Tuesday brings a fresh set of NYT Pips puzzles. Today's set features consistent zone conditions across all difficulty levels, creating a unique challenge where strategy remains constant but execution varies. 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 first - teal (4), navy (6), pink (2) - as they provide the most constraint.
Key Insight: The orange (≠) zones need careful planning - you must ensure all numbers in these zones are different while still meeting other conditions.
Watch Out For: The purple (12) and orange (12) zones both require exactly 12 pips total - plan your high-value domino combinations (5+7, 6+6, 4+8) to satisfy both simultaneously.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- 1.Start with the 4/4 domino placed vertically in the teal (4) zone - this immediately satisfies the exact 4 requirement with no waste.
- 2.Place the 4/0 domino vertically in the purple (=) zone - this gives you matching 4s for the equality condition while using the 0 strategically.
- 3.Use the 4/1 domino horizontally to connect the purple (=) zone with the pink (2) zone - this satisfies both conditions efficiently.
- 4.Position the 1/0 domino vertically in the pink (2) zone and green (0) zone -
- 5.Place the 5/5 domino vertically in the orange (≠) zone and teal (10) zone - the double 5s work perfectly for the not-equal condition while contributing 10 to the teal zone.
- 6.Use the 1/1 domino vertically in the orange (≠) zone and pink (<2) zone - this satisfies the less-than-2 condition with matching 1s.
- 7.Place the 6/6 domino vertically in the navy (6) zone - this immediately solves the exact 6 requirement with the double 6 domino.
- 8.Position the 2/3 domino vertically in the remaining orange (≠) zone - this adds the 2 and 3 to diversify the not-equal zones.
- 9.Place the 4/3 domino vertically in the purple (12) zone - this starts the 12 total with a 4+3 combination, leaving room for additional pips.
- 10.Use the 5/6 domino vertically in the purple (12) zone and orange (12) zone - the 5+6 combination completes the 12 requirement for both zones simultaneously.
- 11.Place the 5/4 domino vertically in the teal (10) zone and navy (9) zone -
- 12.Position the 5/3 domino horizontally in the navy (9) zone and green (6) zone -
- 13.Finally, place the 3/6 domino horizontally in the green (6) zone and orange (12) zone -
Hard Pips Solution
Last chance to solve independently
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- 1.Place the 4/4 domino vertically in the teal (4) zone and orange (≠) zone
- 2.Place the 4/0 domino vertically in the purple (=) zone and orange (≠) zone
- 3.Place the 4/1 domino horizontally in the purple (=) zone and pink (2) zone
- 4.Place the 1/0 domino vertically in the pink (2) zone and green (0) zone
- 5.Place the 5/5 domino vertically in the orange (≠) zone and teal (10) zone
- 6.Place the 1/1 domino vertically in the orange (≠) zone and pink (<2) zone
- 7.Place the 6/6 domino vertically in the navy (6) zone and orange (≠) zone
- 8.Place the 2/3 domino vertically in the orange (≠) zone
- 9.Place the 4/3 domino vertically in the purple (12) zone
- 10.Place the 5/6 domino vertically in the purple (12) zone and orange (12) zone
- 11.Place the 5/4 domino vertically in the teal (10) zone and navy (9) zone
- 12.Place the 5/3 domino horizontally in the navy (9) zone and green (6) zone
- 13.Place the 3/6 domino horizontally in the green (6) zone and orange (12) zone
Puzzle Debrief
Overall Difficulty: Moderate challenge with consistent patterns across all levels.
Trickiest Puzzle: Hard - managing the multiple orange (≠) zones while simultaneously satisfying the dual 12-total requirements in purple and orange zones requires precise domino selection and placement.
Our Take: Today's puzzles demonstrate the importance of starting with constrained zones - the exact number requirements (4, 6, 2) provide clear entry points. The consistent zone layout across difficulties is unusual but creates an interesting study in how the same constraints can be approached with different strategic mindsets. The orange (≠) zones remain the key complexity driver, forcing careful domino distribution.
Tomorrow's Pips drops at midnight. See you then.
