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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
On today's NYT Pips easy grid, Ian Livengood opens with a gift: the purple less-than-4 square in the top-left corner and the blue greater-than-4 square in the bottom-right are single cells, so they announce their own limits before you place a thing. The pivot is the pink equals block running down the left side — four cells that all have to agree, and in the whole tray only one domino carries two matching halves. Settle that block and the rest of the board unspools in seconds, which is exactly the point of an easy Pips day.
Rodolfo Kurchan's medium board starts to breathe: three of the nine regions are uncoloured free squares, so they will not help you at all, and the tight little constraints are scattered around the edges instead of parked in the corners. You feel the puzzle compress when you spot the purple equals column at the top-left and the orange sum-4 square on the left edge — two very different kinds of demand meeting in the same neighbourhood. From there the teal less-than-7 block on the right becomes a mini arithmetic exercise, while the pink greater-than-9 pair in the centre of the board narrows to one domino almost instantly.
Kurchan's hard build flips the whole idea: 32 single cells, 29 of them stamped with their own sum target and only three uncoloured squares to hide in. Instead of long deduction chains you get an inventory exercise — every square names a number, and your job is matching numbers to tiles without stranding a partner. The fun lives in the few places where two identical targets sit side by side and can only be served by one domino; once those doubles fall, the grid cascades from the edges inward.
💡 Progressive Hints
Try these hints one at a time. Each hint becomes more specific to help you solve it yourself!
💡 Know the constraint types first
Before placing anything, scan for what kinds of rule you are up against: an equals block, a couple of sum pairs, and two single-cell threshold squares sitting at opposite corners. The equals block on the left is the one that does the most work, because every cell inside it has to agree with every other.
💡 One cell that can only be a double
Look at the pink equals block running down the left edge. The cell just below the top of that column is surrounded on three sides by other pink cells, so whichever domino covers it must have two matching halves — and exactly one tile in the tray is a double.
💡 Complete layout
Complete answer. Stand the 0/0 double vertically inside the pink equals block: 0 in the middle-left cell, 0 in the bottom-left cell, so the whole region reads 0. The 1/0 goes vertically in the left column directly above it, 1 up in the purple less-than-4 corner square and 0 down into the top-left cell of the equals block. Lay the 4/6 flat across the top, 6 in the left cell of the teal sum-10 pair and 4 in its right cell. Lay the 0/4 flat on the middle row, 0 in the middle-right cell of the pink block and 4 in the left cell of the orange sum-10 pair. Finally stand the 5/6 vertically on the right, 6 up in the right cell of the orange pair and 5 down in the blue greater-than-4 square.
💡 Separate the constraints from the noise
Three of the nine regions here are uncoloured free squares with no rule attached at all — ignore them completely at first. What actually matters is an equals pair, three single-cell limits, and one two-cell total that has to clear a high bar.
💡 Two anchors in the top-left
The purple equals column in the top-left corner is only two cells tall, and just one tile in the tray carries two matching halves — the 1/1 — so both of those cells read 1. A little further along the left edge, the orange sum-4 square is a single cell: whatever domino reaches it has to contribute a 4.
💡 Complete layout
Complete answer. Stand the 1/1 double vertically in the purple equals column: 1 in the upper cell, 1 in the lower cell. Lay the 4/5 flat on the middle row, 4 in the orange sum-4 square on the left edge and 5 in the uncoloured square immediately to its right. Stand the 6/0 vertically at the top-right, 6 in the uncoloured free square and 0 down in the top-left cell of the teal less-than-7 block. Stand the 4/1 vertically down the right-hand column of that block, 4 in the top-right cell and 1 in the bottom-right cell. Stand the 2/1 vertically at the foot of the block, 1 up in the bottom-left cell of teal and 2 down in the green less-than-3 square at the bottom-right. In the centre, stand the 4/6 vertically inside the pink greater-than-9 pair, 4 upper and 6 lower. Along the bottom row, lay the 3/5 flat, 3 in the blue less-than-4 square on the left and 5 in the uncoloured square beside it.
💡 Start with the extremes
This board is wall-to-wall single-cell sum targets, so the fastest way in is through the most restrictive ones. A target of 0 leaves a single possible pip, and a target of 6 leaves only one as well. Find those squares first — they place tiles for you.
💡 Two zeros in the centre
The blue sum-0 square on the left and the green sum-0 square in the centre of the board sit side by side in the same row. Both cells must hold the smallest pip, and because they touch, one domino has to cover them both — which means the 0/0 lies flat across that pair, 0 on the left and 0 on the right.
