Tuesday brings a fresh set of NYT Pips puzzles. Today's set features exact-number zones that demand precise pip management, with the Hard puzzle introducing duplicate colored zones for added complexity. 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
Quick Hints (No Spoilers)
Starting Point: Begin with the purple (=) zone - it requires identical values and has limited domino options.
Key Insight: The teal (=) zone needs two dominoes with matching values, which will dictate your remaining placements.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- 1.Start with the purple (=) zone which requires all matching values. Place the 4/4 domino horizontally here.
- 2.Move to the pink (>4) zone which needs values greater than 4. Place the 3/5 domino horizontally.
- 3.Handle the teal (=) zone which requires identical values. Place the 6/5 domino horizontally first.
- 4.Complete the teal (=) zone by placing the 6/6 domino horizontally adjacent to the 6/5.
- 5.The orange (3) zone requires specific pip management. Place the 2/3 domino horizontally here.
- 6.Finish with the navy (3) zone by placing the 6/3 domino horizontally.
Easy Pips Solution
Scroll past if you want to keep trying
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- 1.Place the 4/4 domino horizontally in the purple (=) zone
- 2.Place the 3/5 domino horizontally in the pink (>4) zone
- 3.Place the 6/5 domino horizontally in the teal (=) zone
- 4.Place the 6/6 domino horizontally in the teal (=) zone
- 5.Place the 2/3 domino horizontally in the orange (3) zone
- 6.Place the 6/3 domino horizontally in the navy (3) zone
Today's Medium Pips
Quick Hints (No Spoilers)
Starting Point: Focus on the purple (3) zone first - its low exact number requirement constrains your options.
Key Insight: The green (=) zone needs two dominoes with identical values, helping allocate your remaining doubles.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- 1.Begin with the purple (3) zone requiring exactly 3 total pips. Place the 3/0 domino vertically.
- 2.Move to the pink (=) zone which needs all matching values. Place the 1/1 domino vertically.
- 3.The teal (=) zone also requires identical values. Place the 5/5 domino vertically.
- 4.Handle the orange (>3) zone which needs values greater than 3. Place the 4/2 domino horizontally.
- 5.The navy (3) zone requires precise pip allocation. Place the 4/3 domino vertically.
- 6.The green (=) zone needs matching values. Start with the 0/0 domino placed horizontally.
- 7.Complete the green (=) zone by placing the 0/5 domino vertically adjacent to the 0/0.
- 8.Finish with the purple (=) zone by placing the 4/0 domino horizontally.
Medium Pips Solution
Scroll past if you want to keep trying
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- 1.Place the 3/0 domino vertically in the purple (3) zone
- 2.Place the 1/1 domino vertically in the pink (=) zone
- 3.Place the 5/5 domino vertically in the teal (=) zone
- 4.Place the 4/2 domino horizontally in the orange (>3) zone
- 5.Place the 4/3 domino vertically in the navy (3) zone
- 6.Place the 0/0 domino horizontally in the green (=) zone
- 7.Place the 0/5 domino vertically in the green (=) zone
- 8.Place the 4/0 domino horizontally in the purple (=) zone
Today's Hard Pips
Quick Hints (No Spoilers)
Starting Point: Tackle the low-number exact zones first - orange (3), pink (4), and pink (0) provide clear constraints.
Key Insight: The large exact-number zones (purple 24, teal 11) will consume your high-value dominoes - plan their placement early.
Watch Out For: Multiple zones share colors (two purple, two teal, two orange, two pink, two navy) - track which specific zone you're filling.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- 1.Start with the orange (3) zone requiring exactly 3 total pips. Place the 3/1 domino horizontally.
- 2.Move to the green (9) zone needing 9 total pips. Place the 6/5 domino horizontally.
- 3.The pink (4) zone requires 4 total pips. Place the 1/1 domino vertically.
- 4.The pink (0) zone needs 0 total pips. Place the 5/0 domino horizontally.
- 5.Handle the first teal (10) zone. Place the 5/3 domino horizontally.
- 6.Place the 2/2 domino vertically in an uncolored (no condition) zone.
- 7.The purple (5) zone needs 5 total pips. Place the 1/5 domino vertically.
- 8.The large purple (24) zone requires 24 total pips. Place the 6/6 domino vertically.
- 9.The teal (11) zone needs 11 total pips. Place the 4/2 domino vertically.
- 10.Continue with the teal (11) zone by placing the 6/3 domino vertically.
- 11.The navy (10) zone requires 10 total pips. Place the 4/5 domino horizontally.
- 12.The navy (3) zone needs 3 total pips. Place the 3/2 domino vertically.
- 13.The second orange (10) zone requires 10 total pips. Place the 5/0 domino horizontally.
- 14.The second teal (10) zone needs 10 total pips. Place the 4/3 domino horizontally.
- 15.Return to the pink (0) zone and place the 0/0 domino vertically.
- 16.Complete the navy (10) zone by placing the 5/2 domino vertically.
Hard Pips Solution
Last chance to solve independently
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- 1.Place the 3/1 domino horizontally in the orange (3) zone
- 2.Place the 6/5 domino horizontally in the green (9) zone
- 3.Place the 1/1 domino vertically in the pink (4) zone
- 4.Place the 5/0 domino horizontally in the pink (0) zone
- 5.Place the 5/3 domino horizontally in the teal (10) zone
- 6.Place the 2/2 domino vertically in the uncolored (no condition) zone
- 7.Place the 1/5 domino vertically in the purple (5) zone
- 8.Place the 6/6 domino vertically in the purple (24) zone
- 9.Place the 4/2 domino vertically in the teal (11) zone
- 10.Place the 6/3 domino vertically in the teal (11) zone
- 11.Place the 4/5 domino horizontally in the navy (10) zone
- 12.Place the 3/2 domino vertically in the navy (3) zone
- 13.Place the 5/0 domino horizontally in the orange (10) zone
- 14.Place the 4/3 domino horizontally in the teal (10) zone
- 15.Place the 0/0 domino vertically in the pink (0) zone
- 16.Place the 5/2 domino vertically in the navy (10) zone
Puzzle Debrief
Overall Difficulty: Moderate challenge with clear progression from straightforward to complex zone management.
Trickiest Puzzle: Hard - managing duplicate colored zones with different exact-number requirements demands careful tracking and planning.
Our Take: Today's set effectively teaches exact-number zone management, with the Hard puzzle introducing the complexity of shared colors. The Medium puzzle's green (=) zone with two dominoes provides a solid bridge between difficulty levels. Strategic takeaway: low exact-number zones create immediate constraints, making them ideal starting points for efficient solving.
Tomorrow's Pips drops at midnight. See you then.
