideways answer that crosses two opposite of the board, and this headline word lands in that same familiar slot. Puzzle fans who open with the warm-up hits first as a rule clear the smaller theme words before mining the spangram-flagged words. Mashable also supplied a small match waiting when solvers hit a wall after the first pass hint batch has been used.