💡 Sixes on the bottom row
Look along the bottom row, where the teal sum-6 square and the orange sum-6 square are neighbours. Both need a 6, so the 6/6 lies flat across them. While you are down there, note the pink sum-0 square on the right edge with a pink sum-6 square directly beneath it — a 0 stacked on a 6 is a single tile.
💡 The last zero finds its partner
The blue sum-0 square in the centre of the board takes the remaining 0 that comes with a 2 attached: the 2/0 stands vertically there, 0 in the sum-0 square and 2 dropped into the blue sum-2 square beneath it. Beyond that, the three uncoloured squares soak up the leftovers — 3 and 4 stacked on the left edge, and a 2 on the bottom row.
💡 Complete layout
Complete answer. Across the centre, the 0/0 lies flat, 0 in the blue sum-0 square on the left and 0 in the green sum-0 square in the centre of the board. On the bottom row the 6/6 lies flat, 6 in the teal sum-6 square and 6 in the orange sum-6 square side by side. On the right edge the 6/0 stands vertically, 0 up in the pink sum-0 square and 6 down in the pink sum-6 square. In the centre of the board the 2/0 stands vertically, 0 up in the blue sum-0 square there and 2 down in the blue sum-2 square. Top row, left to right: the 1/2 stands vertically, 1 in the purple sum-1 square with 2 below in the green sum-2; the 1/3 stands vertically, 1 in the pink sum-1 square with 3 below in the purple sum-3 square on that upper row; the 2/3 stands vertically, 2 in the teal sum-2 square with 3 below in the pink sum-3 square; the 2/6 stands vertically, 2 in the orange sum-2 square with 6 below in the teal sum-6 square on the upper right. The rest of the tall tiles: the 3/5 stands vertically on the left edge, 5 up in the blue sum-5 square and 3 down in the uncoloured square; the 4/1 stands vertically on the left, 4 up in the uncoloured square and 1 down in the teal sum-1 square at the bottom-left; the 1/6 stands vertically just inside the left edge, 6 up in the orange sum-6 square on the left and 1 down in the orange sum-1 square; the 5/6 stands vertically in the upper middle-right, 5 up in the pink sum-5 square and 6 down in the purple sum-6 square; the 3/6 stands vertically in the centre, 3 up in the purple sum-3 square in the centre of the board and 6 down in the green sum-6 square; the 1/5 stands vertically on the right edge, 5 up in the orange sum-5 square and 1 down in the teal sum-1 square on the right. Finally the 2/5 lies flat on the next-to-last row, 2 in the green sum-2 square at the bottom and 5 in the purple sum-5 square, and the 2/4 lies flat on the bottom row, 2 in the uncoloured square and 4 in the blue sum-4 square.
🎨 Pips Solver
Oct 1, 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
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Step 1: The two corner thresholds
Begin with the purple less-than-4 square in the top-left corner and the blue greater-than-4 square in the bottom-right. Neither pins an exact number yet, but together they fence the board in: the purple cell can only take a small pip, the blue cell can only take a 5 or a 6.
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Step 2: The equals block picks its own value
Now the pink equals block running down the left side. The cell just below the top of that column touches only other pink cells — up, down and right are all inside the block — so whatever domino covers it must have two identical halves. Only one double sits in the tray, the 0/0. Stand it vertically inside the block, 0 in the middle-left cell and 0 in the bottom-left cell, and the whole region is fixed at 0.
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Step 3: The top pair has to make ten
The teal sum-10 pair across the top of the board needs two pips adding to ten. Among the tiles still available only the 4/6 can manage that. Lay it horizontally, 6 in the left cell and 4 in the right cell of the teal pair.
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Step 4: The remainder falls in line
The two remaining pink cells each need a 0, and they receive them from the mixed tiles. Lay the 0/4 horizontally on the middle row, 0 in the middle-right cell of the pink block and 4 in the left cell of the orange sum-10 pair — whose other half must therefore be a 6. Stand the 5/6 vertically on the right, 6 up in the right cell of the orange pair and 5 down in the blue greater-than-4 square. Last of all, stand the 1/0 vertically in the left column, 1 up in the purple less-than-4 corner square and 0 down into the top-left cell of the pink block.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Medium Level
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Step 1: The equals column wants a double
Start at the top-left. The purple equals region is a two-cell column, and both cells must show the same pip. Of the seven tiles in the tray only one carries two matching halves — the 1/1 — so it stands vertically there, 1 in the upper cell and 1 in the lower one.
