NYT Pips Hint, Answer & Solution for November 20, 2025

Nov 20, 2025

🚨 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

On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Pips NYT puzzle lineup reads less like a daily challenge and more like a curated gallery of logical craftsmanship.

Under the editorial guidance of Ian Livengood, today’s constructors—Ian Livengood for Easy #319 and Medium #320, and Rodolfo Kurchan for Hard #321—shape a set of grids that feel intentionally composed, almost architectural in their precision.

Each puzzle reveals careful design choices: compact sum regions that encourage controlled deduction, elegant equals-group symmetry, and well-structured constraints that unfold only when the solver engages with the logic step by step.

These elements create a smooth progression in challenge level, giving the day’s puzzles a rhythm—from clean, approachable layouts to multi-layered reasoning that rewards pattern recognition and attention to detail.

For solvers who treat puzzles as crafted works of logic—and who enjoy analyzing each Pips Hint to uncover deeper structure—November 20 offers a showcase of editorial finesse and constructor creativity.

It’s a day where deduction feels deliberate, structure feels intentional, and each completed grid feels like unveiling a small logic masterpiece.

Written by Emma

Puzzle Analyst – Sophia

💡 Progressive Hints

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

💡 Hint #1 - Red Equal

The domino halves in this region must be 0.

💡 Hint #1 - Observe

Dominoes Include: [6-5], [6-2], [5-5], [5-2], [4-4], [3-0], [2-0]. Only one domino with 3 pips (3-0). Only 2 domino halves that contain 0 pips. The domino halves in the Not Equal region must be 0+2+3+4+5+6.

💡 Hint #1 - Observe

Dominoes Include: [6-5], [6-4], [6-3], [6-2], [6-1], [5-5], [5-2], [4-4], [4-0], [3-2], [2-1], [1-1]. Only one domino with 0 pips (4-0). The domino halves in the Blue Number (3) region must be 0+1+1+1; Therefore, the domino halves in the Light Blue Equal region must be 4.

🎨 Pips Solver

Nov 20, 2025

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

Pips hint for November 20, 2025 – 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 November 20, 2025 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: Check Your Five Dominoes

Dominoes: 5-5, 5-0, 3-1, 2-2, 0-0. Quick observation: you have three dominoes with 0-pips (5-0 and both sides of 0-0). The Pink Equal region needs matching halves—these 0s are your answer. Pips Hint: count matching numbers first to spot equal regions instantly.

2

Step 2: Pink Equal Region

This region needs all matching domino halves. You have exactly three 0-pips available. Place 5-0 horizontally and 0-0 vertically, both showing blanks in the region. The 5 extends toward other areas. Pips Hint: when equal regions perfectly match your available pips, place them with confidence.

3

Step 3: Orange Number 3 Region

This region needs pips totaling 3. Remaining dominoes: 5-5, 3-1, 2-2. Testing: 2+1=3 works perfectly. Place 2-2 vertically and 3-1 vertically, with the 2 and 1 sides contributing to this region. The other sides extend elsewhere. Pips Hint: small sum targets like 3 have fewer valid combinations—solve them early.

4

Step 4: Teal Less Than 8 Region

Last domino: 5-5. This region needs all pips less than 8. Place 5-5 horizontally. Since 2+5<8, the constraint is satisfied. Done! Pips Hint: 'less than' constraints are flexible—usually solved last with whatever remains.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level

1

Step 1: Identify Your Unique Resources

Dominoes: 6-5, 6-2, 5-5, 5-2, 4-4, 3-0, 2-0. Key observations: only one domino contains 3-pips (3-0), and only 2 domino halves have 0-pips total. These scarcities will drive your solving strategy. Pips Hint: unique pip values are placement anchors—know where they must go before starting.

2

Step 2: Teal Not Equal Region (The Diversity Challenge)

This large region demands all different pip values: 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 must all appear exactly once. Here's the twist—there's no single correct answer! Multiple valid arrangements exist. Example solution: place 4-4 vertically, 6-5 horizontally, 6-2 horizontally, 3-0 horizontally, 5-2 horizontally, and 2-0 horizontally, ensuring all six different values show in the region. Pips Hint: not-equal regions with many cells allow creative freedom—focus on using your unique 3-pip and limited 0-pips strategically.

3

Step 3: Purple Equal Region

After satisfying the not-equal constraint, one domino remains: 5-5. Place it horizontally in the Purple Equal region. Both sides automatically match—perfect! Pips Hint: doubles are ideal finishers for equal regions since they require no orientation juggling.

🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level

1

Step 1: Spot the Unique 0-Pip

Dominoes: 6-5, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, 5-5, 5-2, 4-4, 4-0, 3-2, 2-1, 1-1. Critical observation: only one domino contains 0-pips (4-0). This single blank is your constraint anchor and will dictate early placements. Pips Hint: in hard puzzles with 12+ dominoes, unique pip values are golden—identify them immediately.

2

Step 2: Navy Number 3 Region (Use the 0-Pip)

This region needs exactly 3 pips total. From Step 1, you must use the 4-0 domino's 0-side here. To reach 3, you need 0+1+1+1=3. Place 4-0 horizontally (0 contributes), 1-1 vertically (both 1s contribute), and 6-1 vertically (1 contributes). Pips Hint: small sum targets like 3 force specific combinations—the unique 0-pip makes this region solvable first.

3

Step 3: Teal Equal Region (The 4s)

From Step 2, the 4-side of 4-0 borders this region. The Teal Equal needs matching halves. Place 6-4 horizontally and 4-4 vertically, all showing 4s. The 6 from 6-4 extends toward the Purple Number 18 region. Pips Hint: adjacent regions cascade—solving one unlocks the next through shared domino borders.

4

Step 4: Olive Equal Region (The 2s)

This large equal region needs four matching domino halves. Checking remaining dominoes with 2-pips: 3-2, 6-2, 5-2, 2-1. Perfect—exactly four 2-pips available! Place 3-2 vertically, 6-2 horizontally, 5-2 vertically, and 2-1 vertically, all showing their 2-sides in the region. Pips Hint: when equal regions perfectly match your available pip count, commit confidently.

5

Step 5: Pink Equal Region (The 5s)

Remaining dominoes: 6-5, 6-3, 5-5. The Pink Equal needs matching halves. You have two dominoes with 5-pips: 6-5 and 5-5. Place both horizontally, showing their 5-sides. The 6 from 6-5 will contribute to the Yellow Equal region. Pips Hint: doubles like 5-5 are equal region gifts—both sides match automatically.

6

Step 6: Purple Number 18 Region (The Finale)

Last domino: 6-3. This region needs 18 pips total. From previous steps, the 6s from 6-4 and 6-1 already contribute 6+6=12. Place 6-3 horizontally, adding 6+6+6=18. Place 6-3 horizontally to complete. Pips Hint: large sum regions (18) aggregate contributions from multiple neighboring dominoes—verify the total carefully.

🎥 🧩 Today’s Pips NYT Domino Trick – November 20, 2025 | One Move to Grab!

Unlock a smart move in today’s Pips NYT puzzle (November 20, 2025) with this quick, punchy highlight!

💡 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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