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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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🎲 Today's Puzzle Overview
Easy, by Ian Livengood, is a gentle on-ramp built around a single-cell sum-4 that locks a 4 immediately, then cascades through a sum-2 pair and a four-cell equals chain to fill the grid. You’ll feel like a Pips master in under a minute — no forks, just clean forced placements.
Medium, by Rodolfo Kurchan, tightens the screws with a sum-0 corner cell that leaves only one way out, then exploits a chain of sum-3 regions to propagate zeros and threes. The bottleneck is spotting that sum-0 domino early; once it clicks, the puzzle unwinds neatly.
Hard, also by Kurchan, is today’s beast: a huge five-cell equals block must all be the same digit, while a greater-10 region demands two sixes and adjacent sum-10 and sum-7 regions add pressure. This NYT Pips hard demands you hold multiple constraints in your mind at once — a satisfying wits-of-the-solver test.
💡 Progressive Hints
Try these hints one at a time. Each hint becomes more specific to help you solve it yourself!
💡 Hint 1: Lone Wolf
Keep an eye out for a cell that has to be a specific number all by itself, with no other cells in its region to share the burden.
💡 Hint 2: The Power of Two
The sum-4 singleton at [1,1] must be a 4. This forces the domino covering it to place a 4 there and a 1 to its right, because the pair [1,2] and [1,3] must sum to 2 — meaning both must be 1.
💡 Hint 3: Full Solution
Place domino [1,4] horizontally with 4 on [1,1] and 1 on [1,2]. The equals region (cells [1,0],[2,0],[3,0],[3,1]) all become 6: use [4,6] vertical on [0,0]=4,[1,0]=6; then [6,6] vertical on [2,0],[3,0]; [6,1] horizontal on [3,1]=6,[3,2]=1. The equals pair [3,3],[4,3] get [5,5] both 5. Finally [3,1] covers [2,3]=3,[1,3]=1.
💡 Hint 1: Something from Nothing
A region that forces a total of zero is a dead giveaway — there’s only one digit that can fill it, and it will pin a domino in place.
💡 Hint 2: Zero Footprint
The sum-0 cell at [0,2] must be 0, and its sole neighbor is [1,2] below it. That forces the domino [3,0] to stand vertically with 0 on top and 3 below. The sum-3 region that includes [1,2] and [2,2] then forces [2,2] to be 0, which forces a second zero-bearing domino at [2,2]-[2,3].
💡 Hint 3: Full Solution
Place [3,0] vertical on [0,2]=0,[1,2]=3. Then [1,0] horizontal on [2,2]=0,[2,3]=1. Next, [3,3] horizontal on [1,0]=3,[1,1]=3. [2,4] horizontal on [2,4]=2,[3,4]=4. [5,6] horizontal on [1,3]=5,[1,4]=6. [1,2] covers [4,2]=1,[4,1]=2. [1,4] covers [4,3]=1,[4,4]=4.
💡 Hint 1: The Massive Match
Spot an enormous region where every cell must show the exact same pip. Combined with a very demanding greater-than constraint, you’ll need to pick the right common value.
💡 Hint 2: Ones, Ones Everywhere
The five-cell equals block at [2,1],[2,2],[3,1],[4,0],[4,1] has to be all 1s. Connect [2,1] upward to [1,1] using a domino that gives 1 and something else; the sum-2 region on [0,1] and [1,1] will force [1,1] to be 2 and [0,1] to be 0.
💡 Hint 3: Four at the Top
With [0,1]=0, the domino [4,0] (4 and 0) must cover [0,0] and [0,1], giving [0,0]=4 and forcing the equals pair [0,0] and [1,0] to both be 4.
💡 Hint 4: Sixes and the Greater-Than
The greater-10 region (cells [2,0] and [3,0]) now demands both be 6. Place [6,4] vertically to set [2,0]=6 and [1,0]=4; then place [1,6] vertically to put 6 on [3,0] and a 1 on [4,0].
💡 Hint 5: Full Solution
Complete the equals block: double-1 domino [1,1] on [3,1] and [4,1]; [4,1] domino on [2,2]=1,[3,2]=4; [0,5] on [2,3]=0,[3,3]=5. Then sum-10s: [5,5] on [0,4],[0,5]; [5,2] on [3,4]=5,[3,5]=2; [5,1] on [2,4]=5,[1,4]=1. Sum-7: [2,6] on [2,5]=2,[1,5]=6. Finally [3,0] on [5,1]=3,[5,0]=0.
🎨 Pips Solver
May 7, 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: Sum-4 Solo
The single-cell sum-4 region at [1,1] must contain a 4. The only dominos with a 4 are [1,4] and [4,6]. Because [1,1] needs to pair with a neighbor, and its right neighbor [1,2] will later be forced to 1 by the sum-2 region, the domino [1,4] is the only natural fit — it will place 4 on [1,1] and 1 on [1,2].
