NYT Pips Hints & Answers for May 17, 2026

May 17, 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

The easy puzzle, by Ian Livengood, immediately puts you at ease. You'll spot a tiny white cell isolated at the bottom-left marked “sum 4” — that’s the key. Because the cell stands alone, its value is locked, and the domino that covers it joins a sprawling equals region. Once the grid’s four identical cells match, the greater-5 and sum-9 regions snap into place with very little guesswork.

Rodolfo Kurchan’s medium grid has an irregular shape, but the solving path feels streamlined. Your eye lands on a bright greater-5 spot along the bottom row, which forces a 6 in a hurry. Its neighbor wears a less-2 badge, so the domino bridging them is unique. From there, a cascade of equals pairs and sum constraints pours upward through the long column, making this NYT Pips puzzle a satisfying midweek workout.

Kurchan’s hard entry is a dense 26-cell field with a dramatic triple-equals block and an unusual “unequal” region that insists all its five cells are distinct. The triple-equals region in the upper center forces three 6s using two different dominoes, pulling you into a web of sum constraints that wrap around it. As you place 6s, the unequal zone on the right edge starts to demand the remaining digits, and a solo sum-6 cell at the top drives the left side toward its twin equals cluster. Every deduction interlocks, making the solve feel like dismantling a finely tuned machine.

💡 Progressive Hints

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

💡 Spot the solo
Look for a region that contains only one cell and demands a specific total. That tiny zone will hand you a pip value without any partner debate.
💡 The bottom-left corner holds the key
The cell at row 2, column 0 is a sum-4 region by itself. The value you pencil in there will spread into four other cells through an equals region sharing that column.
💡 Full solution
Domino [4,4] covers [2,0] and [2,1] horizontally, setting both to 4. The equals region forces [0,2], [1,1], [1,2] to 4 as well. A greater-5 at [0,1] requires a 6, so domino [4,6] goes vertically at [1,1]/[0,1] with 6 at the top. The sum-9 pair [0,3]/[0,4] gets domino [5,4] (5 on [0,3], 4 on [0,2]) and domino [4,2] (2 on [1,4], 4 on [0,4]). Domino [3,4] finishes at [1,3]/[1,2] with 3 and 4.
💡 Greater than five
One cell on the bottom row has a 'greater 5' restriction, which leaves only one possible pip. Find it, and its domino partner will be forced by a neighboring less-than-2 cell.
💡 Pin down the bottom row
Focus on the cell at row 3, column 2. Once you place the 6 there, the adjacent cell at [3,3] must be less than 2, so the domino [0,6] snaps in. Then the greater-4 cell at [3,1] also calls for a 6, consuming the [6,2] domino.
💡 Full solution
Domino [0,6] goes at [3,3]/[3,2] (0 & 6). [6,2] covers [3,1]/[3,0] (6 & 2). [2,2] is less-2 → 1, so [5,1] on [1,2]/[2,2] (5 & 1). Equals region gives [0,2]=5, so [2,5] at [0,3]/[0,2] (2 & 5) with [0,3]=2. Equals pair forces [1,3]=2; [2,4] at [1,3]/[2,3] (2 & 4) sets [2,3]=4. Sum-10 at [2,3]/[2,4] needs 6 → [6,1] at [2,4]/[3,4] (6 & 1) gives [3,4]=1. Sum-2 at [3,4]/[3,5] forces [3,5]=1; [3,1] at [2,5]/[3,5] (3 & 1) completes.
💡 Look for zones that demand sameness
The puzzle features a triple-equals region where three cells share an identical value, and a five-cell 'unequal' region where all values must be different. These opposing forces will anchor your solve.
💡 A block of 6s
The three equals cells sit at [1,3], [2,3], and [2,4]. With the available dominoes, the only way to give them all the same pip is to use the [6,6] domino — but that covers only two cells. The third must borrow a 6 from another domino, which tightly constrains the rest.
💡 Spread the 6s, then tackle the left
Once you've placed the [6,6] and [5,6] dominoes to satisfy the triple-equals, the sum-9 region at [3,3]/[3,4] gives you a 4 and a 0 via the [4,0] domino. Meanwhile, a lone sum-6 cell at [0,2] forces a 6 that links a 2 into the left-side equals cluster.
💡 The unequal chain on the right
With the central 6s in place, the five-cell unequal region running down the right edge must hold 0,1,2,3,6 (in some order). The [6,0], [3,2], and [1,6] dominoes will fit there neatly, leaving the last sum-10 pair at bottom right to close the grid.
💡 Complete solution
[6,6] at [1,3]/[2,3]; [5,6] at [3,4]/[2,4] (6 on [2,4],5 on [3,4]); [4,0] at [3,3]/[4,3] (4&0); [1,4] at [3,0]/[2,0] (1&4); [2,6] at [1,2]/[0,2] (2&6); [4,2] at [2,1]/[1,1] (4&2) with [2,1]=4; [5,2] at [3,2]/[2,2] (5&2), sum-10 with [3,1]=5 from [0,5] at [4,1]/[3,1] (0&5); [6,0] at [4,7]/[3,7] (6&0); [3,2] at [2,7]/[1,7] (3&2); [1,6] at [2,8]/[3,8] (1&6); [5,5] at [2,6]/[3,6]; [4,6] at [5,2]/[4,2] (4&6).

