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NYT Pips answers — Friday, February 27, 2026

Pips #194 · 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 27, 2026

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

The easy board runs 5 rows by 4 columns: 5 dominoes to place across 6 regions. The mix is 1 sum region, 2 "all equal", 1 "less than", 2 free regions. The "=" region starting at row 3, column 3 has 3 cells that must all match — every 5 in the puzzle should come here.. After that, the "<2" region at row 1, column 2 leaves almost no room: only 0s and a single 1 can go here.. Rack check: 1 double, 1 blank half, 3 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "=" region starting at row 3, column 3 has 3 cells that must all match — every 5 in the puzzle should come here.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 5–5 domino with its 5 at row 3, column 3 and its 5 at row 3, column 4.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 0–6 goes at row 1, column 2 → 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: = must all be the same number; <2 must add up to less than 2; 6 must add up to 6.

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

Medium Pips answer — February 27, 2026

4×5 board · 7 dominoes · 10 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

7 dominoes, 10 regions, a 4×5 grid — that's the medium puzzle for February 27, 2026. You're working with 4 sum regions, 2 "less than", 4 free regions. The way in: the "<2" region at row 4, column 1 leaves almost no room: only 0s and a single 1 can go here.. After that, the pair at row 1, column 2 adds to 4; list the ways to make 4 with the rack you have.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 1 blank half, 4 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "<2" region at row 4, column 1 leaves almost no room: only 0s and a single 1 can go here.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 3–1 domino with its 3 at row 4, column 2 and its 1 at row 4, column 1.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–1 goes at row 1, column 2 → row 1, 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; 2 must add up to 2; 3 must add up to 3; <2 must add up to less than 2; <6 must add up to less than 6.

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

Hard Pips answer — February 27, 2026

7×5 board · 13 dominoes · 10 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Hard today is a 7×5 board with 13 dominoes and 10 regions. Rules on the board: 8 sum regions, 1 free region. Best foothold — the single cell at row 6, column 5 is marked 0, so it can only hold a 0. After that, the two-cell region at row 3, column 1 adds to 12: both cells must be 6. Rack check: 2 doubles, 6 blank halves, 3 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 6, 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 0–3 domino with its 0 at row 6, column 5 and its 3 at row 5, column 5.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–6 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: 6 must add up to 6; 0 must add up to 0; 3 must add up to 3; 12 must add up to 12; ≠ must all be different.

6
0
3
3
12
6
≠
3
0
Solution as text
  1. 2–0 — 2 at row 2, column 5, 0 at row 1, column 5
  2. 1–4 — 1 at row 6, column 3, 4 at row 7, column 3
  3. 0–3 — 0 at row 6, column 5, 3 at row 5, column 5
  4. 1–6 — 1 at row 5, column 1, 6 at row 4, column 1
  5. 0–0 — 0 at row 1, column 3, 0 at row 1, column 4
  6. 1–3 — 1 at row 3, column 5, 3 at row 4, column 5
  7. 2–6 — 2 at row 2, column 1, 6 at row 3, column 1
  8. 0–4 — 0 at row 1, column 2, 4 at row 1, column 1
  9. 6–3 — 6 at row 6, column 1, 3 at row 6, column 2
  10. 5–0 — 5 at row 7, column 1, 0 at row 7, column 2
  11. 1–2 — 1 at row 2, column 3, 2 at row 3, column 3
  12. 1–1 — 1 at row 5, column 2, 1 at row 5, column 3
  13. 4–2 — 4 at row 7, column 5, 2 at row 7, column 4

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