🚨 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
Ian Livengood is pulling double duty on March 15 — he's editor and constructor for both the easy and medium puzzles, which gives them a matching feel. Easy is a tidy five-domino board where two equals regions do most of the work; the moment you spot where [0|0] belongs, the rest just falls into place. Medium keeps that same rhythm but throws in a less-than cell that, once you track it down, unravels the whole right side in one clean chain.
Hard is a different beast. Rodolfo Kurchan takes the wheel and packs in 15 dominoes alongside almost every constraint type in the game — including a vertical unequal column that's easy to overlook if you're not watching for it. The two sum-to-1 cells are your best entry points: both are pinned to pip = 1 with no wiggle room, so they hand you two free placements right away.
All three puzzles today reward the same habit: start with whatever the board won't let you argue with. The strictest constraints are your friends here — follow them and the rest of the grid opens up on its own.
💡 Progressive Hints
Try these hints one at a time. Each hint becomes more specific to help you solve it yourself!
💡 Hint #1 - Hint 1: Two equals regions run the show
Two equals regions control this puzzle — one across the top, one through the middle. Before you place anything, figure out which dominoes fit each one. Once you've got those locked down, the rest of the board basically solves itself.
💡 Hint #2 - Hint 2: Start with the double-blank
The [0|0] domino has an obvious home in the top equals region — both sides are blank, so two cells are instantly satisfied with zero guesswork. Once it's in, the domino that shares that region has to show a 0-pip face too, which tells you exactly what goes next.
💡 Hint #3 - Full answer
① [0|0] top row, cols 1–2 (both 0, equals ✓). ② [0|3] at col 3 row 0 → row 1 col 3: 0-pip completes the top equals, 3-pip hangs below. ③ [5|4] middle row cols 2–1: 5-pip at col 2 to match the lower equals. ④ [5|5] middle row cols 3–4: both 5s, fills out the lower equals. ⑤ [3|6] bottom cols 0–1: 6-pip at col 1 — 4+6=10 ✓.
💡 Hint #1 - Hint 1: One cell has almost no options
There's a less-than constraint in this puzzle that's so tight only one pip value fits. Finding that cell gives you a free placement with no decisions to make, and from there a chain reaction does the rest of the work.
💡 Hint #2 - Hint 2: It has to be blank
The constraint is less-than-1, so the pip has to be 0 — a blank face. Only [0|2] has a blank side, so that placement is completely forced. Its 2-pip end drops into an equals region, which then cascades all the way across to the greater-than zone on the right.
💡 Hint #3 - Full answer
① [0|2] row 1 col 3 → row 2 col 3: blank satisfies less-than-1, 2-pip seeds the equals. ② [2|5] row 2 cols 4–5: 2-pip continues equals, 5-pip enters greater-than. ③ [6|3] row 2 col 6 → row 1 col 6: 5+6=11>10 ✓, 3-pip locks upper equals. ④ [1|3] row 0 col 5 → row 1 col 5: 3-pip finishes upper equals, 1-pip sits free on top. ⑤ [5|1] row 0 col 1 → row 1 col 1: 1-pip in sum-2. ⑥ [2|1] row 2 col 0 → row 1 col 0: 1-pip closes sum-2 (1+1=2 ✓), 2-pip opens sum-5. ⑦ [4|3] row 2 cols 2–1: 3-pip closes sum-5 (2+3=5 ✓), 4-pip sits free.
💡 Hint #1 - Hint 1: Find the cells that can only hold one value
Look for the most locked-down constraints first — specifically any region where a cell is pinned to exactly one pip value. This puzzle has two of them, and each one hands you a free placement with no thinking required.
💡 Hint #2 - Hint 2: Three doubles have obvious homes
Both sum-to-1 cells need pip = 1: [6|1] goes to the right-edge one, [1|1] handles the one near the bottom. There's also a two-cell region where every pip has to be less than 2 — [0|0] is the obvious answer. Get these three placed and you've got a solid foothold.
💡 Hint #3 - Hint 3: The remaining doubles sort themselves out
[2|2] slots into the two-cell equals region with no fuss. [6|6] is the only domino that hits 12 by itself, so it owns the sum-12 region. [5|5] is the only one that hits 10, so it goes in the sum-10 region. Three placements, zero decisions.
