Grid PuzzlesPipsNYT Pips answers

NYT Pips answers — Monday, April 13, 2026

Pips #239 · 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.

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Easy Pips answer — April 13, 2026

4×4 board · 5 dominoes · 10 regions · by Ian Livengood

5 dominoes, 10 regions, a 4×4 grid — that's the easy puzzle for April 13, 2026. You're working with 5 sum regions, 5 free regions. The single cell at row 1, column 3 is marked 1, so it can only hold a 1. After that, the single cell at row 1, column 4 is marked 2, so it can only hold a 2. Rack check: 1 double, 1 blank half.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 1, column 3 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 0–1 domino with its 0 at row 1, column 2 and its 1 at row 1, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–2 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: 1 must add up to 1; 2 must add up to 2; 3 must add up to 3; 5 must add up to 5; 4 must add up to 4.

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

Medium Pips answer — April 13, 2026

4×4 board · 8 dominoes · 6 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

The medium board runs 4 rows by 4 columns: 8 dominoes to place across 6 regions. Rules on the board: 4 "all equal", 1 "less than", 1 free region. The "=" region starting at row 1, column 3 has 4 cells that must all match — every 5 in the puzzle should come here.. After that, the "=" region starting at row 2, column 1 has 4 cells that must all match — every 1 in the puzzle should come here.. Rack check: 3 doubles, 4 blank halves.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "=" region starting at row 1, column 3 has 4 cells that must all match — every 5 in the puzzle should come here.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 4–5 domino with its 4 at row 1, column 2 and its 5 at row 1, column 3.

Hint 3 — second domino

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

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

Hard Pips answer — April 13, 2026

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

Hard today is a 5×5 board with 8 dominoes and 8 regions. The mix is 3 sum regions, 3 "all equal", 1 "less than", 1 "greater than". The "=" pair at row 1, column 5 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. After that, the "=" pair at row 5, column 2 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 3 blank halves, 2 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "=" pair at row 1, column 5 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 6–0 domino with its 6 at row 1, column 4 and its 0 at row 1, column 5.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 1–2 goes at row 5, column 1 → row 5, 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: 2 must add up to 2; 9 must add up to 9; = must all be the same number; >9 must add up to more than 9; <3 must add up to less than 3.

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

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