NYT Pips HelperWednesday, August 26, 2026
Hints, answers & a solver for the New York Times Pips puzzle

Pips hints — Tuesday, January 6, 2026

An archived puzzle. Pick your difficulty for a spoiler-safe nudge, then reveal the full board if you want it.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026Archived board

Today's Easy board has 5 dominoes across 6 regions, mixing target-sum and all-equal rules. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hint 1 — where to start

Easy
Look at the blue region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
Lay the 1–0 across row 1, columns 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 1. The 1 half sits in the blue region, which must be exactly 1.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — January 6, 2026

36
10
62
13
34

blue (=1): 1 | purple (=4): 0 · 4 | green (=): 3 · 3 · 3 | amber: 2 | orange (=12): 6 · 6 | slate (=1): 1

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue1 — Be exactly 11
Purple4 — Add up to exactly 42
Green= — Show the same number on every cell3
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange12 — Add up to exactly 122
Slate1 — Be exactly 11

Today's Medium board has 7 dominoes across 7 regions, mixing target-sum, all-equal and less-than rules. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hint 1 — where to start

Medium
Look at the teal region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 4. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
Lay the 2–4 down column 5, rows 3–4 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 4. The 2 half sits in the green region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
Place the 6–2 domino across row 2, columns 5–6. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 10.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — January 6, 2026

62
25
13
21
24
45
22

blue (=10): 4 · 6 | purple: 5 | green (=): 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 | amber (<6): 5 | orange: 3 | slate (=): 1 · 1 | teal (=4): 4

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue10 — Add up to exactly 102
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green= — Show the same number on every cell6
Amber<6 — Be less than 61
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal4 — Be exactly 41

Today's Hard board has 16 dominoes across 14 regions, mixing target-sum and all-equal rules. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hard is where most players get stuck.We break it into small, spoiler-safe nudges so you can stop the moment you’re unstuck.

Hint 1 — where to start

Hard
Look at the orange region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
Lay the 0–5 down column 6, rows 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the orange region, which must be exactly 0.

Hint 3

Hard
Place the 4–0 domino down column 1, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to exactly 0. The 4 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 4

Hard
The 3–0 belongs across row 4, columns 7–8. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 0. The 3 half sits in the brown region, which must add up to exactly 5.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — January 6, 2026

22
12
44
40
05
35
66
30
32
25
43
36
54
31
46
55

blue (=12): 6 · 6 | purple (=6): 3 · 3 | green (=4): 2 · 2 | amber (=): 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 | orange (=0): 0 | slate (=0): 0 | teal (=): 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 | pink (=): 3 · 3 | lime (=): 2 · 2 | brown (=5): 3 · 2 | blue (=0): 0 | purple (=): 1 · 1 | green (=12): 6 · 6 | amber: 3

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue12 — Add up to exactly 122
Purple6 — Add up to exactly 62
Green4 — Add up to exactly 42
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell6
Orange0 — Be exactly 01
Slate0 — Be exactly 01
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell6
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell2
Lime= — Show the same number on every cell2
Brown5 — Add up to exactly 52
Blue0 — Be exactly 01
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green12 — Add up to exactly 122
AmberTake any value it likes1
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →