NYT Pips HelperSunday, August 30, 2026

Pips hints — Thursday, February 12, 2026

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

Thursday, February 12, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 6 regions and 5 tiles, with all-equal and target-sum rules in play. 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
Your way in today is the amber region: one cell that must be exactly 4. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 4–0 belongs down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 4. The 4 half sits in the amber region, which must be exactly 4.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — February 12, 2026

40
23
05
11
53

blue (=): 0 · 0 | purple (=): 5 · 5 | green (=): 1 · 1 | amber (=4): 4 | orange (=2): 2 | slate (=): 3 · 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell2
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber4 — Be exactly 41
Orange2 — Be exactly 21
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2

The Medium grid runs to 7 regions and 7 tiles, with all-equal, greater-than and target-sum rules in play. 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
Your way in today is the orange region: two cells that must add up to exactly 8. Only 5 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 3–4 belongs across row 3, columns 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to exactly 8. The 3 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 6–0: across row 2, columns 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to more than 0. The 6 half sits in the green region, which must be more than 0.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — February 12, 2026

62
00
24
60
34
22
32

blue (=): 2 · 2 · 2 | purple (=): 0 · 0 · 0 | green (>0): 6 | amber (=): 3 · 3 | orange (=8): 6 · 2 | slate (=8): 4 · 4 | teal: 2

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell3
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell3
Green>0 — Be more than 01
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange8 — Add up to exactly 82
Slate8 — Add up to exactly 82
TealTake any value it likes1

The Hard grid runs to 13 regions and 15 tiles, with all-equal, target-sum, less-than and greater-than rules in play. 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
Your way in today is the amber region: two cells that must add up to exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 0–5 belongs down column 6, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 0.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 6–0: across row 3, columns 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 0. The 6 half sits in the green region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 0–0 across row 4, columns 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 0.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — February 12, 2026

43
25
14
05
66
10
53
04
16
33
60
42
00
21
65

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell2
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell4
Green= — Show the same number on every cell5
Amber0 — Add up to exactly 02
Orange0 — Add up to exactly 02
Slate6 — Add up to exactly 62
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell3
Pink0 — Add up to exactly 02
Lime<4 — Be less than 41
Brown= — Show the same number on every cell3
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green>4 — Be more than 41
All hintsFull answers for this day Jul 2 →