Issue #861 Sat 24 Jan
Strands hints — January 24, 2026
A quiet Saturday morning with a challenging grid. These puzzles reward a steady hand and a bit of patience.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You stand in a quiet gallery, the velvet rope keeping you just inches from a brushstroke that changed everything.
Fine art and historical masterpieces.
RECOGNIZABLE WORKS OF FINE ART
Spangram 4 nudges · 14 letters
The connector word
A single compound word.
14 letters.
Starts with F, ends with G.
FAMOUSPAINTING
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (7 letters)
- 2 L (6 letters)
- 3 N (5 letters)
- 4 P (5 letters)
- 5 S (6 letters)
- 6 W (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BO (7 letters)
- 2 LI (6 letters)
- 3 NI (5 letters)
- 4 PA (5 letters)
- 5 ST (6 letters)
- 6 WA (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
Push off from the dock and let the oars catch the current.
7 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BO.
BOATING
Theme word 2 of 6 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
Floating blooms that root themselves in the soft mud of a pond.
6 letters.
Starts with L.
Starts with LI.
LILIES
Theme word 3 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
Whatever you set the night before is what gets you up — for better or worse.
5 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NI.
NIGHT
Theme word 4 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
Where the lawnmower lives, where the mail piles up, where the kids hide.
5 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PA.
PARTY
Theme word 5 of 6 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
Look at a rooster. Look closely.
6 letters.
Starts with S.
Starts with ST.
STARRY
Theme word 6 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
Something you'd do to a pair of shoes before a job interview.
5 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WA.
WATER