NYT Pips Hints & Answers for June 3, 2026

Jun 3, 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.

🎲 Today's Puzzle Overview

In today's NYT Pips easy, Ian Livengood presents a four-by-four lite with a dozen cells. The equals pair hands you a double without guesswork, and a less-than-1 anchor together with sum-4 and sum-10 regions do the rest — you'll breeze through in under two minutes. Rodolfo Kurchan's medium stretches to a five-by-five grid. The top-left sum-10 forces a 6-0 split that feeds the leftmost sum-2; the bottleneck is sequencing the low-value ones across the top row. Once those settle, the right-side equals and sum-8 column lock in smoothly. Kurchan's hard goes large: five rows by seven columns, packed with a five-cell equals region and a glaring sum-18 triplet. The less-than-2 corner forces zeros, propelling a cascade of sixes along the top. The tightest spot is the sum-3 column interacting with the massive equals block — find that pivot and the whole grid unravels. This one will feel truly earned.

💡 Progressive Hints

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

💡 Hint 1: Spot the giveaway
Look for a region that forces two cells to be identical — that narrows your domino choices to a single double, giving you an immediate foothold.
💡 Hint 2: Name the double
The equals region in the left column (cells [1,0] and [2,0]) demands a domino with matching pips. The only double available is 6-6. Also, the less-than-1 cell at [3,1] will only accept a zero.
💡 Hint 3: Full solve
Place the double-six at [1,0]/[2,0]. The less-than-1 at [3,1] gets 0 from [0,3] with its 3 at [3,2], forcing the equals pair [3,2]/[3,3] to 3. Place [3,5] vertically: 3 at [3,3], 5 at [2,3]. Sum-10 at [1,3]/[2,3] now needs 5 at [1,3] — use [1,5] with 1 at [0,3]. Sum-4 single [1,2] takes 4 from [4,2] (2 at [0,2]). Sum-4 [0,1]/[0,2] gets 2 at [0,1], and [1,2] finishes with 2 at [0,1] and 1 at [0,0].
💡 Hint 1: Follow the sums
Focus on the sum-10 and sum-2 regions at the top left and left edge — they will force a pair of specific numbers that cascade downward.
💡 Hint 2: Place the 6 and 2
The top-left sum-10 demands 6 and 4. Only [6,0] can supply the 6; place it with 6 at [0,0] and 0 at [1,0]. The left-column sum-2 then forces [2,0] to 2, which uses the [5,2] domino (5 at [2,1]).
💡 Hint 3: Full solve
[6,0] goes vertical at [0,0]/[1,0]. [5,2] at [2,1]=5/[2,0]=2. Sum-8 [2,1]/[3,1]: [3,1]=3 from [6,3] (6 at [3,0]). Top row: [0,1]=4 from [1,4] (1 at [0,2]); [0,3]=1 from [1,3] (3 at [0,4]). Equals [0,4]/[1,4] forces [1,4]=3 via [3,5] (5 at [2,4]). Sum-8 [2,3]/[2,4] gets [2,3]=3 from [0,3] (0 at [3,3]). Sum-8 [3,2]/[4,2] needs 4+4: use [4,4] vertically.
💡 Hint 1: Anchor with extremes
Start with the sum-18 row and the less-than-2 region on the right edge. They will force extreme high and low values and give you a solid base.
💡 Hint 2: Zeros and sixes
The less-than-2 cells at [0,5]–[0,6] must be zeros — double [0,0] goes there. The sum-18 at [0,2]–[0,4] requires three sixes; place the [6,6] double across two of them, leaving [0,2] needing a 6.
💡 Hint 3: Unlock the equals block
Supply the 6 at [0,2] from [5,6] vertically, putting 5 at [1,2]. This makes the five-cell equals region (including [1,1], [1,2], [2,2], [3,1], [3,2]) all 5. The sum-4 single at [1,0] then becomes 4.
💡 Hint 4: Column of ones
Cover [1,0] and [1,1] with [4,5] (4 and 5). The solo sum-2 at [2,1] forces 2 — take it from [2,1] domino, putting 1 at [2,0]. The sum-3 column [2,0]/[3,0]/[4,0] now has 1, so the bottom two are both 1. Place them with [1,5] and [6,1].
💡 Hint 5: Full solve
[0,0] at [0,5]/[0,6]; [6,6] at [0,3]/[0,4]; [5,6] vertical: 6 at [0,2], 5 at [1,2] (all equals 5). [4,5] horizontal: 4 at [1,0], 5 at [1,1]. [2,1] horizontal: 2 at [2,1], 1 at [2,0]. [1,5] vertical: 1 at [3,0], 5 at [3,1]. [6,1] vertical: 1 at [4,0], 6 at [4,1]. Sum-12 [4,1]/[4,2] needs 6 at [4,2] — use [6,3] horizontal (6,3). Equals group 3s: [3,3] vertical (3 at [3,4], 3 at [4,4]); [3,4] horizontal (3 at [2,5], 4 at [1,5]). [2,5] horizontal: 2 at [2,6], 5 at [1,6] (sum-9 4+5). [4,6] horizontal: 4 at [4,5], 6 at [4,6] (sum-10). Finally [4,2] horizontal: 4 at [0,0], 2 at [0,1] (sum-2). All fits.

