NYT Pips HelperThursday, September 17, 2026

Pips hints — Wednesday, September 16, 2026

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

Wednesday, September 16, 2026Archived board

Today's Easy board has 5 dominoes across 8 regions, mixing greater-than, less-than and all-equal rules. 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 slate region first. Across one cell it has to be less than 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 3–0 belongs across row 6, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must be less than 1. The 3 half sits in the teal region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — September 16, 2026

01
44
53
30
61

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
BlueTake any value it likes1
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green>4 — Be more than 41
Amber<4 — Be less than 41
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate<1 — Be less than 11
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink<6 — Be less than 61

Today's Medium board has 7 dominoes across 7 regions, mixing greater-than, all-equal, target-sum and less-than rules. 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 amber region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 3. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 3–1 belongs across row 3, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must be exactly 3.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 1–0: down column 5, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be less than 3. The 1 half sits in the teal region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — September 16, 2026

41
31
55
61
51
44
10

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

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= — Show the same number on every cell3
Green= — Show the same number on every cell3
Amber3 — Be exactly 31
Orange<3 — Be less than 31
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell3
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2

Today's Hard board has 13 dominoes across 11 regions, mixing no-repeats, target-sum and less-than rules. 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 green region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 4. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 5–4 belongs across row 1, columns 7–8. It is the only tile that works there, because green must be exactly 4. The 5 half sits in the amber region, which must add up to exactly 10.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 2–4: across row 8, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must be exactly 4. The 2 half sits in the brown region, which must add up to exactly 4.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 5–6 down column 8, rows 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 11. The 5 half sits in the amber region, which must add up to exactly 10.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — September 16, 2026

24
56
22
54
32
55
41
52
44
16
53
00
51

blue (≠): 3 · 2 · 1 · 5 | purple (=7): 2 · 2 · 3 | green (=4): 4 | amber (=10): 5 · 5 | orange (=11): 5 · 6 | slate (=15): 5 · 5 · 5 | teal (<5): 4 | pink (=2): 1 · 1 · 0 · 0 | lime (=14): 6 · 4 · 4 | brown (=4): 2 · 2 | blue (=4): 4

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue — Have no two cells showing the same number4
Purple7 — Add up to exactly 73
Green4 — Be exactly 41
Amber10 — Add up to exactly 102
Orange11 — Add up to exactly 112
Slate15 — Add up to exactly 153
Teal<5 — Be less than 51
Pink2 — Add up to exactly 24
Lime14 — Add up to exactly 143
Brown4 — Add up to exactly 42
Blue4 — Be exactly 41
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