NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Monday, October 7 (game #218)

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #218) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Most excellent

NYT Strands today (game #218) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SALE
• STALE
• BLAND
• SHOT
• SCOT
• SLEW

NYT Strands today (game #218) - hint #3 - spangram

What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Good words

NYT Strands today (game #218) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: left, 5th row

Last: right, 7th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #218) - the answers

The answers to today's Strands, game #218, are…

• CHOICE
• GROOVY
• SWELL
• DANDY
• BOSS
• RIGHTEOUS
• HYPE
• SPANGRAM: THATSCOOL

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Who knew there were so many words that essentially mean THAT'S COOL? I guess I did, because I found them all – though I'll admit that I've never used the terms HYPE, RIGHTEOUS, SWELL, GROOVY, CHOICE, BOSS or DANDY myself to describe something that's good. Always just cool.

Anyway, this is a pretty easy Strands puzzle, beyond RIGHTEOUS being annoyingly difficult to spell (that might just be me).

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday 6 October, game #217)

• BACON
• CHICKEN
• TOMATO
• VINAIGRETTE
• GREENS
• EGGS
• SPANGRAM: COBBSALAD

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to h ow to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.