NYT Strands Hints and Answers for September 28, 2025 (#574)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of September 28, 2025: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of September 28, 2025? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for September 28, 2025, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Hit the deck!
Today’s theme is “Hit the deck!”. All 7 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 2First letters
The theme words begin with C, D, H, J, K, Q, S.
Hint 3Word lengths
By length, the answers run 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6 and 8. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
INTHECARDS
10 letters, a single word, running from one edge of the grid to the opposite edge.
Starts with I, ends with S.
AnswersAll theme words
- JACK4 letters
- KING4 letters
- CLUBS5 letters
- QUEEN5 letters
- HEARTS6 letters
- SPADES6 letters
- DIAMONDS8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.