Trick-Taking Card Games Stump Players in Latest NYT Strands Puzzle

The New York Times has released a new Strands puzzle. It challenges players with a card game theme. The puzzle went live on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

Today’s theme is “Follow suit.” It references classic trick-taking card games. Players must find words related to this concept.

Spangram and Theme Words Revealed

The Spangram is the puzzle’s key. It spans the grid horizontally. The answer is “TRICK TAKING.”

This phrase connects the theme words. All answers are card suits or games. According to The New York Times, this was a difficult puzzle.

Player Reactions and Puzzle Difficulty

Many players found the puzzle challenging. The theme required specific knowledge. Not all players are familiar with card game terms.

The difficulty was rated four out of five. This indicates a significant challenge. It separated casual players from enthusiasts.

Info at your fingertips

What is the NYT Strands game?

Strands is a word search game from The New York Times. Players find words based on a daily theme. It is part of the NYT Games collection.

What was the Spangram for October 12?

The Spangram was “TRICK TAKING.” This phrase described the puzzle’s core theme. It connected all the card game elements.

What were the theme words?

The theme words were HEARTS, SPADES, BRIDGE, EUCHRE, PINOCHLE, and WHIST. These are all suits or trick-taking card games.

How difficult was this puzzle?

This puzzle was rated a 4 out of 5 for difficulty. It required knowledge of niche card games. This made it tough for general audiences.

Where can you play old Strands puzzles?

You can play previous puzzles on the NYT Games website. A subscription is required for full access to the archive.