Strands is the NYT’s latest word game following the success of Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Connections — and it’s a blast to play. That said, some puzzles can be surprisingly tricky, so here are today’s hints and answers for game #813.
SPOILER WARNING: Answers for today’s NYT Strands are below. Stop reading if you don’t want to see them.
NYT Strands today (game #813) — hint #1: today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s puzzle?
• Today’s theme centers on a national holiday.
NYT Strands today (game #813) — hint #2: clue words
Enter any of the following words to unlock the in-game hint system.
- SERVE
- MEMO
- TRIP
- TURN
- PROD
- RICE
NYT Strands today (game #813) — hint #3: spangram length
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• The spangram is 11 letters long.
NYT Strands today (game #813) — hint #4: spangram position
Which two sides of the board does the spangram touch?
First side: left, 1st row
Last side: right, 6th row

NYT Strands today (game #813) — the answers
The answers to today’s Strands, game #813, are…
- SERVICE
- SACRIFICE
- HONOR
- VIRTUE
- PROTECTION
- SPANGRAM: MEMORIALDAY
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 1 hint
No surprise about today’s theme given the date, but even getting started required a nudge. Finding non-game words proved tricky as well — I kept fixating on “office,” which I was convinced was on the board but had entirely imagined.
Today’s words define the core principles behind Memorial Day and reflect the oath and actions of U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service to their country. It’s a rare Strands theme that genuinely gives you pause.
Among the game words, PROTECTION was the only one that gave me real trouble. Once the theme clicked, the others felt almost self-selecting, but PROTECTION took considerably longer to spot on the board.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 24, game #812)
- COIL
- SPINDLE
- REEL
- SPOOL
- BOBBIN
- WINCH
- SCROLL
- SPANGRAM: TRYTOUNWIND
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s word game that arrived after the likes of Wordle and Connections. Now a fully established part of the NYT Games lineup, it has been running for over a year and can be played on the NYT Games site via desktop or mobile.
If you’re struggling to crack the daily puzzle, check out our full guide on how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it.
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