NYT Pips HelperThursday, September 10, 2026
Today's hintHint archiveAll answers

Pips hints — Wednesday, September 9, 2026

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

Wednesday, September 9, 2026Archived board

Easy today: 5 dominoes, 5 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

Easy
The amber region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be more than 4. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 1–5: across row 1, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must be more than 4. The 1 half sits in the green region, which must add up to exactly 4.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — September 9, 2026

11
32
10
06
15

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue9 — Add up to exactly 92
Purple>1 — Be more than 11
Green4 — Add up to exactly 44
Amber>4 — Be more than 41
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2

Medium today: 7 dominoes, 9 regions and greater-than, target-sum, all-equal and less-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
The orange region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 0–3: across row 3, columns 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be exactly 0.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 3–1 down column 2, rows 3–4 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — September 9, 2026

31
55
23
56
03
53
54

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>1 — Be more than 11
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green6 — Add up to exactly 62
Amber6 — Add up to exactly 62
Orange0 — Be exactly 01
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell2
Lime<6 — Be less than 61

Hard today: 14 dominoes, 14 regions and target-sum, 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.

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 amber region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be exactly 3. 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 3–1: across row 1, columns 8–9. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must be exactly 3.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 1–5 across row 9, columns 5–6 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must be exactly 1.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 5–0 domino down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 11.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — September 9, 2026

62
50
11
00
44
31
06
42
01
56
22
33
15
34

blue: 2 | purple (=11): 6 · 5 | green (=): 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 | amber (=3): 3 | orange (=): 3 · 3 · 3 | slate (=2): 0 · 0 · 0 · 2 | teal (=): 0 · 0 | pink (=11): 6 · 5 | lime (>3): 4 | brown (>3): 4 | blue (=): 2 · 2 | purple (>3): 6 | green (=13): 4 · 4 · 5 | amber (=1): 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
Purple11 — Add up to exactly 112
Green= — Show the same number on every cell4
Amber3 — Be exactly 31
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell3
Slate2 — Add up to exactly 24
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink11 — Add up to exactly 112
Lime>3 — Be more than 31
Brown>3 — Be more than 31
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell2
Purple>3 — Be more than 31
Green13 — Add up to exactly 133
Amber1 — Be exactly 11
← Sep 8 All hintsFull answers for this day Sep 10 →