NYT Pips Hint, Answer & Solution for December 26, 2025

Dec 26, 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

Friday, December 26, 2025, carries the post-holiday rhythm forward with a fresh trio of NYT Pips puzzles, thoughtfully edited by Ian Livengood.

As Christmas celebrations fade and routines begin to settle back in, today’s puzzles feel perfectly timed — calm enough to ease into, yet rich enough to spark real logical engagement.

This Friday set is especially suited for slowing down, comparing approaches, and trading those “aha” moments that come from a well-placed Pips hint. Whether you’re solving solo or checking notes with friends, the structure of today’s grids encourages reflection, discussion, and smarter pattern recognition.

Easy #464, constructed by Ian Livengood, is an ideal reset puzzle.

With a compact domino pool, clean sum regions, and light constraints, it rewards careful counting and early elimination. It’s the kind of grid where one solid hint can unlock the entire solution — perfect for warming up your logic muscles after the holidays.

Medium #466, by Rodolfo Kurchan, steps things up with a heavier focus on equals and unequal regions.

Here, tracking shared values across the grid becomes essential, and multiple solution paths invite comparison. This puzzle shines when you pause, reassess assumptions, and refine your strategy using targeted Pips hints rather than brute force.

Hard #470, also crafted by Rodolfo Kurchan, is the true highlight for experienced solvers.

Dense equals chains, larger sum targets, and long dependency sequences make this a deeply analytical challenge. Progress often comes from recognizing how one constrained region quietly dictates several others — a rewarding experience for anyone who enjoys methodical, data-driven deduction.

As the week winds down, today’s NYT Pips lineup offers the perfect balance of relaxation and mental rigor.

Solve thoughtfully, share insights, and enjoy the process — Friday puzzles are at their best when logic, patience, and community all come together.

Written by Anna

Puzzle Analyst – Mark

💡 Progressive Hints

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

💡 Hint #1 - So easy

Just do it.

💡 Hint #1 - Inventory Check Reveals a Forced Bridge

Start by scanning all available dominoes and the rule types. The Light Blue Not Equal region immediately forbids duplicates, while Red Equal must draw from multiple dominoes. This combination forces the unique [3–2] domino to sit exactly on the shared edge between Purple Equal and Red Equal.

💡 Hint #2 - Single-Option Sum Locks in the Six

When a region requires a total of 6 and only one domino contains a 6 pip, placement becomes unavoidable. Use this scarcity to anchor [6–0], sending the 0 into the Not Equal region and fixing the board’s orientation early.

💡 Hint #3 - Equals Regions Collapse to Exact Values

With several dominoes removed, both Equal regions resolve cleanly: Purple Equal can only be filled by 3s, and Red Equal by 2s. Chain these deductions together to place multiple dominoes in one logical sweep.

💡 Hint #4 - Finish by Eliminating Conflicts in Not-Equal

At the endgame, track which values already occupy the Not Equal region. With 0s and 2s excluded, only distinct higher values remain. This exclusion logic cleanly determines the final two domino placements.

💡 Hint #1 - Inventory Pressure Sets the Tone

Start by counting critical pips across all dominoes. Notice the tight supply of 3s and 5s, and recognize that any region demanding multiple copies will immediately restrict placement options elsewhere. High-threshold regions (>11) strongly suggest pairing the largest values early.

💡 Hint #2 - Lock the Oversized Sum First

When a region requires a sum greater than 11 and only one pairing can reach it, treat it as an anchor. Committing the maximum-value domino here stabilizes the grid and simplifies later comparisons.

💡 Hint #3 - Use Scarcity to Eliminate Ambiguity

With limited remaining 6s, compare which regions can legally accept them. Balance inequality constraints against equality needs to force one placement and indirectly confirm the partner value.

💡 Hint #4 - Equals Regions Reveal Their Core Value

For equal regions, look for the number that can be duplicated without breaking neighboring sums. Zero and one often surface naturally once higher values are reserved elsewhere, allowing multiple equal blocks to resolve together.

💡 Hint #5 - Cascade Deductions Through Shared Pips

Once the equal-value regions settle, shared pips (especially 3s and 1s) propagate constraints across sums and fixed-number regions. Chain these deductions to fill several regions in one logical sweep.

💡 Hint #6 - Finish by Confirming the Only Remaining Total

In the final unresolved sum, verify that only one domino combination remains consistent with earlier assignments. Use leftover inventory as confirmation rather than guesswork to close the puzzle cleanly.

