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NYT Pips answers — Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Pips #171 · Edited by Ian Livengood · Easy by Ian Livengood · Medium by Rodolfo Kurchan · 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 — February 4, 2026

6×4 board · 5 dominoes · 7 regions · by Ian Livengood

5 dominoes, 7 regions, a 6×4 grid — that's the easy puzzle for February 4, 2026. The mix is 3 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 3 free regions. Best foothold — the single cell at row 3, column 2 is marked 5, so it can only hold a 5. After that, the single cell at row 6, column 1 is marked 5, so it can only hold a 5. Rack check: 2 doubles, 2 blank halves.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 3, column 2 is marked 5, so it can only hold a 5. Find the domino with a 5 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 1–5 domino with its 1 at row 2, column 2 and its 5 at row 3, column 2.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 5–2 goes at row 6, column 1 → row 6, 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: 1 must add up to 1; 5 must add up to 5; = must all be the same number.

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

Medium Pips answer — February 4, 2026

4×5 board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Medium today is a 4×5 board with 7 dominoes and 9 regions. Rules on the board: 3 sum regions, 2 "all equal", 1 "greater than", 3 free regions. Best foothold — the "=" pair at row 3, column 1 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. After that, the "=" pair at row 4, column 2 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 1 double, 1 blank half.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "=" pair at row 3, column 1 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 1–3 domino with its 1 at row 3, column 1 and its 3 at row 2, column 1.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–1 goes at row 4, column 2 → row 4, 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: 8 must add up to 8; >2 must add up to more than 2; 4 must add up to 4; = must all be the same number; 7 must add up to 7.

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

Hard Pips answer — February 4, 2026

6×5 board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

7 dominoes, 9 regions, a 6×5 grid — that's the hard puzzle for February 4, 2026. You're working with 4 sum regions, 3 "greater than", 2 free regions. The way in: the pair at row 2, column 3 adds to 7; list the ways to make 7 with the rack you have.. After that, the pair at row 3, column 1 adds to 7; list the ways to make 7 with the rack you have.. Rack check: 2 blank halves, 1 six.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The pair at row 2, column 3 adds to 7; list the ways to make 7 with the rack you have.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 0–1 domino with its 0 at row 1, column 3 and its 1 at row 2, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 4–3 goes at row 2, column 1 → row 3, 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 more than 2; 7 must add up to 7; >1 must add up to more than 1; >0 must add up to more than 0.

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

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