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NYT Pips answers — Monday, March 23, 2026

Pips #218 · 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 — March 23, 2026

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

The easy board runs 4 rows by 4 columns: 5 dominoes to place across 6 regions. The mix is 2 sum regions, 3 "all equal", 1 free region. The single cell at row 1, column 4 is marked 1, so it can only hold a 1. After that, the single cell at row 4, column 4 is marked 1, so it can only hold a 1. Rack check: 1 double, 3 blank halves.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 1, column 4 is marked 1, so it can only hold a 1. Find the domino with a 1 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 1–5 goes at row 4, column 4 → row 3, 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: 1 must add up to 1; = must all be the same number.

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

Medium Pips answer — March 23, 2026

5×5 board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

7 dominoes, 8 regions, a 5×5 grid — that's the medium puzzle for March 23, 2026. You're working with 5 sum regions, 3 free regions. The pair at row 1, column 2 adds to 6; list the ways to make 6 with the rack you have.. After that, the pair at row 3, column 2 adds to 2; list the ways to make 2 with the rack you have.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 2 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The pair at row 1, column 2 adds to 6; list the ways to make 6 with the rack you have.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 4–1 goes at row 2, column 2 → row 3, 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; 10 must add up to 10; 2 must add up to 2; 5 must add up to 5.

6
10
2
10
5
Solution as text
  1. 3–3 — 3 at row 2, column 3, 3 at row 2, column 4
  2. 4–1 — 4 at row 2, column 2, 1 at row 3, column 2
  3. 2–3 — 2 at row 4, column 1, 3 at row 4, column 2
  4. 5–1 — 5 at row 3, column 4, 1 at row 3, column 3
  5. 4–2 — 4 at row 1, column 3, 2 at row 1, column 2
  6. 6–6 — 6 at row 4, column 3, 6 at row 5, column 3
  7. 5–3 — 5 at row 4, column 4, 3 at row 4, column 5

Hard Pips answer — March 23, 2026

10×8 board · 13 dominoes · 14 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

13 dominoes, 14 regions, a 10×8 grid — that's the hard puzzle for March 23, 2026. You're working with 10 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 3 free regions. The single cell at row 1, column 3 is marked 6, so it can only hold a 6. After that, the single cell at row 5, column 3 is marked 6, so it can only hold a 6. Rack check: 3 doubles, 4 blank halves, 4 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 1, column 3 is marked 6, so it can only hold a 6. Find the domino with a 6 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 0–6 domino with its 0 at row 2, column 3 and its 6 at row 1, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 6–2 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: 6 must add up to 6; 3 must add up to 3; 4 must add up to 4; 2 must add up to 2; 12 must add up to 12.

6
3
4
6
2
12
1
10
16
=
4
Solution as text
  1. 0–1 — 0 at row 6, column 4, 1 at row 6, column 3
  2. 6–2 — 6 at row 5, column 3, 2 at row 4, column 3
  3. 4–1 — 4 at row 6, column 5, 1 at row 6, column 6
  4. 2–0 — 2 at row 3, column 3, 0 at row 3, column 2
  5. 4–4 — 4 at row 7, column 4, 4 at row 7, column 5
  6. 0–3 — 0 at row 7, column 6, 3 at row 8, column 6
  7. 3–3 — 3 at row 9, column 6, 3 at row 10, column 6
  8. 0–6 — 0 at row 2, column 3, 6 at row 1, column 3
  9. 5–5 — 5 at row 9, column 3, 5 at row 10, column 3
  10. 1–2 — 1 at row 2, column 2, 2 at row 2, column 1
  11. 6–4 — 6 at row 7, column 8, 4 at row 8, column 8
  12. 3–4 — 3 at row 6, column 7, 4 at row 6, column 8
  13. 1–6 — 1 at row 7, column 3, 6 at row 8, column 3

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