NYT Strands puzzle #561, dated Monday, September 15, 2025, has the theme “For a fortune.” Start with the gentle clues below, or skip to the full answer list if you’re ready for spoilers.
Hints for today’s Strands puzzle
Theme clue
Think of a familiar way to seek a glimpse of the future. A more specific clue is “Two of Cups.”
First two letters
Use these starts if you need a nudge without seeing the complete words:
- FO
- MO
- ST
- DE
- LO
- EM
- MA
- TA (the spangram)
Today’s Strands answers
Spoilers: the spangram is TAROTCARDS. The seven other theme words are:
- FOOL
- MOON
- STAR
- DEVIL
- LOVERS
- EMPRESS
- MAGICIAN
How Strands hints work
In Strands, find theme words to fill the board. Players can drag or tap letters to form words; found theme words stay highlighted in blue and do not overlap. The spangram describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board; it may consist of two words. Finding three non-theme words earns a hint. These rules are reproduced in Parade’s guide from NYT instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and answer verification
Parade’s September 15, 2025 Strands guide provides the theme, progressive clues, answers, and reproduced game instructions. The Strands Solution archive independently agrees on the theme, spangram, and answer list. Neither source establishes the board’s letter paths, so no paths are included here.
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