NYT Puzzle Solutions: Expert Tips and Hints for April 20, #413

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints , along with our daily solutions and clues for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

If you're aware of which holiday it is today, then here’s something new from the New York Times. Strands puzzle should be a breeze. The New York Times doesn't always theme its puzzles to holidays, but it went all-out with this one. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I delve deeply into the topic of rules for Strands in this story .

If you want to find the solutions for today's Wordle, Connections, and Mini Crossword, you can head over to 's NYT puzzle hints page .

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Tip for today's Strands puzzle

Today's Strands theme is: On the hunt.

If that doesn't assist you, here’s a hint: It's today's special occasion.

Key terms to reveal in-game clues

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

CRAB, BRAT, TONE, RACK, DENT, YEAST, EAST, CANE, CHOP, BUSY, COLA, SACK.

Answers for today's Strands puzzle

Here are the solutions that align with the theme. The objective of the puzzle is to locate all these answers, along with the spangram—a thematic term spanning across the entire puzzle from end to end. Once you have identified each of them (initially I believed there were consistently eight, yet discovered this count may differ), every letter on the grid will be utilized. These are the nons pang ram responses:

BOOK, EGGS, TOYS, BUNNY, CANDY, PEEPS, CHOCOLATE.

Today's Strands spangram

Today's Strands spangram is EASTERBASKET. To locate it, begin with the E which is positioned fourth from the top in the leftmost column, then trace your way across.