💡 Hint #4 - Hint 4: Three equal cells, two dominoes — one answer
The three-cell equals region needs three matching pip values across two dominoes. [3|3] covers two of those cells, and the 3-pip end of [3|5] takes care of the third. Once you see it, both pieces have exactly one place to go.
💡 Hint #5 - Full answer
① [6|1] rows 3–2 col 8: 1-pip at [2,8] (sum=1 ✓). ② [1|1] row 6 cols 5–6: sum=1 at [6,6] ✓, sets [6,5]=1 in the unequal column. ③ [0|0] row 5 cols 6–7: both 0 < 2 ✓. ④ [6|6] rows 2–3 col 3: 6+6=12 ✓. ⑤ [5|5] row 1 cols 0–1: 5+5=10 ✓. ⑥ [2|2] row 4 cols 3–4: equals ✓. ⑦ [3|3] row 4 cols 5–6: three-cell equals, pip=3. ⑧ [3|5] row 4 cols 7–8: 3-pip finishes equals ✓, 5>2 ✓. ⑨ [4|3] rows 1–0 col 2: 4-pip in equals, 3>2 ✓. ⑩ [2|4] rows 0–1 col 3: pip=2 (sum=2 ✓), 4-pip in equals=4. ⑪ [0|4] rows 3–2 col 2: 0<2 ✓, 4-pip completes equals. ⑫ [4|6] row 3 cols 4–5: pip=4 (sum=4 ✓), 6+5=11 ✓. ⑬ [5|6] row 3 cols 6–7: 5 closes sum-11 ✓, 6+6=12 ✓. ⑭ [2|0] row 5 cols 5–4: 2-pip in unequal (≠1 ✓), 0-pip free. ⑮ [0|6] row 7 cols 5–4: 0-pip (≠1,≠2 ✓), 6>2 ✓.
🎨 Pips Solver
Mar 15, 2026
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
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: Drop [0|0] into the top equals region
Three cells across the top all need the same pip. [0|0] is the obvious pick — both sides are blank, two cells are instantly satisfied. Nothing else even comes close to fitting there.
2
Step 2: The third top cell has to be blank too
The third cell in that equals region is [0,3], which also needs pip = 0. [0|3] is the only domino left with a blank side, so it goes there — 0-pip in [0,3], 3-pip hanging down to [1,3] below, unconstrained.
3
Step 3: Double-five fills the middle equals
[5|5] slides into the lower equals region at cols 3–4 in the middle row. Both pips are 5, two cells done. Whatever's touching that region from the left needs to show a 5-pip face.
4
Step 4: Five-four bridges the two regions
[5|4] is the only piece left for [2,2] and [2,1]. The 5-pip end has to go at [2,2] to match the equals region. The 4-pip end settles into the sum-10 region at [2,1].
5
Step 5: Six closes the sum
Sum-10 is [2,1]+[3,1]. You know [2,1]=4, so [3,1] has to be 6. [3|6] is the last domino — 6-pip at col 1, 3-pip at col 0. 4+6=10 ✓. Done.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level
1
Step 1: The less-than cell forces your first move
Cell [1,3] has less-than-1 on it, which means pip = 0, no exceptions. [0|2] is the only domino with a blank face, so it goes here — blank at [1,3], 2-pip drops to [2,3] and kicks off the lower equals region.
2
Step 2: Equals pulls you into the greater-than zone
The lower equals region at [2,3]–[2,4] is pinned to pip = 2 now. So [2,4] = 2 as well. [2|5] fits cleanly: 2-pip at [2,4] ✓, 5-pip pushes into the greater-than zone at [2,5].
3
Step 3: Greater-than-10 needs at least 11
[2,5]+[2,6] has to top 10. With [2,5]=5, you need [2,6] ≥ 6 — so it's 6. [6|3] goes at [2,6]–[1,6]: 6 there (5+6=11 ✓), and 3-pip at [1,6] locks the upper equals to 3.
4
Step 4: Upper equals closes with a 3
Both cells in the upper equals region [1,5]–[1,6] need to be 3. [1,6]=3 is already set. [1|3] at [0,5]–[1,5] puts 3-pip at [1,5] ✓. The 1-pip end just sits on top with no constraint.
5
Step 5: Sum-2 takes a 1-pip
Sum-2 covers [1,0]+[1,1]. [5|1] at [0,1]–[1,1] drops 1-pip into [1,1]. That means [1,0] also needs to be 1.