🎨 Pips Solver

May 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

Pips hint for May 17, 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 May 17, 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 solo sum-4 lock
The cell at [2,0] is a sum-4 region all by itself; it must be exactly 4. The only possible placement is the [4,4] domino lying horizontally to also cover [2,1], making both cells 4.
2
Step 2: The equals region cascades
Because [2,1] is now 4, the equals region — which includes [2,1], [0,2], [1,1], and [1,2] — forces all those cells to be 4. The [0,2] and [1,2] cells are currently unplaced, but they must be 4.
3
Step 3: Greater-5 draws a 6
The single-cell greater-5 at [0,1] can only be 6. The only remaining domino with a 6 is [4,6]; placing it vertically with the 6 on [0,1] and the 4 on [1,1] satisfies both the greater-5 and the equals region.
4
Step 4: Sum-9 and the final dominoes
The sum-9 region comprises [0,3] and [0,4]. With [0,2] already 4, the domino covering [0,3] and [0,2] must be [5,4] (5 on [0,3], 4 on [0,2]). Then [0,4] needs a 4 to reach 9, so the last domino [4,2] lands at [0,4] (4) and [1,4] (2). The leftover [3,4] domino fills [1,3] (3) and [1,2] (4), completing the equals zone.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1
Step 1: The greater-5 and less-2 pair
At the bottom row, [3,2] is greater-5 → 6, and its neighbor [3,3] is less than 2 → 0 or 1. The domino [0,6] uniquely covers both, giving [3,2]=6 and [3,3]=0.
2
Step 2: Adjacent greater-4
[3,1] is greater-than-4, so it must be 5 or 6. Since 6 is already used on the right, we can still use another 6 from domino [6,2]. Placing it at [3,1]/[3,0] sets [3,1]=6 and [3,0]=2 (empty, no conflict).
3
Step 3: The left less-2 trigger
[2,2] is less than 2, so 0 or 1. 0 is already placed, leaving 1. The domino [5,1] goes at [1,2]/[2,2] with 5 and 1, making [2,2]=1 and [1,2]=5.
4
Step 4: Equals climb upward
The equals region at [0,2]/[1,2] forces [0,2]=5. Domino [2,5] covers [0,3]/[0,2] with 2 and 5, so [0,3]=2. The other equals pair [0,3]/[1,3] then forces [1,3]=2, and domino [2,4] placed there gives [1,3]=2 and [2,3]=4.
5
Step 5: Sum-10 and sum-2 finish
The sum-10 region at [2,3]/[2,4] has [2,3]=4, so [2,4] must be 6. Domino [6,1] covers [2,4]/[3,4] with 6 and 1, making [3,4]=1. Finally, the sum-2 region [3,4]/[3,5] forces [3,5]=1, so domino [3,1] completes [2,5]/[3,5] with 3 and 1.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1
Step 1: Triple-equals block
The region [1,3], [2,3], [2,4] must all have the same pip. With domino [6,6] available, you can place it at [1,3]/[2,3] to give both 6. The third cell [2,4] also needs a 6; the only other domino with a 6 that can reach is [5,6]. Place that at [3,4]/[2,4] with 6 on [2,4] and 5 on [3,4].
2
Step 2: Sum-9 resolves to a 4 and 0
With [3,4]=5, the sum-9 pair [3,3]/[3,4] demands [3,3]=4. Domino [4,0] fits perfectly at [3,3]/[4,3], giving [3,3]=4 and [4,3]=0 — which also satisfies the sum-0 region at [4,3].
3
Step 3: Bottom-left sum-5
The sum-5 region [2,0]/[3,0] needs total 5. The only domino that adds to 5 with available pips is [1,4]. Placed vertically, [3,0]=1 and [2,0]=4.
4
Step 4: Top-left sum-6 and the equals cluster
Cell [0,2] is a single sum-6, so it gets a 6. Domino [2,6] at [1,2]/[0,2] places 2 on [1,2] and 6 on [0,2]. The equals region [1,1]/[1,2]/[2,2] then forces all to 2. Domino [4,2] goes to [2,1]/[1,1] (4 on [2,1] for the sum-4 single cell, 2 on [1,1]). Then [2,2] needs 2, so domino [5,2] at [3,2]/[2,2] gives [3,2]=5 and [2,2]=2. The sum-10 region [3,1]/[3,2] now has [3,2]=5, so [3,1] must be 5; domino [0,5] covers [4,1]/[3,1] with 0 and 5, leaving [4,1]=0 (empty).
5
Step 5: The unequal right edge
The five-cell unequal region [1,7]/[2,7]/[2,8]/[3,7]/[4,7] requires distinct values. Available dominoes [6,0], [3,2], and [1,6] cover them: [6,0] at [4,7]/[3,7] (6&0); [3,2] at [2,7]/[1,7] (3&2); [1,6] at [2,8]/[3,8] (1&6). All five constrained cells become 6,0,3,2,1 — all distinct.
6
Step 6: Final sum-10 pair
The sum-10 region [4,2]/[5,2] is filled by domino [4,6] placed at [5,2]/[4,2] with 4 and 6. That completes the grid.

💡 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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