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

Pips hints — Saturday, February 21, 2026

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

Saturday, February 21, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 7 regions and 5 tiles, with 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
Look at the blue 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

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 0–6: down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the blue region, which must be exactly 0.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — February 21, 2026

01
35
36
52
06

blue (=0): 0 | purple: 3 | green (=5): 5 | amber (=9): 6 · 3 | orange (=9): 6 · 1 · 2 | slate (=5): 5 | teal (=0): 0

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue0 — Be exactly 01
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green5 — Be exactly 51
Amber9 — Add up to exactly 92
Orange9 — Add up to exactly 93
Slate5 — Be exactly 51
Teal0 — Be exactly 01

The Medium grid runs to 11 regions and 8 tiles, with 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
Look at the blue region first. Across one cell it has to be more than 3. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 2–1: across row 2, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 2. The 2 half sits in the orange region, which must add up to exactly 4.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 1–3 down column 3, rows 3–4 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 2.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — February 21, 2026

65
04
41
10
21
06
13
20

blue (>3): 6 | purple (>3): 5 | green: 0 | amber (=2): 1 · 1 | orange (=4): 2 · 2 | slate: 0 | teal (=2): 1 · 1 | pink (=10): 4 · 6 | lime (=7): 4 · 3 | brown: 0 | blue: 0

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>3 — Be more than 31
Purple>3 — Be more than 31
GreenTake any value it likes1
Amber2 — Add up to exactly 22
Orange4 — Add up to exactly 42
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal2 — Add up to exactly 22
Pink10 — Add up to exactly 102
Lime7 — Add up to exactly 72
BrownTake any value it likes1
BlueTake any value it likes1

The Hard grid runs to 13 regions and 15 tiles, with target-sum and all-equal 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
Look at the blue 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
There is exactly one home for the 0–0: across row 1, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the blue region, which must be exactly 0.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 3–0 down column 8, rows 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 0. The 3 half sits in the lime region, which must add up to exactly 7.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 0–2 domino down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 0.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — February 21, 2026

50
23
55
00
56
11
52
41
66
30
51
02
45
13
46

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue0 — Be exactly 01
Purple0 — Add up to exactly 02
Green7 — Add up to exactly 74
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell5
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell3
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell3
Lime7 — Add up to exactly 72
BrownTake any value it likes1
Blue7 — Add up to exactly 73
Purple7 — Add up to exactly 72
Green0 — Be exactly 01
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →