Insight and Solutions for Strands on January 27, 2025
The theme for today’s puzzle is “Viva Las Vegas,” and this guide will provide you with clues, tips, and ultimately the answers you seek.
To conveniently revisit today’s Strands hints, consider bookmarking this page. This resource also includes previous hints should you wish to catch up on any missed puzzles.
The following sections contain subtle hints to aid you in solving today’s Strands. Keep scrolling for the comprehensive answers and spangram at the end, and take just what you need!

Clue for the Spangram in Today’s Strands
Consider a term that embodies the primary activity associated with a trip to Las Vegas.
Clue for Theme Words in Today’s Strands
Look for specific games where participants might win or, more likely, lose their bets.
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!
Upcoming is the revelation of today’s Strands answers.
What is the Spangram for Today’s Strands?
The spangram is GAMBLING.
What Are the Theme Words for Today’s Strands?
The theme words to identify are: SLOTS, POKER, BACCARAT, ROULETTE, BLACKJACK, CRAPS.
Below is a preview of the completed board once the puzzle is solved:

Approach to Solving Today’s Strands
The focus should be on words related to Las Vegas, like “casino” or “gambling.”
SLOTS is located in the upper left. 🔵
BLACKJACK can be found in the lower left. 🔵
CRAPS sits in the bottom right corner. 🔵
ROULETTE occupies the center and resembles a roulette wheel’s layout. 🔵
The spangram GAMBLING surrounds ROULETTE. 🟡
POKER is positioned on the left side of the spangram. 🔵
Finally, BACCARAT rounds out the list. 🔵
Strands #330 “Viva Las Vegas” 🔵🔵🔵🔵 🟡🔵🔵
Playing Strands
Strands can be played on the New York Times website and within the NYT Games app.
Upon accessing the game, you will encounter a board filled with various letters, accompanied by a clue hinting at the overarching theme—often presented as a phrase like “Better with age.” Your task is to discern the embedded words that align with the puzzle’s theme.
The Hybrid of Crossword and Word Search
Your primary target is to locate the “spangram,” which directly relates to the puzzle’s theme. For instance, in a puzzle themed around “Better with age,” the spangram would be FERMENTED, illustrating how certain items improve over time. The spangram traverses the entire grid, either horizontally or vertically. Identifying it will typically aid in making other words easier to find.
In Strands, words can be arranged in any direction—upward, downward, sideways, or diagonal—and each letter can only be utilized once, ensuring there is a singular correct solution. When a word, such as KOMBUCHA, MISO, or KIMCHI, is correctly identified, it will be marked in blue.
If you encounter difficulties, you may input any non-theme four-letter words or longer to earn hints. By submitting three such words, the “Hint” button will become accessible. Once clicked, it highlights letters within one of the theme words, though you will still need to piece them together in the correct order. If there’s a prior hint on the board and you seek another before solving that word, the order of letters for that word will be disclosed.
Winning in Strands
The mechanics of Strands differ from games like Connections and Wordle; there is no possibility of losing. Instead, any guesses will either lead to a correct identification, provide hints, or shake back and forth, indicating invalid or brief submissions. You’re free to guess without a limit, and no time constraint exists.
Victory is achieved by successfully utilizing every letter on the board, identifying both the spangram and all theme words. Upon completion, you’ll receive a shareable performance card showcasing your results: blue dots 🔵 represent found theme words, yellow dots 🟡 denote the spangram’s discovery, and lightbulbs 💡 indicate words that were hinted.