🚨 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!
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Want hints instead? Scroll down for progressive clues that won't spoil the fun.
🎲 Today's Puzzle Overview
Today's NYT Pips easy grid greets you with two oversized equals-regions that seem to lock themselves in place the moment you spot them. Livengood gives you just enough dominoes with matching pips to trigger a cascade: once you anchor the top-left trio with the obvious double, the rest of the grid falls in line, domino by domino.
The medium NYT Pips tightens the screws. Two adjacent equals-regions share a border, and a single well-chosen domino can satisfy both at once. The resulting chain reaction forces you to juggle sum-9 columns and a few isolated cells, but the puzzle never feels unfair—every deduction follows from that first satisfying click.
Kurchan's hard is a different beast. A single-cell sum-6 region screams for attention, while a bulk equals-region demands an army of zeros. With only a limited supply of zeros and sixes, you'll traverse a labyrinth of sum-6 clusters in the bottom right that all interconnect. It's a puzzle that rewards patience and a careful inventory of remaining pips.
💡 Progressive Hints
Try these hints one at a time. Each hint becomes more specific to help you solve it yourself!
💡 Eyes on the equals
Scan the grid for the largest constraint areas—two big regions demand all their cells show the same number. These will anchor your solve.
💡 Top-left trio lock
The three-cell block in the upper left (covering [0,0], [0,1], and [1,1]) all must share a pip. Only one domino type can directly fill two of them while leaving the third reachable.
💡 Full cascade
Place [5,5] horizontally at [0,0]-[0,1] to give two 5s. Then use [5,6] vertically from [1,1] to [2,1] (5 on [1,1], 6 on [2,1]) to complete the equals group. On the right, the four-cell equals region needs 3s: place [3,3] vertically at [1,3]-[2,3] (two 3s), then [3,4] horizontally at [0,3]-[0,4] (3 and 4), and finally [3,1] vertically at [3,3]-[3,4] (3 and 1). The last domino [2,4] covers [3,1]-[3,0] with 2 and 4.
💡 Side-by-side equals
Two separate equals-regions sit next to each other—look for a domino that can satisfy parts of both at the same time.
💡 The bridging domino
The equals pair at [0,1]/[1,1] and the pair at [1,2]/[2,2] share the cell row 1. A single domino placed between [1,2] and [1,1] can set both required matching values, giving one side a 6 and the other a 0.
💡 Unlocking the midsection
Start with [0,6] horizontally at [1,2]-[1,1] (0/6). Then [5,6] at [0,0]-[0,1] puts 6 on [0,1] and 5 on [0,0], finishing the top equals. To make the other equals [2,2] match the 0 from [1,2], place [3,0] at [2,3]-[2,2] (3/0). Now the sum-9 column: [0,0]=5 demands a 4 at [1,0]; use [4,4] vertically at [1,0]-[2,0] (4/4). Next, sum-4 on [2,3]/[3,3] needs 3+1: [4,1] at [3,4]-[3,3] (4/1). Then sum-9 on [3,4]/[3,5] requires 4+5: [0,5] at [2,5]-[3,5] (0/5). Finally, place [2,2] at [4,4]-[4,5] (2/2) to satisfy the bottom equals.
💡 Zero in on equals and sum
A four-cell equals block and a single-cell sum-6 are your entry points. These constraints drastically restrict the possible numbers in key areas.
💡 The zero army
The equals region spanning [0,3] to [2,3] (four cells) can only all be 0, because no other pip appears often enough in the remaining dominoes to cover four matching cells. Simultaneously, [0,0] must be exactly 6 due to its solo sum-6 tag.
💡 Placing the first zeros
Use the [0,0] domino vertically at [0,3]-[1,3] to claim two zeros. Then [3,0] horizontally at [0,5]-[0,4] satisfies the less-4 on [0,5] (3) and provides another zero for [0,4]. Finish the zero block with [0,5] at [2,3]-[2,4] (0/5). The sum-6 cell at [0,0] forces [6,5] vertically at [0,0]-[1,0] (6/5).
💡 Right-side sum-6 linkages
With zeros anchored and the top-left underway, the bottom right becomes a hive of sum-6 regions. The lone cell [6,8] needing sum 0 must be 0, so a domino with 0 must touch it; the equals pair [7,8]/[8,8] will be 2s. Many sum-6 pairs require careful pairing: [6,6]/[5,6] get 3/4, [7,6]/[8,6] get 3/3, and [9,7]/[9,8] get 5/1 after [5,3] places 5/3. The remaining sum-6 on [8,6]/[9,6] uses the last 3 from [5,3].
💡 Complete hard solve
1. [6,5] vertically at [0,0]-[1,0] (6,5). 2. [0,0] vertically at [0,3]-[1,3] (0,0). 3. [3,0] horizontal at [0,5]-[0,4] (3,0). 4. [0,5] horizontal at [2,3]-[2,4] (0,5). 5. [6,2] vertical at [2,0]-[3,0] (6,2). 6. [5,2] horizontal at [4,0]-[4,1] (5,2). 7. [4,2] vertical at [3,3]-[4,3] (4,2). 8. [4,6] horizontal at [4,4]-[4,5] (4,6). 9. [1,1] horizontal at [5,7]-[5,8] (1,1). 10. [3,4] vertical at [6,6]-[5,6] (3,4). 11. [3,3] vertical at [7,6]-[8,6] (3,3). 12. [5,3] horizontal at [9,7]-[9,6] (5,3). 13. [2,0] horizontal at [7,8]-[6,8] (2,0). 14. [2,1] horizontal at [8,8]-[9,8] (2,1).
