The New York Times released Strands game game 869 with tips and solutions available for July 20, 2026. Tips for the puzzle surfaced through publications among them Mashable, Tom's Guide and PC Guide. Daily tips delivered the theme, teasers and the game's long stretch. Sunday's scheduled Strands Sidekick is game number 870. Readers may check the bonus nudge before diving into the day's full board on tablet. Spangrams stay the builder-friendly answer that touches two walls of the board, and today's headline word falls in that same usual slot. Puzzle fans planning to open with the easy hits early as a rule strip the smaller cluster words before chasing the blue-yellow flagged words. Tom's Guide also supplied a small bonus word available just when solvers hit a wall after the first pass word list has been spent.