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Step 2: The single-cell sum-4 square
Next, the orange sum-4 square on the left edge. It is one cell, so a single pip has to be exactly 4 there. The tile reaching it also fills the uncoloured square beside it, and the 4/5 is the fit: lay it flat on the middle row, 4 in the orange square and 5 in the uncoloured square immediately to its right.
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Step 3: The centre pair clears nine
The pink greater-than-9 pair in the centre of the board needs its two cells to total more than nine. Scanning what is left, only one domino can even get there — the 4/6, giving 4 + 6 = 10. Stand it vertically inside the pink pair, 4 in the upper cell and 6 in the lower cell.
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Step 4: The teal block takes the small pips
The teal less-than-7 block on the right is four cells that must total under seven, so it wants tiny numbers. The unconstrained square at the top-right is the perfect dumping ground for a big pip: stand the 6/0 vertically so the 6 sits in the uncoloured square and the 0 drops into the top-left cell of the teal block. Then stand the 4/1 vertically down the block's right-hand column, 4 in the top-right cell and 1 in the bottom-right cell.
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Step 5: The last tiles on the bottom row
One teal cell is still empty, and the single-cell limits underneath claim the rest. Stand the 2/1 vertically at the foot of the teal block, 1 up in the bottom-left cell of teal and 2 down in the green less-than-3 square at the bottom-right. That leaves the 3/5, which lies flat along the bottom row, 3 in the blue less-than-4 square on the left and 5 in the uncoloured square beside it.
🔧 Step-by-Step Answer Walkthrough For Hard Level
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Step 1: Hunt the extreme targets
Every constrained square on this board is a single cell with a sum target, and the extreme targets do all the early work. A sum-0 square admits nothing but a 0, and a sum-6 square admits nothing but a 6. Scan for those two kinds first, because each one names a pip outright.
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Step 2: The centre zero pair
Two of those zeros are neighbours. The blue sum-0 square on the left and the green sum-0 square in the centre of the board share a row and touch edge to edge, so one domino must cover both — the 0/0 lying flat, 0 on the left and 0 on the right.
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Step 3: The bottom six pair and the right-edge stack
The same pairing shows up at the bottom of the board: the teal sum-6 square and the orange sum-6 square sit side by side, so the 6/6 lies flat across them. Then take the right edge, where the pink sum-0 square sits directly above a pink sum-6 square — the 6/0 stands vertically there, 0 up in the sum-0 square and 6 down in the sum-6 square.
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Step 4: The last zero finds its partner
One 0 is still unplaced. The blue sum-0 square in the centre of the board has a blue sum-2 square directly beneath it, so the 2/0 stands vertically, 0 in the sum-0 square and 2 in the sum-2 square below. All four zeros are now used up.
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Step 5: The top row reads itself out
Every square in the top row is filled by the upper half of a vertical domino, so the targets up there — 1, 1, 2, 2 — are simply the numbers those tiles must show upward. Left to right: the 1/2 puts 1 in the purple sum-1 square with 2 falling into the green sum-2 below it; the 1/3 puts 1 in the pink sum-1 square with 3 falling into the purple sum-3 square on that upper row; the 2/3 puts 2 in the teal sum-2 square with 3 dropping into the pink sum-3 square; and the 2/6 puts 2 in the orange sum-2 square with 6 dropping into the teal sum-6 square on the upper right.
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Step 6: The remaining tall tiles slot in
The rest is a matter of fit. Stand the 3/5 vertically on the left edge, 5 up in the blue sum-5 square and 3 down in the uncoloured square, and the 4/1 two rows lower on that same edge, 4 up in the uncoloured square and 1 down in the teal sum-1 square. Stand the 1/6 just inside the left edge, 6 up in the orange sum-6 square and 1 down in the orange sum-1 square. In the upper middle-right the 5/6 stands vertically, 5 up in the pink sum-5 square and 6 down in the purple sum-6 square; in the centre the 3/6 stands vertically, 3 up in the purple sum-3 square in the centre of the board and 6 down in the green sum-6 square; and on the right edge the 1/5 stands vertically, 5 up in the orange sum-5 square and 1 down in the teal sum-1 square. Finally lay the 2/5 flat on the next-to-last row, 2 in the green sum-2 square and 5 in the purple sum-5 square, and the 2/4 flat on the bottom row, 2 in the uncoloured square and 4 in the blue sum-4 square.
💡 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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