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NYT Pips answers — Thursday, September 18, 2025

Pips #32 · Edited by Ian Livengood · Easy by Heidi Erwin · Medium by Heidi Erwin · Hard by Rodolfo Kurchan

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.

Jump to: Easy · Medium · Hard

Easy Pips answer — September 18, 2025

2×5 board · 4 dominoes · 4 regions · by Heidi Erwin

4 dominoes, 4 regions, a 2×5 grid — that's the easy puzzle for September 18, 2025. You're working with 2 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 1 free region. The way in: the two-cell region at row 2, column 3 adds to 0: both cells must be 0. After that, the "=" pair at row 1, column 4 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 1 double, 4 blank halves, 2 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The two-cell region at row 2, column 3 adds to 0: both cells must be 0. That's the 0–0 domino, or two 0s from different dominoes.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 6–0 domino with its 6 at row 2, column 2 and its 0 at row 2, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 3–0 goes at row 1, column 4 → row 2, column 4. From there the rest should fall into place.

Solution

Tap any cell to reveal its pips, or reveal the whole board. Region rules: 6 must add up to 6; = must all be the same number; 0 must add up to 0.

6
=
0
Solution as text
  1. 3–0 — 3 at row 1, column 4, 0 at row 2, column 4
  2. 6–0 — 6 at row 2, column 2, 0 at row 2, column 3
  3. 3–6 — 3 at row 1, column 5, 6 at row 2, column 5
  4. 0–0 — 0 at row 1, column 1, 0 at row 2, column 1

Medium Pips answer — September 18, 2025

4×4 board · 6 dominoes · 5 regions · by Heidi Erwin

6 dominoes, 5 regions, a 4×4 grid — that's the medium puzzle for September 18, 2025. Rules on the board: 2 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 1 "less than". Best foothold — the "=" region starting at row 2, column 4 has 3 cells that must all match — every 2 in the puzzle should come here.. After that, the pair at row 1, column 1 adds to 4; list the ways to make 4 with the rack you have.. Rack check: 3 blank halves, 1 six.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "=" region starting at row 2, column 4 has 3 cells that must all match — every 2 in the puzzle should come here.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 4–2 domino with its 4 at row 2, column 3 and its 2 at row 2, column 4.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 3–0 goes at row 2, column 1 → row 1, column 1. 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 different; 20 must add up to 20; = must all be the same number; <3 must add up to less than 3.

4
≠
20
=
<3
Solution as text
  1. 4–2 — 4 at row 2, column 3, 2 at row 2, column 4
  2. 0–5 — 0 at row 3, column 1, 5 at row 3, column 2
  3. 6–2 — 6 at row 3, column 3, 2 at row 3, column 4
  4. 5–4 — 5 at row 2, column 2, 4 at row 1, column 2
  5. 0–2 — 0 at row 4, column 3, 2 at row 4, column 4
  6. 3–0 — 3 at row 2, column 1, 0 at row 1, column 1

Hard Pips answer — September 18, 2025

6×6 board · 10 dominoes · 11 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

10 dominoes, 11 regions, a 6×6 grid — that's the hard puzzle for September 18, 2025. The mix is 5 sum regions, 2 "all equal", 2 "greater than", 2 free regions. Best foothold — the single cell at row 6, column 1 is marked 0, so it can only hold a 0. After that, the "=" region starting at row 2, column 2 has 5 cells that must all match — every 2 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 2 blank halves, 1 six.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 6, column 1 is marked 0, so it can only hold a 0. Find the domino with a 0 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 0–5 domino with its 0 at row 6, column 1 and its 5 at row 5, column 1.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–1 goes at row 2, column 2 → row 2, column 1. From there the rest should fall into place.

Solution

Tap any cell to reveal its pips, or reveal the whole board. Region rules: 2 must add up to 2; >4 must add up to more than 4; = must all be the same number; >3 must add up to more than 3; 10 must add up to 10.

2
>4
=
>3
10
2
10
0
=
Solution as text
  1. 2–1 — 2 at row 2, column 2, 1 at row 2, column 1
  2. 3–6 — 3 at row 6, column 5, 6 at row 6, column 6
  3. 4–2 — 4 at row 3, column 1, 2 at row 3, column 2
  4. 1–5 — 1 at row 1, column 1, 5 at row 1, column 2
  5. 2–5 — 2 at row 4, column 2, 5 at row 4, column 1
  6. 0–5 — 0 at row 6, column 1, 5 at row 5, column 1
  7. 1–1 — 1 at row 5, column 3, 1 at row 6, column 3
  8. 2–2 — 2 at row 5, column 2, 2 at row 6, column 2
  9. 0–4 — 0 at row 5, column 5, 4 at row 5, column 6
  10. 3–5 — 3 at row 6, column 4, 5 at row 5, column 4

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