Today’s NYT Strands is one of those puzzles that feels elegant the moment the theme clicks.
At first, Strands #773 might look a little intimidating. There are some longer words hiding in the grid, and one of them can absolutely chew up a lot of your board space if you miss the pattern early. But once the central idea reveals itself, this one becomes a lot more satisfying than stressful.
The theme for April 15, 2026 is “Gift of the month”, and yes — the title is a sneaky little clue. This is a puzzle built around precious gems associated with birth months, which means players who know their birthstones will probably move faster than usual.
Still, even if you do not have the jewelry calendar memorized, today’s board is very manageable with the right approach.
So if you want spoiler-free hints first, followed by the spangram and then the full answer list, this guide has you covered.
Key Points / Quick Summary
Here is the quick breakdown for NYT Strands #773 on April 15, 2026:
| Puzzle Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Puzzle Number | #773 |
| Date | April 15, 2026 |
| Theme | Gift of the month |
| Theme Type | Birthstones / gemstones |
| Spangram Length | 10 letters |
| Spangram | BIRTHSTONE |
| Hardest Word for Many Players | TURQUOISE |
| Shortest Easy Finds | OPAL, TOPAZ |
Today’s NYT Strands #773 Hints (Spoiler-Free First)
If you are still solving and want to keep the fun alive, use these clues step by step.
Hint 1: What is the theme really about?
Today’s puzzle is built around gemstones linked to calendar months.
So think less “random jewelry words” and more traditional monthly symbolic stones.
Hint 2: What kind of spangram is it?
The spangram is a 10-letter word.
It describes the specific type of gem that represents the month you were born.
Hint 3: Spangram starting and ending letters
The spangram:
- starts with B
- ends with E
If that instantly made you think of a very familiar jewelry term, you are already on the right track.
Hint 4: What should you hunt first?
Today is a great board for clearing shorter words first.
That means:
- OPAL
- TOPAZ
These smaller finds can open up the grid and make the longer path words much easier to trace.
Hint 5: The “big” word to watch for
If you are stuck, keep an eye out for the longest-feeling answer on the board:
- a blue-green December stone
- 9 letters
- can eat up a surprising amount of grid space
That word is likely the one slowing many players down today.
Why Today’s Strands Feels So Good to Solve
This is a really strong Strands design.
Why? Because it blends recognition with discovery.
Even if you do not know every birthstone by heart, you probably know a few:
- DIAMOND
- OPAL
- GARNET
That gives you a foothold.
Then the puzzle starts rewarding pattern recognition. Once you clear a couple of those shorter, familiar words, the longer gemstone names become easier to spot. And that is where today’s theme really shines.
It feels educational without feeling annoying.
That is a sweet spot Strands hits when it is working at its best.
Best Strategy for Solving Strands #773
If you want the cleanest route through today’s board, the smartest play is:
- Start with the short gems
- Open up the corners
- Then hunt the long gemstone paths
- Save the spangram once the board starts breathing
That means your best early targets are:
- OPAL
- TOPAZ
Once those disappear, you can more easily spot:
- DIAMOND
- GARNET
- PERIDOT
- TURQUOISE
And yes, TURQUOISE is probably the word most likely to slow people down today. It is long, slightly awkward, and not everyone visualizes it quickly under puzzle pressure.
Also, since today is April 15, there is a nice little thematic bonus: DIAMOND feels like the “hero” word of the day, since April’s traditional birthstone is front and center.
NYT Strands #773 Spangram and Full Answers for April 15, 2026
If you are ready for the full reveal, this is your spoiler warning.
The spangram for NYT Strands #773 is:
BIRTHSTONE
And the full answer list is:
- TOPAZ
- OPAL
- TURQUOISE
- DIAMOND
- GARNET
- PERIDOT
Final Thoughts
NYT Strands #773 is a really clean, satisfying puzzle.
It is not brutally difficult, but it does have just enough bite to stay interesting — especially if TURQUOISE hides from you for longer than it should. The best part is that the theme feels instantly personal. Almost everyone has some connection to birthstones, even if it is just knowing their own month.
That makes today’s puzzle feel a little warmer than usual.
And honestly, that is what makes it memorable.
It is a nice reminder that Strands does not always need to be tricky to be clever. Sometimes a strong theme, a good spangram, and one slightly annoying long word are more than enough.
Did Strands #773 go smoothly for you, or did TURQUOISE end up being the real boss fight? Drop your solve experience in the comments.
FAQ
What is the spangram for NYT Strands #773 on April 15, 2026?
The spangram for NYT Strands #773 on April 15, 2026 is BIRTHSTONE.
What are the answers for Strands #773 today?
The full answer list for Strands #773 is:
TOPAZ, OPAL, TURQUOISE, DIAMOND, GARNET, and PERIDOT.
What is the theme of NYT Strands #773?
The theme for today’s puzzle, “Gift of the month,” is based on birthstones, or gemstones traditionally linked to each month of the year.
What is the hardest word in Strands #773?
For many players, the toughest word today will likely be TURQUOISE because it is longer, more winding, and slightly harder to spot quickly than the shorter gem names.
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