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NYT Pips answers — Thursday, October 30, 2025

Pips #74 · Edited by Ian Livengood · Easy by Rodolfo Kurchan · Medium by Heidi Erwin · 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.

Jump to: Easy · Medium · Hard

Easy Pips answer — October 30, 2025

4×5 board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

The easy board runs 4 rows by 5 columns: 5 dominoes to place across 6 regions. The mix is 1 sum region, 2 "all equal", 3 free regions. The two-cell region at row 4, column 3 adds to 0: both cells must be 0. After that, the "=" region starting at row 1, column 3 has 3 cells that must all match — every 4 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 1 double, 2 blank halves.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The two-cell region at row 4, 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 3–0 domino with its 3 at row 3, column 3 and its 0 at row 4, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 4–4 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; 0 must add up to 0.

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

Medium Pips answer — October 30, 2025

5×5 board · 7 dominoes · 5 regions · by Heidi Erwin

7 dominoes, 5 regions, a 5×5 grid — that's the medium puzzle for October 30, 2025. You're working with 4 sum regions, 1 "all equal". The way in: the two-cell region at row 4, column 3 adds to 11: the only split is 5 + 6.. After that, the "=" region starting at row 1, column 2 has 5 cells that must all match — every 1 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 1 six.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The two-cell region at row 4, column 3 adds to 11: the only split is 5 + 6.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 6–1 domino with its 6 at row 4, column 3 and its 1 at row 3, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 1–1 goes at row 1, column 2 → row 2, 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: 6 must add up to 6; = must all be the same number; 11 must add up to 11; 8 must add up to 8.

6
=
6
11
8
Solution as text
  1. 6–1 — 6 at row 4, column 3, 1 at row 3, column 3
  2. 1–4 — 1 at row 3, column 4, 4 at row 3, column 5
  3. 2–2 — 2 at row 1, column 1, 2 at row 2, column 1
  4. 1–1 — 1 at row 1, column 2, 1 at row 2, column 2
  5. 3–5 — 3 at row 5, column 4, 5 at row 5, column 3
  6. 2–5 — 2 at row 4, column 5, 5 at row 5, column 5
  7. 2–1 — 2 at row 3, column 1, 1 at row 3, column 2

Hard Pips answer — October 30, 2025

5×6 board · 10 dominoes · 10 regions · by Heidi Erwin

The hard board runs 5 rows by 6 columns: 10 dominoes to place across 10 regions. Rules on the board: 5 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 1 "less than", 1 "greater than", 2 free regions. The way in: the single cell at row 3, column 5 is marked 0, so it can only hold a 0. After that, the single cell at row 5, column 3 is marked 2, so it can only hold a 2. Rack check: 3 doubles, 2 blank halves, 5 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 3, column 5 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 2–0 domino with its 2 at row 3, column 4 and its 0 at row 3, column 5.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–4 goes at row 5, 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: >1 must add up to more than 1; <5 must add up to less than 5; = must all be the same number; 17 must add up to 17; 25 must add up to 25.

>1
<5
=
17
25
0
2
1
Solution as text
  1. 6–1 — 6 at row 2, column 3, 1 at row 1, column 3
  2. 5–6 — 5 at row 1, column 4, 6 at row 2, column 4
  3. 2–0 — 2 at row 3, column 4, 0 at row 3, column 5
  4. 6–6 — 6 at row 3, column 1, 6 at row 4, column 1
  5. 5–5 — 5 at row 1, column 5, 5 at row 1, column 6
  6. 1–1 — 1 at row 5, column 5, 1 at row 5, column 6
  7. 0–5 — 0 at row 5, column 4, 5 at row 4, column 4
  8. 5–3 — 5 at row 2, column 1, 3 at row 1, column 1
  9. 6–2 — 6 at row 3, column 2, 2 at row 3, column 3
  10. 2–4 — 2 at row 5, column 3, 4 at row 4, column 3

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