🎨 Pips Solver

Dec 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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: [6-6], [5-1], [4-3], [4-2], [2-0].

2

Step 2: Blue <1 + Yellow 3 + Purple 11 --(Arrows ①②③)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and relative position. The domino halves in Yellow 3 region must be 2+1. The domino halves in Purple 11 region must be 5+6. The answer is 0-2 (0 into Blue <1 region), placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally; 6-6 (one 6s left into blank), placed horizontally.

3

Step 3: Light Blue 3 + Red Equal --(Arrows ④⑤)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (4-3, 4-2). The domino halves in Red Equal region must be 4. The answer is 3-4 (3 into Light Blue 3 region), placed horizontally; 4-2 (2 left into blank), placed horizontally.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1

Step 1

Dominoes Include: [6-0], [5-4], [4-2], [3-3], [3-2], [2-2], [1-0]. The domino halves in Light Blue Not Equal must be different. The domino halves in Red Equal region must come form three different dominoes. Therefore, [3-2] must placed in the boundary between Purple Equal region and Red Equal region.

2

Step 2: Yellow 6 --(Arrows ①)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and relative position. Only one domino with 6 pips (6-0). The answer is 6-0 (0 into Light Blue Not Equal), placed vertically.

3

Step 3: Purple Equal + Red Equal --(Arrows ②③④⑤)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and remaining dominoes. The domino halves in Purple Equal region must be 3. The domino halves in Red Equal region must be 2. The answer is 3-3 (one 3s into blank), placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-4 (4 down into blank), placed vertically; 2-2 (one 2s into Light Blue Not Equal region), placed horizontally.

4

Step 4: Light Blue Not Equal --(Arrows ⑥⑦)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (5-4, 1-0). 0s and 2s already placed in this region, therefore, the answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 1-0 (0 up into blank), placed vertically.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1

Step 1

Dominoes Include: [6-6], [6-4], [6-3], [6-0], [5-5], [5-3], [5-1], [4-1], [3-3], [3-2], [3-1], [3-0], [2-1], [1-0], [0-0]. Only 7 domino halves that contain 3 pips for Yellow Equal. Only 4 domino halves that contain 5 pips, need two for Number 5 regions. The domino halves in Light Blue >11 region must be 6+6.

2

Step 2: Green >11 --(Arrows ①)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and relative position. Need one domino sum to be more than 10 placed in this region. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

3

Step 3: Red <4 + Light Blue >11 --(Arrows ②③)

Confirmed by neighboring region and step 1 and remaining domino with 6 pips (6-4, 6-3, 6-0). The domino [6-3] with 3 pips must fit for Yellow Equal. The domino halves in Light Blue >11 region must be 6+6. Therefore, the answer is 0-6 (0 into Red <4 region), placed vertically; 6-4 (4 right into blank), placed horizontally.

4

Step 4: Green Equal + Purple Equal + Bottom Blue 5 --(Arrows ④⑤⑥⑦)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes. Need one domino with the same number placed in Green Equal, the domino halves in Green Equal region must be 0, the domino halves in Purple Equal region must be 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-3 (3 into Yellow Equal), placed horizontally; 0-1 (1 into Purple Equal region), placed horizontally; 1-5 (5 into Bottom Blue 5 region), placed vertically.

5

Step 5: Yellow Equal + Light Blue 6 + Top Blue 5 + Purple 2 + Red Equal --(Arrows ⑧⑨⑩⑪⑫⑬⑭)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (6-3, 5-5, 5-3, 4-1, 3-3, 3-2, 3-1, 2-1). The domino halves in Yellow Equal region must be 3. The domino halves in Purple 2 region must be 1+1. The domino halves in Red Equal region must be 2. The answer is 6-3 (6 into Light Blue 6 region), placed horizontally; 5-3 (5 into Top Blue 5 region), placed horizontally; 1-3 (1 into Purple 2 region), placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-1 (1 into Purple 11 region), placed horizontally; 1-4 (1 into Purple 2 region, 4 down into blank), placed vertically.

6

Step 6: Purple 11 --(Arrows ⑮)

Confirmed by neighboring region and remaining dominoes (5-5). The domino halves in this region must be 5+5+1 (1s come from step 5). The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

🎥 NYT Pips Solutions for December 26, 2025 | Easy 464 • Medium 466 • Hard 470 Explained Step by Step

Today’s puzzles are a great way to reset your thinking and sharpen your deduction skills.

💡 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

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