NYT Pips Hints & Answers for June 28, 2026

Jun 28, 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!

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

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🎲 Today's Puzzle Overview

NYT Pips for June 28, 2026, edited by Ian Livengood, features an easy by Livengood and medium/hard by Rodolfo Kurchan. Livengood's easy grid is a compact 5×2 that solves through two constraint anchors: an equals region demanding a triple of identical values, and a sum-12 block that dominates the left side. The equals region forces an immediate domino with a double-6, which then propagates a 6 to an adjacent cell, pulling in a 5-6 tile. The sum-12 region chokes the placement of double-3 and the remaining mixed dominos, leaving little room for deviation.

Kurchan's medium puzzle expands to a 4×6 board where a less-5 region at the top right instantly calls for the double-0, while a sum-10 region in the bottom row weaves together a 4 and a 6. The interplay between a greater-2 cell and a sum-8 column drives the center, and a sum-5 pair ties the right edge before a final greater-5 closure. The deduction graph branches from the double-0, then converges through the sum-10 and sum-8 dependencies.

Kurchan's hard, a sprawling 10×8 grid, is an intricate constraint web. Key bottlenecks include a triple-equals block in the lower center forcing a trio of 2s, and two sum-1 pockets that dictate single digits. The equals region connects to a sum-14 chain on the left via a [6,2] domino, while a sum-17 cluster on the right pulls in high pips from a [6,6] placement. Low-sum cells such as sum-2 and less-2 regions act as anchors that resolve the remaining open cells.

💡 Progressive Hints

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

💡 Spot the Equals Region
Look for a region where all cells must share the same digit—it dictates the placement of the only double domino with high pips.
💡 Lock the Triple
The equals region sits in column 0 and extends into cell [4,1]. The double-6 is forced into the column; that then forces a 6 into [4,1] through a domino containing a 6 and a 5.
💡 Full Easy Solve
Place [6,6] vertically at [3,0]-[4,0]. The equals region demands [4,1]=6, so put [5,6] horizontally at [3,1]-[4,1] with 5 at [3,1]. The sum-12 region needs four cells totaling 12: set [3,3] horizontally at [2,0]-[2,1] (both 3). Then [6,3] goes vertically at [0,1]-[1,1] giving 6 and 3. Finally [3,4] in [1,0]-[0,0] with 3 and 4.
💡 Identify the ‘Less-Than’ Constraint
A less-5 region at the top right restricts values to under 5. The only domino that fits naturally is the double-0.
💡 Anchor the Bottom Row
The sum-10 region on the bottom row requires a 4 in [3,0] and a 6 in [3,1]. The [0,4] domino supplies the 4, and the double-6 provides the 6.
💡 Full Medium Solve
Place [0,0] vertically in [0,3]-[1,3] for the less-5. Set [0,4] horizontally at [2,0]-[3,0] with 4 at [3,0] and 0 at [2,0]. Then [6,6] goes vertically in [2,1]-[3,1] to complete the sum-10 and satisfy greater-2 at [2,1]. Place [3,0] vertically in [1,4]-[2,4] (3 and 0), using the 0 for the sum-5 region. Then [2,6] runs horizontally across [1,1]-[1,2] with 6 at [1,2] to help sum-8, and [2,5] fits horizontally in [2,2]-[2,3] to make sum-8 total 8 and sum-5 total 5. Finally [4,2] sits in [3,4]-[3,5] for the last region.
💡 Find the Triple-Equals Anchor
An equals region spans three cells: [5,0], [5,1], and [6,1]. This forces all three to carry the same digit, supplied by a double domino.
💡 Place the Double-2
The only double available for the equals region is [2,2]. Place it horizontally in [5,0]-[5,1]. This forces [6,1] to also be 2, so the domino [6,2] must be placed with its 2 on [6,1].
💡 Resolve the Sum-3 and Sum-17 Chain
The cell [5,6] has a sum-3 constraint, so it must be 3. The domino [3,5] places that 3 at [5,6] and a 5 at [5,7]. The sum-17 region then uses that 5 plus a [6,6] domino at [6,7]-[7,7].
💡 Fill the Sum-1 Bottlenecks
Two sum-1 regions appear: [3,0] must be 1, delivered by [3,1] placed vertically to also give [2,0]=3. The other sum-1 at [1,4]-[2,4] uses [0,5] and [1,2] dominoes, giving 0 and 1.
💡 Full Hard Solve
Place [2,2] at [5,0]-[5,1]; then [6,2] at [7,1]-[6,1] (2 on [6,1], 6 on [7,1]). Put [3,1] vertically in [2,0]-[3,0] (3 and 1) satisfying sum-6 row and sum-1 cell. [5,5] goes horizontally in [2,2]-[2,3] for sum-14 with [4,0] at [1,2]-[0,2] giving 4 and 0. Set [0,5] at [1,4]-[0,4] (0 and 5) and [1,2] at [2,4]-[3,4] (1 and 2) for sum-1 and sum-5. Place [3,6] at [1,0]-[0,0] (3,6) for sum-6 top. Put [3,5] at [5,6]-[5,7] (3,5); [6,6] at [6,7]-[7,7] for sum-17. Place [2,4] at [6,4]-[6,3] (2,4) for sum-2 and greater-3. [0,2] at [8,3]-[8,4] (0,2) for less-2 and sum-2. [4,4] vertical in [8,1]-[9,1] to finish sum-14. End with [3,3] at [8,7]-[9,7] for sum-6.

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Jun 28, 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

Pips hint for June 28, 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 June 28, 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: The Equals Region Lock
The equals region covering [3,0], [4,0], and [4,1] forces all three cells to the same value. The only domino with identical pips high enough to anchor this is [6,6]. Place it vertically in [3,0] and [4,0], making both cells 6.
2
Step 2: Propagating the 6
Because [4,1] must also be 6, a domino containing a 6 must cover that cell. The only remaining domino with a 6 is [5,6]. Place it horizontally with 6 on [4,1] and 5 on [3,1] (empty region). The equals region is satisfied.
3
Step 3: Sum-12 Foundation
The sum-12 region needs four cells totaling 12. Two of them—[2,0] and [2,1]—can be filled by the double-3 domino [3,3] since they sum to 6, leaving another 6 from [1,0] and [1,1]. Place [3,3] horizontally at [2,0]-[2,1].
4
Step 4: Completing the Sum
With 6 remaining in the sum-12 region, [1,0] and [1,1] must sum to 6. The domino [6,3] placed vertically at [0,1]-[1,1] gives 6 and 3; then [3,4] placed horizontally at [1,0]-[0,0] gives 3 and 4, completing the region and the puzzle.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1
Step 1: Less-5 Kickoff
The less-5 region at [0,3]-[1,3] restricts both cells to values below 5. The double-0 domino [0,0] is the natural fit; place it vertically covering [0,3] and [1,3].
2
Step 2: Bottom-Row Sum-10
The sum-10 region on [3,0]-[3,1] needs two digits adding to 10. The only way to achieve this with remaining tiles is 4 and 6. The [0,4] domino can supply the 4 in [3,0] if placed horizontally at [2,0]-[3,0] with 0 in [2,0] (empty) and 4 in [3,0].
3
Step 3: Double-6 and the Greater-2
With [3,0]=4, [3,1] must be 6 to sum to 10. Place [6,6] vertically in [2,1]-[3,1]; this also satisfies the greater-2 constraint on [2,1].
4
Step 4: Center Sum-8 and Sum-5
The sum-8 region [1,2]-[2,2] calls for two numbers adding to 8. Placing [2,6] horizontally at [1,1]-[1,2] gives 6 at [1,2] and 2 at [1,1]. Then [2,5] horizontally at [2,2]-[2,3] puts 2 at [2,2] (sum 8: 6+2) and 5 at [2,3], which later couples with a 0 from the [3,0] domino to form sum-5.
5
Step 5: Right-Side Wrap-up
The sum-5 region [2,3]-[2,4] gets its 0 from placing [3,0] vertically at [1,4]-[2,4] with 3 at [1,4] (greater-0) and 0 at [2,4]. Finally, the greater-5 region [3,4]-[3,5] receives [4,2] horizontally.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1
Step 1: Equals Region Locks the 2s
The equals region covering [5,0], [5,1], and [6,1] demands three identical digits. Only the double-2 domino [2,2] fits. Place it horizontally over [5,0] and [5,1]. Consequently, [6,1] must also be 2; the [6,2] domino achieves this when placed so that its 2 sits on [6,1] and 6 on [7,1].
2
Step 2: Sum-3 and Sum-17 Scaffold
The isolated cell [5,6] is a sum-3 region, so it must be 3. The [3,5] domino places 3 at [5,6] and 5 at [5,7]. That 5 feeds the sum-17 region [5,7]-[6,7]-[7,7]; the remaining 12 come from [6,6] at [6,7]-[7,7].
3
Step 3: Sum-1 Bottlenecks
Two sum-1 regions exist: [3,0] alone and [1,4]-[2,4]. For [3,0]=1, place [3,1] vertically in [2,0]-[3,0] with 3 at [2,0] (helping sum-6 row) and 1 at [3,0]. For the pair, use [0,5] at [1,4]-[0,4] giving 0 at [1,4] and 5 at [0,4] (sum-5), and [1,2] at [2,4]-[3,4] giving 1 at [2,4] and 2 at [3,4].
4
Step 4: Sum-14 and Sum-6 Top
The sum-14 region [1,2]-[2,2]-[2,3] gets 5+5 from [5,5] at [2,2]-[2,3], and 4 from [4,0] placed at [1,2]-[0,2] (4 at [1,2], 0 at [0,2] satisfying less-3). Then the top-left sum-6 cell [0,0] and its partner [1,0] in a sum-6 row: place [3,6] at [1,0]-[0,0] giving 3 and 6, completing sum-6 requirements.
5
Step 5: Bottom-Left Sum-14 and Low Cells
The sum-14 left column [7,1]-[8,1]-[9,1] already has 6 from [7,1]. Place [4,4] vertically at [8,1]-[9,1] to add 8, totaling 14. The less-2 cell [8,3] and sum-2 cell [8,4] pair perfectly with [0,2] horizontally at [8,3]-[8,4] (0 and 2).
6
Step 6: Final Sum-6 and Completions
The sum-2 cell [6,4] and greater-3 cell [6,3] are satisfied by [2,4] placed horizontally: 2 on [6,4], 4 on [6,3]. Then the sum-6 region [8,7]-[9,7] takes [3,3] vertically. All dominoes placed.

💡 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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