Today's NYT Strands is live for Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Puzzle #790). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "All the right moves"
What It Really Means
This puzzle is about dance moves and step patterns. Every theme word is a specific dance step or a style of movement tied to dance culture, from classic line dances to vintage swing and shuffle moves.
Think About...
- Dance steps you'd learn in a choreographed routine
- Movements associated with line dancing, swing, or social dance styles
- Terms that describe how your feet move on the dance floor
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Down, across and down
Letter Count: 9 letters
Starting Zone: Third letter of the first row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think of a coordinated group activity where everyone follows the same foot pattern in sync.
Hint 2 (Warmer): This is a style of social dance performed in rows, often associated with country music and weddings.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is L, last letter is E
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LINEDANCE
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A sharp, striking movement often used to start a dance sequence.
Closer: This move involves lifting your leg and extending it forward with force.
Letter Clue: Starts with K, 4 letters total
Answer
KICK
Word 2
Vague: A dragging or sliding motion of the feet across the floor.
Closer: Common in tap dance and swing, it's a quick brushing step that doesn't lift off the ground.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 7 letters total
Answer
SHUFFLE
Word 3
Vague: A bouncy, upbeat step named after an animal.
Closer: This dance move involves hopping from one foot to the other in a playful rhythm.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 4 letters total
Answer
PONY
Word 4
Vague: A smooth, gliding movement that suggests motion without urgency.
Closer: Named after a theme park ride, this step involves a side-to-side rocking motion.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 7 letters total
Answer
COASTER
Word 5
Vague: A nautical term that doubles as a dance step.
Closer: This move involves a twisting, turning step reminiscent of someone navigating rough seas.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
SAILOR
Word 6
Vague: A dragging foot movement that scuffs the floor.
Closer: This step involves scraping your shoe against the ground as part of a rhythmic pattern.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 5 letters total
Answer
SCUFF
Word 7
Vague: A magical-sounding dance step with a flourish.
Closer: This move involves a quick, spinning turn often used in swing and rockabilly dancing.
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 6 letters total
Answer
WIZARD
Full Answers
Spangram: LINEDANCE
Theme Words:
- KICK
- SHUFFLE
- PONY
- COASTER
- SAILOR
- SCUFF
- WIZARD
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: WIZARD (Less common in modern dance vocabularies, this swing-dance move might trip up solvers who aren't familiar with vintage rockabilly or Lindy Hop terminology.)
Our Take: A clever theme that turns the dance floor into a word search. "All the right moves" delivers exactly what it promises -- every answer is a legitimate dance step, and LINEDANCE ties them together as the perfect spangram. The mix of familiar moves (KICK, SHUFFLE) with deeper cuts (COASTER, WIZARD) keeps it interesting without feeling unfair.
