If you’re hooked on the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re not alone. It’s a fresh word game from the New York Times that combines elements of a word search with clever, theme-based twists.

28 September 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Hit the Deck!”

Today’s Strands dealt a winning hand. With the theme “Hit the Deck!”, every answer ties into the world of playing cards — from royal faces to classic suits.

28 September 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

Before the reveal, here are some playful nudges:

  1. Royalty Included: Look for the high-ranking faces in a deck.
  2. Not Just Numbers: These are the cards with extra flair.
  3. Two Together: Think of a pair that always appears side by side.
  4. Symbols of Love and Battle: A couple of suit names hide here.
  5. Dark vs. Light: Suits usually split between red and black.
  6. Classic Symbols: Some answers are shapes you instantly recognize.
  7. Card Sharp’s Delight: All words belong at the card table.

28 September 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • JACK – the low-ranking face card
  • QUEEN – royalty in every suit
  • KING – the highest face card
  • CLUBS – one of the four suits, black
  • HEARTS – one of the four suits, red
  • SPADES – another black suit

Spangram

IN THE CARDS — perfectly tying together the theme, this phrase means both literally part of the deck and figuratively destined to happen.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:

  • You’re given a theme.
  • The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
  • Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
  • Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!

Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

How to get and use hints

Hints are built right into Strands, and they’re super useful if you’re stuck:

  • To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters in the grid.
  • Each valid extra word gives you one hint.
  • When you use a hint, one of the theme words will be revealed automatically, helping you move forward.

Pro tip: Don’t just burn hints — use them strategically when the grid feels impossible. Sometimes a single revealed word unlocks the entire board.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Once one word is cleared, the leftover letters often point to the next.
  4. Use hints wisely. Earn them steadily by spotting extra words, then save them for when you’re truly stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always literal — broaden your thinking.

Final Thoughts

This one felt like a quick game of solitaire — familiar symbols, satisfying links, and a spangram that doubled as a phrase about fate. A smooth shuffle for a Sunday puzzle.

September 28’s Strands let you shuffle through royalty and suits, ending with a destiny-inspired spangram. Proof that sometimes, the right answers are simply in the cards.