NYT Pips HelperThursday, September 3, 2026

Pips hints — Wednesday, September 2, 2026

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

Wednesday, September 2, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 6 regions and 4 tiles, with target-sum and less-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.

Hint 1 — where to start

Easy
Your way in today is the purple 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
Lay the 4–4 across row 1, columns 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must be exactly 4. The 4 half sits in the blue region, which must add up to exactly 4.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — September 2, 2026

41
44
40
30

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue4 — Add up to exactly 42
Purple4 — Be exactly 41
Green4 — Be exactly 41
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange4 — Add up to exactly 42
Slate<4 — Be less than 41

The Medium grid runs to 8 regions and 7 tiles, with target-sum, all-equal, greater-than and less-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.

Hint 1 — where to start

Medium
Your way in today is the amber region: one cell that must be more than 4. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
Lay the 5–4 across row 2, columns 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must be more than 4.

Hint 3

Medium
Place the 5–6 domino across row 3, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be more than 4. The 5 half sits in the purple region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — September 2, 2026

50
56
54
32
35
43
31

blue (=3): 0 · 3 | purple (=): 5 · 5 · 5 | green (=): 4 · 4 | amber (>4): 5 | orange (>4): 6 | slate (<2): 1 | teal: 2 | pink (=9): 3 · 3 · 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue3 — Add up to exactly 32
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell3
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber>4 — Be more than 41
Orange>4 — Be more than 41
Slate<2 — Be less than 21
TealTake any value it likes1
Pink9 — Add up to exactly 93

The Hard grid runs to 14 regions and 14 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 lime region: one cell that must be exactly 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
Lay the 1–4 across row 3, columns 6–7 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because lime must be exactly 1.

Hint 3

Hard
Place the 5–6 domino down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 12. The 5 half sits in the orange region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 4

Hard
The 2–6 belongs down column 1, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because brown must add up to exactly 12. The 2 half sits in the blue region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — September 2, 2026

03
05
14
16
22
24
26
34
35
44
45
46
55
56

blue (=): 2 · 2 · 2 | purple (=12): 6 · 6 | green (<3): 2 | amber (=): 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 | orange (=): 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 | slate (>3): 4 | teal (>3): 5 | pink (<3): 0 | lime (=1): 1 | brown (=12): 6 · 6 | blue: 1 | purple: 0 | green (=8): 3 · 5 | amber (=): 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 cell3
Purple12 — Add up to exactly 122
Green<3 — Be less than 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell6
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell4
Slate>3 — Be more than 31
Teal>3 — Be more than 31
Pink<3 — Be less than 31
Lime1 — Be exactly 11
Brown12 — Add up to exactly 122
BlueTake any value it likes1
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green8 — Add up to exactly 82
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
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