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NYT Pips answers — Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Pips #269 · Edited by Ian Livengood · Easy by Ian Livengood · Medium by Ian Livengood · 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 — May 13, 2026

3×5 board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions · by Ian Livengood

The easy board runs 3 rows by 5 columns: 5 dominoes to place across 5 regions. The mix is 1 sum region, 1 "all equal", 1 "less than", 2 free regions. The "=" pair at row 2, column 1 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 1 double, 1 blank half, 1 six.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "=" pair at row 2, column 1 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 5–5 goes at row 3, column 3 → 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: = must all be the same number; 25 must add up to 25; <3 must add up to less than 3.

=
25
<3
Solution as text
  1. 0–5 — 0 at row 2, column 5, 5 at row 2, column 4
  2. 2–3 — 2 at row 3, column 1, 3 at row 3, column 2
  3. 5–6 — 5 at row 2, column 3, 6 at row 1, column 3
  4. 5–2 — 5 at row 2, column 2, 2 at row 2, column 1
  5. 5–5 — 5 at row 3, column 3, 5 at row 3, column 4

Medium Pips answer — May 13, 2026

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

The medium board runs 4 rows by 5 columns: 7 dominoes to place across 7 regions. You're working with 1 sum region, 2 "all equal", 2 "less than", 1 "greater than", 1 free region. The way in: the "<2" region at row 1, column 3 leaves almost no room: only 0s and a single 1 can go here.. After that, the "=" pair at row 3, column 4 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 1 blank half, 3 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The "<2" region at row 1, column 3 leaves almost no room: only 0s and a single 1 can go here.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 6–5 goes at row 3, column 4 → row 3, 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: <2 must add up to less than 2; <4 must add up to less than 4; >4 must add up to more than 4; 13 must add up to 13; = must all be the same number.

<2
<4
>4
13
=
=
Solution as text
  1. 1–5 — 1 at row 2, column 4, 5 at row 2, column 5
  2. 6–5 — 6 at row 3, column 4, 5 at row 3, column 3
  3. 4–2 — 4 at row 4, column 2, 2 at row 3, column 2
  4. 1–2 — 1 at row 2, column 2, 2 at row 1, column 2
  5. 6–4 — 6 at row 4, column 4, 4 at row 4, column 3
  6. 0–1 — 0 at row 2, column 3, 1 at row 1, column 3
  7. 6–1 — 6 at row 3, column 1, 1 at row 2, column 1

Hard Pips answer — May 13, 2026

5×6 board · 15 dominoes · 30 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Hard today is a 5×6 board with 15 dominoes and 30 regions. Rules on the board: 30 sum regions. The way in: the single cell at row 1, column 1 is marked 2, so it can only hold a 2. After that, the single cell at row 1, column 2 is marked 4, so it can only hold a 4. Rack check: 5 blank halves.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 1, column 1 is marked 2, so it can only hold a 2. Find the domino with a 2 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

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

2
4
4
0
3
3
3
0
1
5
5
0
1
4
3
1
2
0
4
3
5
2
2
4
1
2
5
0
1
5
Solution as text
  1. 0–1 — 0 at row 2, column 2, 1 at row 2, column 3
  2. 0–2 — 0 at row 3, column 6, 2 at row 3, column 5
  3. 0–3 — 0 at row 2, column 6, 3 at row 1, column 6
  4. 0–4 — 0 at row 1, column 4, 4 at row 1, column 3
  5. 0–5 — 0 at row 5, column 4, 5 at row 5, column 3
  6. 1–2 — 1 at row 5, column 5, 2 at row 4, column 5
  7. 1–3 — 1 at row 3, column 1, 3 at row 2, column 1
  8. 1–4 — 1 at row 5, column 1, 4 at row 4, column 1
  9. 1–5 — 1 at row 3, column 4, 5 at row 2, column 4
  10. 2–3 — 2 at row 5, column 2, 3 at row 4, column 2
  11. 2–4 — 2 at row 1, column 1, 4 at row 1, column 2
  12. 2–5 — 2 at row 4, column 4, 5 at row 4, column 3
  13. 3–4 — 3 at row 3, column 3, 4 at row 3, column 2
  14. 3–5 — 3 at row 1, column 5, 5 at row 2, column 5
  15. 4–5 — 4 at row 4, column 6, 5 at row 5, column 6

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