NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 14, 2026

Aug 14, 2026

🚨 SPOILER WARNING

This page contains the final **answer** and the complete **solution** to today's NYT Pips puzzle. If you haven't attempted the puzzle yet and want to try solving it yourself first, now's your chance!

Click here to play today's official NYT Pips game first.

Want hints instead? Scroll down for progressive clues that won't spoil the fun.

SEE ALSO:

🎲 Today's Puzzle Overview

Ian Livengood designs today's easy around a pure, minimalist anchor system. Each single-cell sum region—demanding a 6 here, a 2 there—acts as an inflexible key that dictates exactly which domino can cover it. The puzzle is a model of economy, with only five dominoes driving a stepwise reveal that never stumbles into ambiguity. It's an inviting start that showcases NYT Pips at its most direct.

Rodolfo Kurchan's medium puzzle shifts gears with a large equals region that forces four cells to share the same pip. The design is a quiet showcase of pip density: the number 3 saturates the available dominoes just enough to cover the region, while the need to place a 1 from the [1,3] domino adds a delicate cross-grid dependency. The surrounding sum-9 and sum-3 regions then act like tuned strings, pulling each domino into a precise, harmonious arrangement.

Kurchan's hard puzzle is a denser, more muscular construction. A top-row equals-2 constraint fires a shockwave through the grid, immediately demanding a double-2 domino and linking to a vertical sum-16 column that locks in 5, 6, and 5. The right edge adds a less-than-3 column, while row 4 weaves together sums of 6, 8, and 11. The result is a tightly braided solve where a single 2 in the top left corner unfolds into a full matrix of interdependent arithmetic—precisely the kind of elegant, interlocking logic that marks Kurchan's signature in today's NYT Pips.

💡 Progressive Hints

Try these hints one at a time. Each hint becomes more specific to help you solve it yourself!

💡 Spot the Lonely Sums
Start by identifying the single-cell sum regions. These isolated cells directly dictate the pip value they must contain, drastically narrowing your domino choices.
💡 Zero In on [1,0] and [1,3]
Both cells [1,0] and [1,3] sit in their own sum-6 regions. You'll need a 6 in each, but only one domino carries a 6 and a 2—so that's your first anchor. Check how the other 6 appears in the domino list.
💡 Complete Solve
Place [2,6] with 6 at [1,0] and 2 at [0,0], satisfying that top sum-6 region with help from [2,2] giving 2,2 at [0,1] and [0,2]. The 6 at [1,3] comes from [6,5] (5 at [2,3]), the sum-6 pair [1,1]/[2,1] gets [3,3], and finally [1,2] puts 1 at [2,2], 2 at [3,2].
💡 Embrace Equality
The equals region is your anchor—four cells must hold the same pip. Look for a number that appears on multiple different dominoes to cover all four cells.
💡 The 3 Club
The pip 3 appears on four dominoes: [1,3], [3,4], [3,5], and [3,6]. You'll need two of them to cover the equals cells. But note that [1,3] also carries a 1, which must go somewhere a 1 is allowed—like the sum-3 region at the bottom right.
💡 Full Placement
Set all equals cells to 3. Use [1,3] at [3,3]=1 and [2,3]=3. Then [3,5] at [1,3]=3 and [1,2]=5, pairing with [0,4] at [1,1]=4 to sum 9. Domino [3,4] goes to [2,2]=3 and [2,1]=4, and [3,6] to [2,4]=3 and [2,5]=6. Finally, [5,6] in column 0: [3,0]=6, [3,1]=5 (sum 9), and [2,6] pairs 2 at [3,2] with 6 at [4,2].
💡 Lock in the Constants
Look for the most restrictive constraints first: the top-row equals, the single sum-1 cell, and the right-edge less-than-3 column. These will force specific pips early.
💡 Top Row Triplets
The equals region at [0,0], [0,1], [0,2] demands all cells be identical. The only domino with a double pip that can stretch horizontally is [2,2], so place it there. Then the missing 2 in the top-left corner must come from the domino that also feeds the sum-16 column.
💡 Column of Numbers
The sum-16 column at [1,0], [2,0], [3,0] needs 5+6+5=16. With [1,0] fixed at 5 from the earlier domino, [2,0] must be 6 and [3,0] 5. That uses the 6 from [6,2] and a 5 from [5,1].
💡 Right-Side Triage
The less-than-3 column [1,7],[2,7],[3,7] can only hold 0,1,1. Domino [1,1] provides the two 1s, leaving 0 for [3,7] from [5,0]. This connects to the sum-11 and sum-8 rows below.
💡 Complete Hard Grid
Place [2,2] at [0,1]-[0,2] (2,2) and [2,5] at [0,0]-[1,0] (2,5). Set [1,1] at [1,7]-[2,7] (1,1) and [5,0] at [4,7]-[3,7] (5,0). Row 4: [5,1] gives 1 at [4,0], then [2,3] gives 2 at [4,1],3 at [4,2] (sum 6). Column 0: [6,2] places 6 at [2,0] and 2 at [2,1]; [5,1] places 5 at [3,0]. Row 4 continues: [3,6] gives 3 at [4,5] and 6 at [4,6] (sum 8 with [4,4]=5 from [5,4] at [4,4]-[3,4] satisfying sum-7 and sum-8). Use [1,3] for [1,4]=1,[2,4]=3; [2,4] for [6,6]=2,[7,6]=4 (sum 10); [6,6] for [6,1]=6,[6,2]=6 (sum 15 with [7,1]=3 from [0,3] at [8,1],[7,1]); [5,3] for [6,5]=5,[6,4]=3; [0,4] for [7,4]=0,[8,4]=4 (sum 0 and sum 8); and [4,6] for [8,5]=4,[8,6]=6.

