I sat down with my morning coffee expecting a quick solve, then spent rather longer than planned staring at today's Strands grid while my toast cooled. The clue, "It's in the bag", sounds reassuringly straightforward, but it left me with several possible directions and no immediate favourite. I do enjoy a puzzle that makes an ordinary phrase feel suddenly slippery.
My best progress came when I stopped trying to make my first idea fit. If you're still at the stage of spotting stray words and wondering what connects them, you're in good company. Give yourself a moment to reconsider what sort of bag the clue might mean.
This page covers NYT Strands #1167 for Saturday, October 31, 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 Saturday, October 31, 2026 is "It's in the bag". There are 6 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 12 letters and begins with the letter T.
- The shortest theme word has 4 letters, the longest has 10.
- The theme words start with these letters: A, C, F, R, S, T.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| A | 5 letters | Ap... |
| C | 5 letters | Ca... |
| F | 5 letters | Fa... |
| R | 4 letters | Ri... |
| S | 7 letters | St... |
| T | 10 letters | To... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1167 is TRICKORTREAT.
All NYT Strands answers for October 31, 2026
- APPLE (5 letters)
- CANDY (5 letters)
- FANGS (5 letters)
- RING (4 letters)
- STICKER (7 letters)
- TOOTHBRUSH (10 letters)
Spangram: TRICKORTREAT. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
Think about the occasion behind the bag, rather than just its material or shape. This board rewards a broad interpretation of what might belong together, so don't dismiss a possible word simply because it seems unlike the others. Check short paths as carefully as long ones, remembering that letters can connect diagonally and change direction. Once you confirm a theme word, use its occupied cells to narrow the remaining routes. Look for the spangram across either pair of opposite edges, without assuming it runs straight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Saturday, October 31, 2026, puzzle #1167, is TRICKORTREAT. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 6 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 #1167 for Saturday, October 31, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Christina Iverson.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