6
Step 6: One domino bridges two sums
[2|1] at [2,0]–[1,0]: 1-pip at [1,0] wraps up sum-2 (1+1=2 ✓), and 2-pip at [2,0] gets sum-5 started.
7
Step 7: Three plus two, puzzle done
Sum-5 at [2,0]+[2,1] — [2,0]=2, so [2,1]=3. [4|3] at [2,2]–[2,1]: 3-pip finishes sum-5 (2+3=5 ✓), 4-pip sits free at [2,2]. Board cleared.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level
1
Step 1: Right-edge sum-to-1 locks in [6|1]
Cell [2,8] is a solo sum-to-1 — pip has to be 1. [6|1] is the only domino with a 1-pip face, so it goes here vertically: 1-pip at [2,8] ✓, 6-pip at [3,8] waiting for the sum-12 region later.
2
Step 2: Second sum-to-1 calls for [1|1]
Cell [6,6] is also sum-to-1, also pip = 1. [1|1] is the natural fit — pip=1 at [6,6] ✓, the other 1-pip end goes to [6,5] in the unequal column. [6,5]=1 is now locked in.
3
Step 3: Both less-than-2 cells get the double-blank
[5,6] and [5,7] both need pip < 2, so 0 or 1. [0|0] covers both with pip=0 and there's no ambiguity — neither cell has any other viable combination from the remaining dominoes.
4
Step 4: Sum-12 has exactly one answer
[2,3]+[3,3] has to hit 12. Only one domino reaches that total on its own: [6|6]. Drop it in vertically, both cells=6, no decisions needed.
5
Step 5: Double-five handles sum-10
[1,0]+[1,1] has to hit 10. [5|5] is the only domino that sums to exactly 10. Horizontal, both cells=5, done.
6
Step 6: Double-two in the two-cell equals region
[4,3] and [4,4] need the same pip. [2|2] has matching pips by definition — it goes here with no guesswork.
7
Step 7: Three cells, all equal — only one combination works
The equals region at [4,5]–[4,6]–[4,7] needs three matching pip values. [3|3] covers two cells at pip=3. Then [4,7] has to be 3 as well, so whatever domino reaches there needs a 3-pip end — that's [3|5].
8
Step 8: Three-five completes equals and clears greater-than
[3|5] at [4,7]–[4,8]: 3-pip at [4,7] finishes the equals run (3=3=3 ✓), 5-pip at [4,8] clears the greater-than-2 bar (5>2 ✓).
9
Step 9: Four-pip anchors the middle equals chain
The equals region [1,2]–[1,3]–[2,2] needs a common value. [4|3] at [1,2]–[0,2]: 4-pip starts the chain at [1,2], 3-pip at [0,2] clears greater-than-2 (3>2 ✓).
10
Step 10: Solo sum-to-2 at the top pins a 2-pip
Cell [0,3] alone has to sum to 2, so pip=2. [2|4] at [0,3]–[1,3]: 2-pip ✓, and 4-pip at [1,3] joins the equals chain — 4=4=4 confirmed across all three cells.
11
Step 11: Less-than-2 forces a blank, completes equals
Cell [3,2] needs pip < 2. [0|4] at [3,2]–[2,2]: 0-pip at [3,2] ✓, 4-pip at [2,2] closes the equals chain (4=4=4 ✓).
12
Step 12: Solo sum-to-4 points straight to [4|6]
Cell [3,4] alone has to sum to 4, so pip=4. [4|6] at [3,4]–[3,5]: 4-pip ✓, 6-pip at [3,5] means [3,5]+[3,6] must hit 11, so [3,6]=5.
13
Step 13: Five-six ties off two sum regions at once
[5|6] at [3,6]–[3,7]: 5-pip at [3,6] (6+5=11 ✓), 6-pip at [3,7] — and with [3,8]=6 already set from Step 1, 6+6=12 ✓.
14
Step 14: Unequal column gets its second value
The unequal column [5,5]–[6,5]–[7,5] needs three different values. [6,5]=1 is set. [2|0] at [5,5]–[5,4]: 2-pip at [5,5] (≠1 ✓), 0-pip at [5,4] sits free.
15
Step 15: Last domino closes the unequal column and the puzzle
[0|6] at [7,5]–[7,4]: 0-pip at [7,5] (0≠1, 0≠2 ✓ — unequal column done), 6-pip at [7,4] (6>2 ✓). Every constraint satisfied, puzzle solved.
💡 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.
💬 Community Discussion
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