Past puzzleJun 13, 2026Puzzle #1009

Strands hints: Jun 13, 2026

Revisit the NYT Strands puzzle from Jun 13, 2026 (2026-06-13) with the theme clue, deeper hints, the spangram, and the solved grid all in one place.

Puzzle #1009 · 2026-06-13

Step through the Strands hints

Theme clue: Track event

6 theme words and one spangram. Reveal only the help you need.

Rows run from 1 to 8, top to bottom; columns from 1 to 6, left to right. A path may move to a neighbouring cell, including diagonally.

Layer 1 · Theme clue

Track event

Layer 2 · Answer lengths and spangram direction

Theme answer lengths: 11, 6, 10, 5, 5, 4 letters.

The spangram has 7 letters. Connects the left and right edges.

Layer 3 · Where to start looking

Choose one word without revealing the others.

Theme word 1: show a starting point

Starts with L at row 5, column 3.

Theme word 2: show a starting point

Starts with L at row 4, column 4.

Theme word 3: show a starting point

Starts with M at row 6, column 3.

Theme word 4: show a starting point

Starts with M at row 1, column 5.

Theme word 5: show a starting point

Starts with Q at row 2, column 1.

Theme word 6: show a starting point

Starts with S at row 3, column 1.

Layer 4 · Individual theme answers and paths
Theme word 1: reveal answer

LOUDSPEAKER

Theme word 1: reveal path

(5, 3) → (5, 2) → (5, 1) → (6, 1) → (7, 1) → (8, 1) → (8, 2) → (8, 3) → (8, 4) → (8, 5) → (8, 6)

Theme word 2: reveal answer

LYRICS

Theme word 2: reveal path

(4, 4) → (4, 5) → (4, 6) → (5, 6) → (5, 5) → (5, 4)

Theme word 3: reveal answer

MICROPHONE

Theme word 3: reveal path

(6, 3) → (6, 2) → (7, 2) → (7, 3) → (7, 4) → (7, 5) → (7, 6) → (6, 6) → (6, 5) → (6, 4)

Theme word 4: reveal answer

MUSIC

Theme word 4: reveal path

(1, 5) → (1, 6) → (2, 6) → (2, 5) → (2, 4)

Theme word 5: reveal answer

QUEUE

Theme word 5: reveal path

(2, 1) → (1, 1) → (1, 2) → (1, 3) → (1, 4)

Theme word 6: reveal answer

SONG

Theme word 6: reveal path

(3, 1) → (3, 2) → (2, 2) → (2, 3)

Layer 5 · Spangram help
Show the spangram’s starting point

7 letters. Starts with K at row 4, column 1.

Reveal the spangram

KARAOKE

Reveal the spangram’s path

(4, 1) → (4, 2) → (4, 3) → (3, 3) → (3, 4) → (3, 5) → (3, 6)

Layer 6 · Solved grid and all answers

Blue cells = theme words. Gold cells = spangram.

Theme answers: LOUDSPEAKER, LYRICS, MICROPHONE, MUSIC, QUEUE, SONG. Spangram: KARAOKE.

Theme clue

Track event

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