Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this new word game called “Strands” from The New York Times. Today’s theme was “Can you dig it?” and let me tell you, it was a doozy. At first glance, it’s just a grid of letters, six by eight. You gotta find words related to the theme, seems simple enough, right?
So I started looking for anything that seemed, you know, “dig-able”. I circled a few words here and there. You can spot some regular words that don’t fit the theme, too. It’s kinda like those word search puzzles we used to do as kids. Found a few that seemed like they might fit, highlighted them in blue, and kept on hunting.
But here’s the kicker: there’s this thing called a “spangram” which is a word that goes from one side of the grid to the other. It’s related to the theme, and it’s highlighted in yellow. That’s the one you really want to find. And I found that this spangram, and that was a big part of figuring out this puzzle.
The thing is, you can’t just find any old words. Every letter on the grid has to be used, and only once. So, you’re basically making a bunch of connected words. And let me tell you, it was pretty easy at first, but then it got a little tougher. It feels like a mix of Spelling Bee and a crossword, but in a word search format.
Anyway, I kept going, filling in more and more of the grid. Every three non-theme words you find gives you a hint. So, I used some hints to help me out. Those hints are lifesavers when you’re stuck. I started to see how all the words were connecting, and it started to make more sense. Finally, I got it.
It took me a while, but I managed to use every single letter in the grid to make words related to the theme. It felt pretty good to finally crack it. The theme was broad, “Can you dig it?” is kind of jokey, but it all came together in the end. I’ve been playing this game for a bit now, and each day it’s a new challenge. So far, it’s been a fun little brain teaser.
I definitely recommend giving “Strands” a try if you’re into word games. It’s a nice mix of strategy and patience. If you end up playing, let me know what you think!
