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Hints, answers & a solver for the New York Times Pips puzzle

Pips hints — Saturday, August 22, 2026

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

Saturday, August 22, 2026Archived board

Easy today: 5 dominoes, 6 regions and less-than, all-equal and greater-than 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
Your way in today is the blue region: one cell that must be less than 3. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
Lay the 0–6 down column 2, rows 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — August 22, 2026

22
06
13
05
26

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue<3 — Be less than 31
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange>6 — Add up to more than 62
SlateTake any value it likes1

Medium today: 7 dominoes, 8 regions and less-than, all-equal and greater-than 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
Your way in today is the amber region: one cell that must be more than 3. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
Lay the 1–0 across row 2, columns 3–4 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to less than 2. The 1 half sits in the orange region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
Place the 4–4 domino across row 1, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because green must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — August 22, 2026

04
21
14
60
34
10
44

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

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<4 — Be less than 41
Green= — Show the same number on every cell3
Amber>3 — Be more than 31
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell3
Slate<2 — Add up to less than 23
Teal<4 — Be less than 41
Pink>3 — Be more than 31

Hard today: 15 dominoes, 14 regions and all-equal 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
Your way in today is the slate region: two cells that must add up to exactly 12. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
Lay the 2–6 across row 3, columns 7–8 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to exactly 12. The 2 half sits in the orange region, which must add up to exactly 5.

Hint 3

Hard
Place the 3–6 domino down column 8, rows 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to exactly 12. The 3 half sits in the brown region, which must add up to exactly 8.

Hint 4

Hard
The 1–5 belongs across row 6, columns 7–8. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 1.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — August 22, 2026

26
04
11
34
15
60
44
16
54
36
24
30
46
05
22

blue (=): 5 · 5 | purple (=5): 4 · 1 | green (=16): 6 · 6 · 4 | amber (=2): 0 · 2 | orange (=5): 3 · 2 | slate (=12): 6 · 6 | teal (=2): 1 · 1 · 0 | pink (=10): 4 · 6 | lime (=): 4 · 4 · 4 | brown (=8): 3 · 5 | blue: 3 | purple (=1): 0 · 1 | green (=): 2 · 2 | amber (=4): 0 · 4

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
Purple5 — Add up to exactly 52
Green16 — Add up to exactly 163
Amber2 — Add up to exactly 22
Orange5 — Add up to exactly 52
Slate12 — Add up to exactly 122
Teal2 — Add up to exactly 23
Pink10 — Add up to exactly 102
Lime= — Show the same number on every cell3
Brown8 — Add up to exactly 82
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple1 — Add up to exactly 12
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber4 — Add up to exactly 42
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