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Jun 3, 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 3, 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 3, 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: Lock the double-six
The equals region at [1,0]–[2,0] forces both cells to share the same pip. The only available double is [6,6]. Place it vertically: 6 at [1,0], 6 at [2,0].
2
Step 2: Zero in on the bottom row
The less-than-1 region at [3,1] only accepts a 0. Domino [0,3] is the sole 0-bearer; place it vertically: 0 at [3,1], 3 at [3,2].
3
Step 3: Equal threes and a five
The equals region [3,2]–[3,3] forces 3 at [3,3]. Use [3,5] vertically: 3 at [3,3], 5 at [2,3]. This also satisfies the lower half of sum-10 at [1,3]–[2,3].
4
Step 4: Finish the top row
Sum-10 now needs 5 at [1,3]; use [1,5] (5 at [1,3], 1 at [0,3]). The sum-4 single [1,2] takes 4 from [4,2] (2 at [0,2]). Sum-4 [0,1]–[0,2] gets the 2, so [0,1]=2, and [0,0]=1 from [1,2] placed horizontally. Puzzle complete.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1
Step 1: Top-left six
Sum-10 at [0,0]–[0,1] needs a 6. Only [6,0] can supply a 6 here; place it with 6 at [0,0] and 0 at [1,0].
2
Step 2: Left edge sum-2
The sum-2 region covers [1,0] (now 0) and [2,0]; [2,0] must be 2. Domino [5,2] fits perfectly: 2 at [2,0], 5 at [2,1].
3
Step 3: Centre column 3
Sum-8 at [2,1]–[3,1] has 5; so [3,1]=3. Use [6,3] vertically: 3 at [3,1], 6 at [3,0].
4
Step 4: Top row ones
Top needs [0,1]=4 to finish sum-10, and [0,2]/[0,3] sum 2. Place [1,4]: 4 at [0,1], 1 at [0,2]. Place [1,3]: 1 at [0,3], 3 at [0,4].
5
Step 5: Right side wrap-up
Equals [0,4]/[1,4] forces [1,4]=3 via [3,5] (5 at [2,4]). Sum-8 [2,3]/[2,4] gets [2,3]=3 from [0,3] (0 at [3,3]). Sum-8 [3,2]/[4,2] needs 4+4: fill with [4,4] vertically.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1
Step 1: Zeros on the right
The less-than-2 region at [0,5]–[0,6] must be zeros. Place the double [0,0] horizontally: 0 and 0.
2
Step 2: Triple six up top
Sum-18 at [0,2]–[0,4] demands three sixes. Use [6,6] at [0,3]–[0,4]. Cell [0,2] also needs 6 — take [5,6] vertically: 6 at [0,2], 5 at [1,2]. Now the five-cell equals region (including [1,1],[1,2],[2,2],[3,1],[3,2]) all become 5.
3
Step 3: Single 4 and equals 5
The solo sum-4 at [1,0] must be 4. Cover [1,0] and [1,1] with [4,5] horizontally: 4 at [1,0], 5 at [1,1].
4
Step 4: Sum-2 and the column of ones
Solo sum-2 at [2,1] forces 2. Domino [2,1] goes horizontal: 2 at [2,1], 1 at [2,0]. Sum-3 column [2,0]/[3,0]/[4,0] now has 1 at [2,0]; the other two must be 1 each. Place [1,5] vertical (1 at [3,0], 5 at [3,1]) and [6,1] vertical (1 at [4,0], 6 at [4,1]).
5
Step 5: Six at bottom and equals 3 group
Sum-12 [4,1]/[4,2] has 6 so [4,2]=6. Use [6,3] horizontal: 6 at [4,2], 3 at [4,3] — this starts the second equals block (3s). Place [3,3] vertical: 3 at [3,4], 3 at [4,4]. [3,4] horizontal: 3 at [2,5], 4 at [1,5].
6
Step 6: Final corners
Sum-9 [1,5]/[1,6] now has 4, so [1,6]=5 from [2,5] horizontal (2 at [2,6], 5 at [1,6]). Sum-10 [4,5]/[4,6] needs 4+6: use [4,6] horizontal. Top left: [0,1] sum-2 needs 2, so [4,2] horizontal (4 at [0,0], 2 at [0,1]) completes everything.

💡 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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