Thursday brings a fresh set of NYT Pips puzzles. Today's set features consistent zone patterns across all difficulty levels, with exact number requirements creating clear starting points. We've got hints, step-by-step walkthroughs, and full solutions for Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty levels.
How to Play Pips
Pips is a domino placement puzzle where you fill a grid of color-coded zones. Each zone has a condition you must satisfy using the pip values on your dominoes. The twist: you must use every domino and meet every condition to win.
Zone Conditions:
- = All pips in this zone must equal the same number
- Not Equal All pips must be different numbers
- > Pips must be greater than the listed number
- < Pips must be less than the listed number
- Exact Number Pips must total that exact value
- No Color Free space, any domino value works
Click or tap dominoes to rotate them. Each puzzle has one or more valid solutions.
Today's Easy Pips
Today's Medium Pips
Today's Hard Pips
Quick Hints (No Spoilers)
Starting Point: Attack the exact number zones systematically - teal (4), purple (8), navy (8), and orange (5) create mathematical constraints that limit domino placement.
Key Insight: The equality zones (=) require dominoes with identical numbers on both ends when placed entirely within those zones, or dominoes that can bridge between equality zones while maintaining the pattern.
Watch Out For: The purple (8) and navy (8) zones both require exactly 8 total pips but are separate zones - don't confuse them. Also, dominoes crossing between equality zones and exact number zones must satisfy both condition types simultaneously.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- 1.Start with the most constrained zone: teal (4) requires exactly 4 pips. The 5/4 domino placed vertically is the only domino that gives you exactly 4 when one end is in this zone.
- 2.Examine the purple (=) zones. They need identical numbers. Place the 5/5 domino horizontally entirely within a purple (=) zone to establish the equality pattern.
- 3.The 5/6 domino placed horizontally across purple (=) and pink (=) zones maintains purple equality while starting the pink section. The 6 doesn't affect purple equality since only the 5 is in that zone.
- 4.Begin the orange (=) zone with the 1/1 domino placed vertically. This creates the equality foundation for orange.
- 5.Connect orange (=) to purple (8) with the 1/3 domino vertically. This addresses the orange equality (1) while contributing to the purple (8) exact total.
- 6.Place the 5/0 domino vertically between purple (8) and teal (=) zones. The 5 completes the purple (8) zone's exact 8 total (5+3=8), while the 0 goes to teal (=).
- 7.Use the 0/0 domino horizontally in the teal (=) zone. This satisfies teal equality without affecting other zones.
- 8.Place the 1/0 domino vertically across pink (=) and teal (=) zones. This continues pink equality while the 0 maintains teal equality.
- 9.The 0/2 domino vertically connects teal (=) and orange (5) zones. The 0 maintains teal equality while the 2 contributes to orange (5)'s exact total.
- 10.Place the 4/3 domino vertically between green (=) and orange (5) zones. The 3 completes orange (5)'s exact total (2+3=5), while the 4 starts green equality.
- 11.Use the 1/4 domino horizontally across pink (=) and green (=) zones. This maintains both equality zones - the 1 continues pink equality, the 4 continues green equality.
- 12.Place the 4/4 domino vertically entirely within the green (=) zone. This solidifies green equality with matching numbers.
- 13.The 6/4 domino placed vertically across pink (=) and green (=) zones finalizes both equality patterns. The 6 completes pink equality, the 4 maintains green equality.
- 14.Complete the puzzle with the 3/5 domino vertically in the navy (8) zone. This satisfies the exact 8 requirement (3+5=8) independently.
Hard Pips Solution
Last chance to solve independently
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- 1.Place the 5/4 domino vertically in the purple (=) zone and teal (4) zone
- 2.Place the 5/5 domino horizontally in the purple (=) zone
- 3.Place the 5/6 domino horizontally in the purple (=) zone and pink (=) zone
- 4.Place the 1/1 domino vertically in the orange (=) zone
- 5.Place the 1/3 domino vertically in the orange (=) zone and purple (8) zone
- 6.Place the 5/0 domino vertically in the purple (8) zone and teal (=) zone
- 7.Place the 0/0 domino horizontally in the teal (=) zone
- 8.Place the 1/0 domino vertically in the pink (=) zone and teal (=) zone
- 9.Place the 0/2 domino vertically in the teal (=) zone and orange (5) zone
- 10.Place the 4/3 domino vertically in the green (=) zone and orange (5) zone
- 11.Place the 1/4 domino horizontally in the pink (=) zone and green (=) zone
- 12.Place the 4/4 domino vertically in the green (=) zone
- 13.Place the 6/4 domino vertically in the pink (=) zone and green (=) zone
- 14.Place the 3/5 domino vertically in the navy (8) zone
Puzzle Debrief
Overall Difficulty: Moderate challenge with consistent patterns
Trickiest Puzzle: Hard - While the solution pattern is identical across difficulties, the Hard puzzle requires more careful planning of dominoes that bridge between equality zones and exact number zones, demanding precise mathematical calculation.
Our Take: Today's puzzles feature identical zone layouts across all difficulty levels, creating an interesting consistency challenge. The exact number zones (4, 8, 8, 5) provide clear mathematical constraints that guide placement, while the equality zones require dominoes with matching numbers or careful bridging. The solution demonstrates how dominoes can satisfy multiple condition types simultaneously when placed at zone boundaries.
Tomorrow's Pips drops at midnight. See you then.