🎨 Pips Solver
Jun 17, 2026
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✅ 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
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
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: Lock the top-left equals
The three cells [0,0], [0,1], and [1,1] must all show the same number. Only the [5,5] domino can anchor this group by covering two adjacent cells with matching 5s. Place it horizontally on [0,0]-[0,1] to start.
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Step 2: Complete the equals trio
With [0,0] and [0,1] both 5, [1,1] must also be 5. The [5,6] domino placed vertically from [1,1] to [2,1] gives [1,1]=5 and [2,1]=6, satisfying the equals region and putting a 6 in the less-9 column.
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Step 3: The right-side equals block
The four cells [0,3],[1,3],[2,3],[3,3] must all be equal. The [3,3] domino fits perfectly vertically from [1,3] to [2,3]. Place it to set two 3s. Then [3,4] horizontally at [0,3]-[0,4] puts 3 on [0,3] (completing equals) and 4 on [0,4] (satisfying >2).
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Step 4: Finishing touches
Now only [3,3] and a few cells remain. [3,1] vertical at [3,3]-[3,4] gives [3,3]=3 and [3,4]=1 (empty). The final domino [2,4] covers the remaining [3,1]-[3,0] with 2 and 4, fitting the less-9 and empty cells.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level
1
Step 1: Bridge the two equals regions
The equals region at [0,1]/[1,1] and the one at [1,2]/[2,2] can both be partially satisfied by a single domino spanning [1,2]-[1,1]. Since the available domino [0,6] gives a 0 and a 6, place it horizontally there: [1,2]=0, [1,1]=6. This fulfills the matching requirement for one cell in each region.
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Step 2: Finish the top-right equals
Now [0,1] must match [1,1] with a 6. The only remaining domino with a 6 is [5,6]. Place it horizontally at [0,0]-[0,1] to set [0,1]=6 and [0,0]=5.
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Step 3: Satisfy the other equals and sum-9 column
For [2,2] to equal [1,2] (0), we need a 0 there. The [3,0] domino placed horizontally at [2,3]-[2,2] sets [2,2]=0 and [2,3]=3. Meanwhile, the sum-9 region on [0,0]/[1,0] now has [0,0]=5, so [1,0] must be 4. The [4,4] domino vertically at [1,0]-[2,0] gives two 4s.
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Step 4: Sum-4 and sum-9 interplay
The sum-4 region [2,3]/[3,3] has [2,3]=3, requiring a 1 at [3,3]. The [4,1] domino placed vertically at [3,4]-[3,3] provides 1 on [3,3] and 4 on [3,4]. Next, sum-9 on [3,4]/[3,5] needs 4+5, so [3,5] must be 5. The [0,5] domino horizontally at [2,5]-[3,5] gives 0 (less-2) and 5.
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Step 5: Finish the bottom equals
The final region, equals at [4,4]/[4,5], requires matching values. The [2,2] domino placed horizontally there gives both cells a 2, completing the grid.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level
1
Step 1: Zero-block foundation
The four-cell equals region [0,3],[0,4],[1,3],[2,3] must all be identical. The only number that can repeat four times with the given dominoes is 0, thanks to the [0,0] and several 0-containing dominoes. Place [0,0] vertically at [0,3]-[1,3] to set two zeros. Then place [3,0] horizontally at [0,5]-[0,4] to put 3 on [0,5] (satisfying less-4) and 0 on [0,4]. Finally, [0,5] horizontally at [2,3]-[2,4] completes the block with 0 and 5.
2
Step 2: Sum-6 singlet start
The single cell [0,0] has a sum-6 constraint, so it must be 6. The domino that covers it must deliver a 6. Place [6,5] vertically at [0,0]-[1,0] (6 on top, 5 below). This also places a 5 in [1,0] which will later interact with other constraints.
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Step 3: High numbers in the left column
The region [1,0] and [2,0] has a constraint that both cells must be less than 9, so any value works. However, the available high numbers must be placed carefully. With [1,0]=5, the sum-7 region below ([3,0]/[4,0]) will later demand 2+5. For now, place [6,2] vertically at [2,0]-[3,0] to give 6 on [2,0] and 2 on [3,0].
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Step 4: Fleshing out the middle
Now attend to the sum-7 region [3,0]/[4,0]: [3,0] is 2, so [4,0] must be 5. Place [5,2] horizontally at [4,0]-[4,1] (5/2). The sum-2 on [4,1] is satisfied with 2, and the 5 completes the sum-7 pair. Next, sum-4 at [3,3] needs a 4. Use [4,2] vertically at [3,3]-[4,3] giving 4 and 2, and with the sum-6 on [4,3]/[4,4] automatically requiring 2+4=6, everything fits.
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Step 5: Sum-6 chain in the bottom right
The sum-6 region on [4,5] alone forces a 6 there. The [4,6] domino placed horizontally at [4,4]-[4,5] puts 4 on [4,4] (completing the sum-6 from step 4) and 6 on [4,5]. Then the sum-6 trio at [5,6],[5,7],[5,8] gets [3,4] vertical from [6,6] to [5,6] (3/4) and [1,1] horizontal at [5,7]-[5,8] (1/1), summing to 4+1+1=6.
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Step 6: Final sum-6 knots
With [6,6]=3 from [3,4], the sum-6 pair [6,6]/[7,6] needs another 3, so place [3,3] vertically at [7,6]-[8,6] (3/3). The sum-6 on [8,6]/[9,6] then gets [5,3] horizontally at [9,7]-[9,6] (5/3) to give 3. The sum-0 cell [6,8] must be 0: [2,0] horizontally at [7,8]-[6,8] (2/0). Finally, the equals [7,8]/[8,8] needs both 2: place [2,1] horizontally at [8,8]-[9,8] (2/1), which also completes the sum-6 at [9,7]/[9,8] (5+1=6).
💡 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.
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