NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, October 2 (game #943)

The New York Times has released the daily Strands puzzle for October 2, 2026, designated as game #943. The theme for today's challenge is 'On the sly,' featuring words related to stealthy behavior. The solution includes terms such as SHIFTY, COVERT, DEVIOUS, STEALTHY, and FURTIVE, with the spangram SNEAKINGAROUND spanning 14 letters across the board. Strands, a popular word game from the NYT, continues to attract players alongside established titles like Wordle and Connections. The puzzle is available on the NYT Games platform for both desktop and mobile users. Players struggling with the daily challenge can utilize the in-game hint system by identifying specific clue words. This edition is rated as 'Hard' by the author, who noted the complexity of the spangram's placement. For those seeking additional assistance, the article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the answers and strategies for solving the puzzle.