🎨 Pips Solver

Aug 14, 2026

Click a domino to place it on the board. You can also click the board, and the correct domino will appear.

✅ Final Answer & Complete Solution For Hard Level

The key to solving today's hard puzzle was identifying the placement for the critical dominoes highlighted in the starting grid. Once those were in place, the rest of the puzzle could be solved logically. See the final grid below to compare your solution.

Starting Position & Key First Steps

Pips hint for August 14, 2026 – hard level puzzle grid with critical first placements and strategy

This image shows the initial puzzle grid for the hard level, with a few critical first placements highlighted.

Final Answer: The Solved Grid for Hard Mode

NYT Pips August 14, 2026 hard puzzle full solution grid showing final answer with hints

Compare this final grid with your own solution to see the correct placement of all dominoes.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Easy Level

1
Step 1: Identify Forced Values
Single-cell sum regions at [1,0] (sum 6), [1,3] (sum 6), and [3,2] (sum 2) demand pips 6, 6, and 2. Only domino [2,6] contains a 6 and a 2, so it must cover [1,0] and [0,0] because [0,0] belongs to the top-row sum-6 region with [0,1] and [0,2]. Place [2,6] with 6 at [1,0] and 2 at [0,0].
2
Step 2: Complete the Top Row
With [0,0]=2, the top region [0,0],[0,1],[0,2] now needs 4 more to sum to 6, so [0,1] and [0,2] must total 4. The only domino capable is [2,2]: place 2 at [0,1] and 2 at [0,2].
3
Step 3: Fill the Center Pair
The sum-6 region [1,1],[2,1] now needs a total of 6. The only remaining domino with a double is [3,3]—place it there with 3 at [1,1] and 3 at [2,1].
4
Step 4: Tie Up the Remaining
The second lonely sum-6 cell [1,3] takes domino [6,5] (6 at [1,3], 5 at [2,3]). That leaves the sum-6 region [2,2],[2,3]: with [2,3]=5, [2,2] must be 1. The final domino [1,2] fits perfectly: 1 at [2,2] and 2 at [3,2], satisfying the sum-2 cell automatically.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1
Step 1: Embrace the Equals
The equals region spans four cells: [1,3], [2,2], [2,3], [2,4]. All must share the same pip. Inspecting the domino list, the pip 3 is the only value that appears on enough distinct dominoes ([1,3], [3,4], [3,5], [3,6]) to cover the region. So all four cells get 3.
2
Step 2: Place the [1,3] Domino
Domino [1,3] is the only one carrying a 1, and the sum-3 region at [3,2],[3,3] requires a 1. Therefore, [1,3] must stretch vertically with 1 at [3,3] and 3 at [2,3], locking the first equals cell.
3
Step 3: Equals Top and Right
Domino [3,5] supplies a 3 to cell [1,3] and a 5 to [1,2]. Meanwhile, [1,1] needs a 4 to form sum 9 with [1,2]'s 5, so place [0,4] with 0 at [0,1] and 4 at [1,1]. Domino [3,6] covers the rightmost equals cell [2,4] with 3, and its partner 6 lands in the empty cell [2,5].
4
Step 4: Completing the Equals Center
Domino [3,4] takes care of [2,2] with a 3, placing its 4 at [2,1]. That 4 pairs with the later 5 at [3,1] to make sum 9.
5
Step 5: Bottom Row and First Column
