NYT Pips Hint, Answer & Solution for December 14, 2025

Dec 14, 2025

🚨 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.

🎲 Today's Puzzle Overview

Released on December 14, 2025 (Sunday) under editor Ian Livengood, today’s NYT Pips set forms a clean, sharply escalating progression engineered for solvers who love tracking efficiency, dissecting logic paths, and measuring growth through structure.

As a calm December Sunday arrives — and with the holiday season beginning to warm the atmosphere — this lineup offers the perfect moment to settle in, analyze deeply, and enjoy a structured challenge curve supported by thoughtful Pips Hints and advanced puzzle-solving heuristics.

Easy #461 opens with 5 dominoes, equals-rules across three linked cells, sum targets of 11 and 5, and two strategic empty constraints.

It’s a grid designed for fast pattern acquisition, gentle onboarding, and early structural calibration — ideal for warming up your logic engine before diving deeper.

Medium #462, constructed by Rodolfo Kurchan, enlarges the dataset with a multi-cell sum 11, matched pairs, equals-groups spanning rows, and a compact grid optimized for controlled path-finding.

The puzzle encourages deliberate pacing, comparison of potential routes, and community-driven discussion around mid-level Pips strategies.

Hard #463 raises the ceiling dramatically with 15 dominoes, layered sums (2, 3, 6, 10, 12), dense equals clusters across multiple rows, and wide-grid dependencies that reward step-by-step decomposition and high-level logic parsing.

This is where solvers refine their advanced heuristics — from route optimization to constraint-interaction mapping — making it a true Sunday-level analytical challenge.

For players who benchmark each puzzle by ID, region count, and constraint interplay, this December 14 release provides an ideal analytical workout.

It offers natural checkpoints for reviewing mistakes, refining solving frameworks, and comparing final solutions — whether solo or shared within the broader Pips community during this festive season.

Written by Mark

Puzzle Analyst – Lucas

💡 Progressive Hints

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

💡 Hint #1 - So easy

A piece of cake

💡 Hint #1 - Observe

Dominoes Include: [4-3], [4-1], [3-2], [3-1], [2-2], [2-1], [1-0]. The domino halves in Purple 11 region must be 4+4+3. The domino halves in Light Blue Equal must be 1 or 2. Only 3 domino halves that contain 3 pips.

💡 Hint #2 - Light Blue Equal

The domino halves in this region must be 1.

💡 Hint #3 - Yellow 6

The domino halves in this region must be 2+2+2.

💡 Hint #1 - Observe

Dominoes Include: [6-4], [6-3], [6-2], [6-1], [6-0], [5-3], [4-4], [4-3], [4-2], [4-0], [3-3], [3-1], [2-2], [2-1], [1-0]. Only one domino with 5 pips (5-3), the domino halves in Light Blue 10 region must be 6+4. Only 5 domino halves that contain 6 pips; need 4 domino halves for Number 12 regions, need 1 domino half for Light Blue 10 region.

💡 Hint #2 - Light Blue 10

The domino halves in this region must be 6+4.

💡 Hint #3 - Light Blue 4

The domino halves in this region must be 3+1+0+0.

💡 Hint #4 - Blue Equal

The domino halves in this region must be 4.

💡 Hint #5 - Blue 2

The domino halves in this region must be 1+1.

🎨 Pips Solver

Dec 14, 2025

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 December 14, 2025 – 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 December 14, 2025 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

Dominoes Include: [6-4], [6-3], [5-1], [3-3], [2-0]

2

Step 2: Purple Equal + Red 11 --(Arrows ①②③)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and relative position. The domino halves in Purple Equal region must be 3. The domino halves in Red 11 region must be 6+5. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally; 5-1 (1 right into blank), placed horizontally.

3

Step 3: Light Blue >5 + Yellow >1 --(Arrows ④⑤)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (6-4, 2-0). The answer is 6-4 (4 up into blank), placed vertically; 2-0 (0 right into blank), placed horizontally.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1

Step 1

Dominoes Include: [4-3], [4-1], [3-2], [3-1], [2-2], [2-1], [1-0]. The domino halves in Purple 11 region must be 4+4+3. The domino halves in Light Blue Equal must be 1 or 2. Only 3 domino halves that contain 3 pips.

