The New York Times rolled out Strands game #869 with clues and answers available for July 20, 2026. Tips for the puzzle were provided through publications including Mashable, Tom's Guide and PC Guide. Daily tips covered the subject, hints and the game's key word. Saturday's scheduled Strands Sidekick tips up as game #870. Solvers can grab the helper word before chasing the day's full puzzle on the app. Key connectors stay the broad left-right answer that hits two edges of the board, and game 869's theme phrase lands in that same familiar slot. Theme hunters planning to kick off the warm-up hits out of the gate usually peel off the smaller board answers before chasing the tip-driven words. PC Guide also dropped a small bonus word offered only if solvers hit a wall after the standard clue set has been gone through.