The sum-3 region [3,2],[3,3] already has 1 at [3,3], so [3,2] must be 2—use domino [2,6]: 2 at [3,2] and 6 at [4,2] (empty). The greater-0 cell [3,0] gets 6 from domino [5,6], which also places its 5 at [3,1], completing the sum-9 with [2,1]'s 4.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1
Step 1: Top-Row Equals Lock
The equals region at [0,0],[0,1],[0,2] forces all three cells to hold the same pip. Domino [2,2] perfectly spans [0,1] and [0,2] with 2 and 2. Then [0,0] must also be 2, so use domino [2,5] placing 2 at [0,0] and 5 at [1,0], seeding the sum-16 column.
2
Step 2: Sum-16 Column
The column [1,0],[2,0],[3,0] must sum to 16. With [1,0]=5, the remaining sum is 11, requiring 6 and 5. Domino [6,2] gives 6 at [2,0] and 2 at [2,1] (empty cell). Domino [5,1] gives 5 at [3,0] and 1 at [4,0]—beginning row 4's sum-6 region.
3
Step 3: Right-Edge Less-Than-3
The less-than-3 region [1,7],[2,7],[3,7] can only hold 0,1,1. Domino [1,1] provides the two 1s at [1,7] and [2,7]. Then domino [5,0] places 0 at [3,7] and 5 at [4,7], the latter forming part of the sum-11 region on row 4.
4
Step 4: Row 4 Interlocking Sums
Row 4's sum-6 region [4,0],[4,1],[4,2] already has [4,0]=1, so [4,1]+[4,2]=5, forcing 2 and 3 via domino [2,3]. The sum-8 region [4,4],[4,5] needs 5+3: [4,4]=5 from domino [5,4] (which puts 4 at [3,4], completing sum-7 with [2,4]=3 from [1,3] domino), and [4,5]=3 from domino [3,6] (which places 6 at [4,6] to finish sum-11 with [4,7]=5).
5
Step 5: Scattered Complex Regions
Domino [1,3] handles the sum-1 cell [1,4] (1) and the sum-7 partner [2,4] (3). Domino [2,4] pairs 2 at [6,6] and 4 at [7,6] for sum 10. The sum-15 region [6,1],[6,2],[7,1] uses [6,6] domino at [6,1],[6,2] (6 and 6) and [0,3] domino at [8,1]=0,[7,1]=3. Domino [5,3] covers [6,5]=5,[6,4]=3 (sum-7 and sum-3). Finally, [0,4] at [7,4]=0,[8,4]=4 satisfies sum-0 and sum-8, and [4,6] at [8,5]=4,[8,6]=6 completes the last sum-8.

💡 Pro Tips for Similar Puzzles

Start with Constraints
Always begin with the most constrained regions - sum regions with small numbers or tight spaces.
Use Equal Regions
Use "equal" regions as anchors - they eliminate many possibilities quickly.
Work Systematically
Let the rules guide your placement rather than guessing randomly.
Double-Check
Verify each region's rules are satisfied before moving to the next.

🎓 Keep Learning & Improve

🧠 Strategy Guide

Master the core techniques to solve any Pips puzzle, no matter the difficulty.

🎮 How to Play

New to Pips? Learn all the rules and conditional regions in minutes.

📖 More to Read

Aug 13, 2026

NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 13, 2026

View Answer →
Aug 12, 2026

NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 12, 2026

View Answer →
Aug 11, 2026

NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 11, 2026

View Answer →
Aug 10, 2026

NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 10, 2026

View Answer →
Aug 9, 2026

NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 9, 2026

View Answer →
Aug 8, 2026

NYT Pips Hints & Answers for August 8, 2026

View Answer →

💬 Community Discussion

Leave your comment