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NYT Pips answers — Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Pips #30 · Edited by Ian Livengood · Easy by Rodolfo Kurchan · Medium by Rodolfo Kurchan · Hard by Heidi Erwin
Stuck on today's New York Times Pips? Below are three progressive hints for each difficulty, then the full solution as a tap-to-reveal board. Hints first — the answer only when you want it.
Easy Pips answer — September 16, 2025
4×4 board · 6 dominoes · 7 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan
The easy board runs 4 rows by 4 columns: 6 dominoes to place across 7 regions. You're working with 2 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 4 free regions. The way in: the two-cell region at row 3, column 4 adds to 11: the only split is 5 + 6.. After that, the "=" region starting at row 1, column 2 has 4 cells that must all match — every 1 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 2 sixes.
Hints
Hint 1 — where to start
The two-cell region at row 3, column 4 adds to 11: the only split is 5 + 6.
Hint 2 — first domino
Place the 1–5 domino with its 1 at row 2, column 4 and its 5 at row 3, column 4.
Hint 3 — second domino
Next, the 6–1 goes at row 1, column 1 → row 1, column 2. From there the rest should fall into place.
Solution
Tap any cell to reveal its pips, or reveal the whole board. Region rules: = must all be the same number; 11 must add up to 11; 4 must add up to 4.
Solution as text
6 1 1 1 4 · · 1 4 · · 5 4 2 2 6
- 4–2 — 4 at row 4, column 1, 2 at row 4, column 2
- 6–1 — 6 at row 1, column 1, 1 at row 1, column 2
- 4–4 — 4 at row 2, column 1, 4 at row 3, column 1
- 1–1 — 1 at row 1, column 3, 1 at row 1, column 4
- 1–5 — 1 at row 2, column 4, 5 at row 3, column 4
- 2–6 — 2 at row 4, column 3, 6 at row 4, column 4
Medium Pips answer — September 16, 2025
5×4 board · 7 dominoes · 6 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan
The medium board runs 5 rows by 4 columns: 7 dominoes to place across 6 regions. The mix is 1 sum region, 3 "all equal", 2 free regions. Best foothold — the "=" region starting at row 2, column 1 has 3 cells that must all match — every 6 in the puzzle should come here.. After that, the "=" region starting at row 3, column 3 has 3 cells that must all match — every 5 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 1 blank half, 3 sixes.
Hints
Hint 1 — where to start
The "=" region starting at row 2, column 1 has 3 cells that must all match — every 6 in the puzzle should come here.
Hint 2 — first domino
Place the 6–6 domino with its 6 at row 2, column 1 and its 6 at row 2, column 2.
Hint 3 — second domino
Next, the 5–3 goes at row 3, column 3 → row 4, column 3. From there the rest should fall into place.
Solution
Tap any cell to reveal its pips, or reveal the whole board. Region rules: 4 must add up to 4; = must all be the same number.
Solution as text
· · 2 · 6 6 2 0 · 6 5 5 3 3 3 5 4 · · 2
- 6–6 — 6 at row 2, column 1, 6 at row 2, column 2
- 6–3 — 6 at row 3, column 2, 3 at row 4, column 2
- 2–2 — 2 at row 1, column 3, 2 at row 2, column 3
- 0–5 — 0 at row 2, column 4, 5 at row 3, column 4
- 2–5 — 2 at row 5, column 4, 5 at row 4, column 4
- 3–4 — 3 at row 4, column 1, 4 at row 5, column 1
- 5–3 — 5 at row 3, column 3, 3 at row 4, column 3
Hard Pips answer — September 16, 2025
6×4 board · 9 dominoes · 8 regions · by Heidi Erwin
Hard today is a 6×4 board with 9 dominoes and 8 regions. The mix is 2 sum regions, 2 "all equal", 1 "greater than", 3 free regions. The "=" region starting at row 1, column 1 has 3 cells that must all match — every 6 in the puzzle should come here.. After that, the "=" region starting at row 2, column 3 has 5 cells that must all match — every 2 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 1 double, 1 blank half, 3 sixes.
Hints
Hint 1 — where to start
The "=" region starting at row 1, column 1 has 3 cells that must all match — every 6 in the puzzle should come here.
Hint 2 — first domino
Place the 1–6 domino with its 1 at row 1, column 2 and its 6 at row 1, column 1.
Hint 3 — second domino
Next, the 3–2 goes at row 1, column 3 → row 2, column 3. From there the rest should fall into place.
Solution
Tap any cell to reveal its pips, or reveal the whole board. Region rules: = must all be the same number; 4 must add up to 4; 10 must add up to 10; >3 must add up to more than 3.
Solution as text
6 1 3 · 6 2 2 · 6 1 2 5 3 0 2 5 · · 2 5 · · 2 4
- 2–0 — 2 at row 4, column 3, 0 at row 4, column 2
- 1–6 — 1 at row 1, column 2, 6 at row 1, column 1
- 3–2 — 3 at row 1, column 3, 2 at row 2, column 3
- 2–4 — 2 at row 6, column 3, 4 at row 6, column 4
- 2–1 — 2 at row 3, column 3, 1 at row 3, column 2
- 6–3 — 6 at row 3, column 1, 3 at row 4, column 1
- 6–2 — 6 at row 2, column 1, 2 at row 2, column 2
- 5–5 — 5 at row 3, column 4, 5 at row 4, column 4
- 2–5 — 2 at row 5, column 3, 5 at row 5, column 4
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Pips is a game by The New York Times. This page is an independent solving guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. Puzzle layouts are described here for the purpose of commentary and help.