NYT Pips HelperSaturday, October 10, 2026

Pips hints — Friday, October 9, 2026

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

Friday, October 9, 2026Archived board

Today's Easy board has 5 dominoes across 5 regions, mixing all-equal and target-sum 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
The green 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

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 1–3: down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because green must be exactly 3. The 1 half sits in the blue region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — October 9, 2026

11
22
13
62
63

blue (=): 1 · 1 · 1 | purple (=): 2 · 2 · 2 | green (=3): 3 | amber (=): 6 · 6 | orange: 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
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell3
Green3 — Be exactly 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
OrangeTake any value it likes1

Today's Medium board has 7 dominoes across 6 regions, mixing less-than, greater-than, all-equal and target-sum 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
The green region is the anchor: two cells, and they must add up to more than 10. 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 2–6: down column 1, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 2.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 6–0 across row 2, columns 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to more than 10.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — October 9, 2026

55
00
31
26
03
53
60

blue (<3): 0 · 0 · 1 · 0 | purple: 3 | green (>10): 6 · 6 | amber (=): 5 · 5 · 5 | orange (=2): 2 · 0 | slate (=6): 3 · 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue<3 — Add up to less than 34
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green>10 — Add up to more than 102
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
Orange2 — Add up to exactly 22
Slate6 — Add up to exactly 62

Today's Hard board has 12 dominoes across 14 regions, mixing target-sum, greater-than, no-repeats, 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.

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 blue 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 4–3: across row 1, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must be exactly 4.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 3–1 down column 3, rows 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because green must be exactly 3.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 4–2 domino down column 8, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be exactly 4.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — October 9, 2026

43
42
61
03
66
52
22
04
33
23
02
31

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue3 — Be exactly 31
Purple4 — Be exactly 41
Green3 — Be exactly 31
Amber>7 — Add up to more than 72
Orange4 — Be exactly 41
Slate4 — Add up to exactly 42
Teal1 — Be exactly 11
Pink5 — Add up to exactly 53
Lime6 — Add up to exactly 62
Brown≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number3
Blue<3 — Add up to less than 32
Purple3 — Be exactly 31
Green<3 — Be less than 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
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