2
Step 2: The 1+1 Pair
The region [1,2] and [1,3] must sum to 2. With [1,2] already receiving a 1 from the previous step, [1,3] must also be 1. This fully determines the domino [1,4]'s placement and locks in both values.
3
Step 3: All-Equals 6 Cascade
The equals region containing [1,0],[2,0],[3,0],[3,1] forces all four cells to be identical. The only high pip that can propagate through so many cells under the remaining dominoes is 6. Domino [4,6] is placed vertically on [0,0] (4) and [1,0] (6), setting [1,0] to 6. Then [6,6] covers [2,0] and [3,0] with 6s, and [6,1] covers [3,1] (6) and [3,2] (1, satisfying the less-2 region).
4
Step 4: Cleanup: Double-5 and the Final Domino
The second equals region ([3,3], [4,3]) requires matching pips; the only unused double is [5,5], giving both cells a 5. The last domino [3,1] finishes the grid by placing 3 on the empty [2,3] and the needed 1 on [1,3].
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level
1
Step 1: Zero Cornerstone
The sum-0 region at [0,2] forces that cell to be 0. Its only adjacent cell is [1,2] below, so a vertical domino must link them. The domino [3,0] fits perfectly, placing 0 on [0,2] and 3 on [1,2].
2
Step 2: Propagating Zeros
Now [1,2]=3 is part of a sum-3 region with [2,2], so [2,2] must be 0. The only remaining domino with a 0 is [1,0]; place it horizontally with 0 on [2,2] and 1 on [2,3]. This sets [2,3]=1, and the sum-3 region [2,3]+[2,4] forces [2,4]=2.
3
Step 3: Double Threes
The empty cell [1,0] and the sum-3 single [1,1] both need to be 3. The double-3 domino [3,3] solves both elegantly; place it horizontally on [1,0]=3 and [1,1]=3.
4
Step 4: Right-Side Equations
With [2,4]=2, the adjacent [3,4] must be covered by a domino that includes a 2 or a partner. The domino [2,4] (2 and 4) fits horizontally with 2 on [2,4] and 4 on [3,4]. Then the equals region [3,4] and [4,4] demands [4,4] also be 4, later supplied by the last domino.
5
Step 5: Bottom Row and Finishing
The less-3 cell [4,1] needs a value below 3; the domino [1,2] places 1 on [4,2] and 2 on [4,1]. The less-3 pair [4,2] and [4,3] gets [4,3]=1 from domino [1,4], which also puts a 4 on [4,4] to satisfy the equals. Finally, the empty cells [1,3] and [1,4] receive the [5,6] domino with 5 and 6.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level
1
Step 1: The All-1 Foundation
The five-cell equals region ([2,1],[2,2],[3,1],[4,0],[4,1]) forces every cell in it to display the same pip. Scanning the available constraints, only 1 can appear across so many cells without breaking the sum-2 and greater-10 limits that flank this block. Thus all five cells must be 1.
2
Step 2: Consequences for the Sum-2
The cell [2,1]=1 needs a partner; it pairs naturally upward with [1,1] because [1,1] sits in a sum-2 region with [0,1]. Domino [1,2] (1 and 2) is placed with 1 on [2,1] and 2 on [1,1]. To reach the sum of 2, [0,1] must then be 0.
3
Step 3: Top-Left Equals Unlock
With [0,1]=0, the cell must be covered with a domino containing a 0. The domino [4,0] (4 and 0) is placed horizontally covering [0,0] and [0,1], giving [0,0]=4 and [0,1]=0. The equals region on [0,0] and [1,0] then forces [1,0]=4.
4
Step 4: Greater-10 Forces Sixes
The greater-10 region ([2,0] and [3,0]) demands a sum exceeding 10, which, together with [1,0]=4, dictates that both [2,0] and [3,0] get 6. Domino [6,4] is placed vertically with 6 on [2,0] and 4 on [1,0], reaffirming [1,0]=4. Then domino [1,6] runs vertically to place 6 on [3,0] and the needed 1 on [4,0].
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Step 5: Filling the Equals Block
The equals block still needs [3,1] and [4,1] to be 1; the double-1 domino [1,1] covers both perfectly. Next, [2,2]=1 pairs with [3,2] via domino [4,1], putting 1 on [2,2] and 4 on [3,2]. A sum-9 region links [3,2] and [3,3], so [3,3] becomes 5. The empty [2,3] receives a 0 from the [0,5] domino paired with [3,3]=5.
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Step 6: Regions Sweep
The sum-10 pair [0,4] and [0,5] gets [5,5] both 5. Another sum-10 pair [2,4] and [3,4] uses [5,2] to place 5 on [3,4] and 2 on [3,5]; [5,1] then puts 5 on [2,4] and 1 on [1,4]. The sum-7 region [1,4]+[1,5] gets 1 and 6 from [1,4]=1 and [2,6] domino with 6 on [1,5] and 2 on [2,5]. Finally, the greater-0 cell [5,1] gets a 3 from the [3,0] domino, which also fills [5,0] with 0.
💡 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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