NYT Strands puzzle for October 29 reveals theme and solutions

The October 29 Strands puzzle (number 970) from The New York Times uses a 48-letter grid (6 × 8) in which solvers must locate hidden words that fit a common theme and complete a “spangram” that stretches from the left side of the board to the right. The puzzle’s theme is described as “Double, double toil and trouble,” and the spangram is an eight-letter word that begins with C and ends with N.

The solution set includes eight theme words—BLOOD, BUBBLE, FIRE, LIZARD, NEWT, SNAKE, TONGUE, and WORM—followed by the spangram, CAULDRON, which ties the theme together.

Strands differs from the popular Wordle game by requiring solvers to find multiple interlocking words that cover the entire grid, and it offers a built-in hint system that activates after three non-theme words are found. Unlike Wordle, the game allows unlimited guesses, so players cannot fail by running out of attempts.