NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, April 18 (game #411)

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

Apr 17, 2025 - 15:12

NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, April 18 (game #411)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, April 17 (game #410).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #411) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On the board

NYT Strands today (game #411) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

MILE
POSH
GAME
CHEERS
THINK
CHEEK

NYT Strands today (game #411) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #411) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 3rd row

Last side: left, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #411) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 411 on a blue background — (Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #411, are…

TILE
DOMINO
TOKEN
CHECKER
KNIGHT
BATTLESHIP
SPANGRAM: GAME PIECES

My rating: Easy
My score: 1 hint

The hint I used to get me going today wasn’t really much help, as TILE could have just as easily applied to things you can attach to a board.

Then I saw DOMINO hiding in plain sight and the remainder was a straightforward mission looking for GAME PIECES – closer to playing Connect Four against a cat than sinking a BATTLESHIP.

I love a board game and I’m happy to play the loser, while I’m learning all the rules and moves.

Sometimes, like with backgammon and chess, that’s a process that’s lasted years. I like to think I’ve ascended beyond competitiveness to a zen-like state of gamesmanship. But then I'll actually win a game and turn into a 12-year-old brat asking their opponent how they like them apples. Boo-ya.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 17 April, game #410)

RING
AVIATOR
SHINING
GOONIES
GODFATHER
GRADUATE
SPANGRAM: TITLES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.