2

Step 2: Purple 11 --(Arrows ①②)

Confirmed by all regions and step 1 and relative position. The domino halves in this region must be 4+4+3. Only 2 dominoes with 4 pips (4-3, 4-1). [4-1] must placed in the boundary between Purple 11 region and Light Blue Equal region. The answer is 4-1 (1 into Light Blue Equal region), placed horizontally; 4-2 (2 into Red Equal region), placed horizontally. When it's unclear, you can try.

3

Step 3: Red Equal --(Arrows ③)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 2 and remaining dominoes (3-2, 3-1, 2-2, 2-1, 1-0). The domino halves in this region must be 3. The answer is 3-1 (1 into Light Blue Equal region), placed horizontally.

4

Step 4: Yellow 6 --(Arrows ④⑤)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (3-2, 2-2, 2-1, 1-0). The domino halves in this region must be 2+2+2. The answer is 3-2 (3 into Purple 11 region), placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

5

Step 5: Blue 3 --(Arrows ⑥⑦)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (2-1, 1-0). The domino halves in this region must be 2+1. The answer is 1-2 (1 into Light Blue Equal region), placed vertically; 1-0 (0 right into blank), placed horizontally. All dominoes fit regions, so the domino halves in Light Blue Equal must be 1.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1

Step 1

Dominoes Include: [6-4], [6-3], [6-2], [6-1], [6-0], [5-3], [4-4], [4-3], [4-2], [4-0], [3-3], [3-1], [2-2], [2-1], [1-0]. Only one domino with 5 pips (5-3), the domino halves in Light Blue 10 region must be 6+4. Only 5 domino halves that contain 6 pips; need 4 domino halves for Number 12 regions, need 1 domino half for Light Blue 10 region.

2

Step 2: Purple >4 + Light Blue 4 + Yelllow 4 --(Arrows ①②③)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and relative position. Only one domino with 5 pips (5-3), 5 pips must placed in Purple >4 region. The smallest domino is [1-0], Therefore, the domino halves in Light Blue 4 region must be 3+1+0+0. The answer is 5-3 (3 into Light Blue 4 region), placed horizontally; 1-0 (whole domino), placed vertically; 4-0 (4 into Yellow 4 region, 0 into Light Blue 4 region), placed horizontally.

3

Step 3: Red 12 + Blue Equal + Red 2 --(Arrows ④⑤⑥)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, 4-4, 4-3, 4-2, 3-3, 3-1, 2-2, 2-1). The domino halves in Red 12 region must be 6+6. The domino halves in Blue Equal region must be 4 (can't be 1 or 2 or 3, not more enough 1 pips or 2 pips or 3 pips for the other regions). The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-2 (2 into Red 2 region), placed vertically.

4

Step 4: Yellow 6 + Purple <2 --(Arrows ⑦⑧)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 3 and remaining dominoes (6-3, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, 4-3, 3-3, 3-1, 2-2, 2-1). The domino halves in Yellow region must be 3+3. The answer is 6-3 (can't be 6-2 or 6-1 or 6-0, confirmed by neighboring region; 6 into Red 12 region), placed horizontally; 3-1 (1 into Purple <2 region), placed vertically.

5

Step 5: Blue 2 + Green 2 --(Arrows ⑨⑩)

Confirmed by neighboring region and relative position and remaining dominoes (6-2, 6-1, 6-0, 4-3, 3-3, 2-2, 2-1). Only 2 dominoe left that with 1 pips (6-1, 2-1), 1 pips must placed in the left color regions, therefore, the domino halves in Blue 2 region must be 1+1. The answer is 1-2 (2 into Green 2 region), placed horizontally; 1-6 (6 into Green 12 region), placed vertically.

6

Step 6: Red <2 + Light Blue 10 + Purple >2 --(Arrows ⑪⑫)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (6-2, 6-0, 4-3, 3-3, 2-2). The domino halves in Light Blue 10 region must be 6+4. The answer is 0-6 (0 into Red <2 region), placed horizontally; 4-3 (3 into Purple >2 region), placed vertically.

7

Step 6: Light Blue 6 --(Arrows ⑬⑭)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 5 and remaining dominoes (6-2, 3-3, 2-2). The domino halves in Light Blue 6 region must be 2+2+2. The answer is 6-2 (6 into Green 12 region), placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

8

Step 7: Yellow Equal --(Arrows ⑮)

The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

🎥 NYTpips Quick Strategy 💡 | Perfect Entry & Exit Signals

We break down key entry and exit cues you can use right away.

💡 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

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🎮 How to Play

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