NYT Pips HelperSunday, August 30, 2026

Pips hints — Wednesday, February 4, 2026

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

Wednesday, February 4, 2026Archived board

Easy today: 5 dominoes, 7 regions and target-sum and all-equal constraints. 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
The amber region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be exactly 5. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 5–2 belongs across row 6, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 5. The 5 half sits in the teal region, which must be exactly 5.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — February 4, 2026

52
15
23
00
11

blue (=1): 0 · 0 · 1 | purple: 1 | green: 1 | amber (=5): 5 | orange: 3 | slate (=): 2 · 2 | teal (=5): 5

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue1 — Add up to exactly 13
PurpleTake any value it likes1
GreenTake any value it likes1
Amber5 — Be exactly 51
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal5 — Be exactly 51

Medium today: 7 dominoes, 9 regions and target-sum, greater-than and all-equal constraints. 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
The green region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be more than 2. Only 4 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 1–3 belongs down column 1, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 8. The 1 half sits in the orange region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 4–5: across row 1, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 8. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must take any value it likes.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — February 4, 2026

02
13
23
45
21
33
24

blue (=8): 5 · 3 | purple: 4 | green (>2): 3 | amber (=4): 2 · 2 | orange (=): 1 · 1 | slate: 0 | teal (=7): 4 · 3 | pink (=): 2 · 2 | lime: 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue8 — Add up to exactly 82
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green>2 — Be more than 21
Amber4 — Add up to exactly 42
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal7 — Add up to exactly 72
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell2
LimeTake any value it likes1

Hard today: 7 dominoes, 9 regions and greater-than and target-sum constraints. 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
The purple region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be more than 2. Only 4 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 6–3 belongs down column 3, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 7.

Hint 3

Hard
The next slot to fill runs down column 1, rows 2–3, and the 4–3 is what lands there. Only 2 tiles can go there at all, so test them and the wrong ones break a neighbouring region straight away. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must be more than 2.

Hint 4

Hard
Your next move is the 1–4, down column 3, rows 5–6. Only 2 tiles can go there at all, so test them and the wrong ones break a neighbouring region straight away. The 1 half sits in the lime region, which must be more than 0.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — February 4, 2026

01
40
43
14
63
21
51

blue: 0 | purple (>2): 4 | green (=7): 1 · 6 | amber (=7): 5 · 1 · 1 | orange (=7): 3 · 4 | slate: 0 | teal (=7): 3 · 4 | pink (>1): 2 | lime (>0): 1

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple>2 — Be more than 21
Green7 — Add up to exactly 72
Amber7 — Add up to exactly 73
Orange7 — Add up to exactly 72
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal7 — Add up to exactly 72
Pink>1 — Be more than 11
Lime>0 — Be more than 01
All hintsFull answers for this day Jul 2 →