I had barely taken a sip of my morning coffee when today's Strands clue, "Double, double toil and trouble", sent me straight back to school English lessons. Some lines have a habit of sticking around long after you've forgotten everything else on the syllabus. This one certainly made me pause before I started tracing letters.
There is something rather cosy about tackling a slightly sinister puzzle while the kettle clicks off behind you. My first instinct was to chase the quotation, but recognising a reference and finding your way around the grid are different challenges. If you're hovering over that hint button, I'd give yourself another minute.
This page covers NYT Strands #1164 for Thursday, October 29, 2026. You will find the theme clue, a spoiler free hint, a stronger hint, the spangram and every theme word, in that order. Scroll slowly and stop where you like.
Today's Strands theme
The official clue for Thursday, October 29, 2026 is "Double, double toil and trouble". There are 8 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 8 letters and begins with the letter C.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 6.
- The theme words start with these letters: B, B, F, L, N, S, T, W.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| B | 5 letters | Bl... |
| B | 6 letters | Bu... |
| F | 4 letters | Fi... |
| L | 6 letters | Li... |
| N | 4 letters | Ne... |
| S | 5 letters | Sn... |
| T | 6 letters | To... |
| W | 4 letters | Wo... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1164 is CAULDRON.
All NYT Strands answers for October 29, 2026
- BLOOD (5 letters)
- BUBBLE (6 letters)
- FIRE (4 letters)
- LIZARD (6 letters)
- NEWT (4 letters)
- SNAKE (5 letters)
- TONGUE (6 letters)
- WORM (4 letters)
Spangram: CAULDRON. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Use the quotation to narrow the vocabulary, rather than searching only for words that appear in the clue itself. Think about the wider scene and the kinds of things its speakers describe. Scan for familiar short letter clusters, then check whether they extend into longer words before committing. Paths can turn sharply and run diagonally, so don't stop at a promising straight line. Once you've found a couple, inspect the awkward gaps they leave. Those isolated corners can make the next starting letter much easier to spot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Thursday, October 29, 2026, puzzle #1164, is CAULDRON. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 8 theme words today, plus the spangram.
How do you earn hints in Strands?
Find any valid non theme word of at least four letters. Every three of those unlocks one hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word without ordering them for you.
What time does a new Strands puzzle appear?
A new puzzle goes live at midnight in your local time zone, so this page is updated every morning with the new board.
Sources
- NYT Games, Strands puzzle #1164 for Thursday, October 29, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Jen Scheerer.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
