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NYT Pips answers — Saturday, May 16, 2026

Pips #272 · 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 — May 16, 2026

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

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

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

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

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 3–3 goes at row 3, column 1 → 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: = must all be the same number; <3 must add up to less than 3; >10 must add up to more than 10.

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

Medium Pips answer — May 16, 2026

4×8 board · 9 dominoes · 13 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Medium today is a 4×8 board with 9 dominoes and 13 regions. Rules on the board: 9 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 1 "less than", 1 "greater than", 1 free region. The way in: the single cell at row 2, column 1 is marked 6, so it can only hold a 6. After that, the single cell at row 3, column 1 is marked 2, so it can only hold a 2. Rack check: 1 double, 4 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 2, column 1 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 2–6 domino with its 2 at row 1, column 1 and its 6 at row 2, column 1.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 1–2 goes at row 4, 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; 2 must add up to 2; 10 must add up to 10; = must all be the same number; 11 must add up to 11.

6
2
10
=
6
11
2
>5
<5
5
5
5
Solution as text
  1. 1–2 — 1 at row 4, column 1, 2 at row 3, column 1
  2. 5–5 — 5 at row 4, column 3, 5 at row 4, column 4
  3. 4–6 — 4 at row 3, column 4, 6 at row 3, column 3
  4. 6–1 — 6 at row 1, column 5, 1 at row 1, column 4
  5. 5–3 — 5 at row 2, column 8, 3 at row 1, column 8
  6. 4–1 — 4 at row 1, column 2, 1 at row 1, column 3
  7. 2–6 — 2 at row 1, column 1, 6 at row 2, column 1
  8. 3–4 — 3 at row 1, column 7, 4 at row 1, column 6
  9. 6–5 — 6 at row 3, column 8, 5 at row 4, column 8

Hard Pips answer — May 16, 2026

10×5 board · 15 dominoes · 19 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

The hard board runs 10 rows by 5 columns: 15 dominoes to place across 19 regions. The mix is 11 sum regions, 2 "all equal", 3 "less than", 2 free regions. The single cell at row 1, column 1 is marked 1, so it can only hold a 1. After that, the single cell at row 2, column 2 is marked 2, so it can only hold a 2. Rack check: 2 doubles, 7 blank halves, 4 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 1, column 1 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 4–1 domino with its 4 at row 2, column 1 and its 1 at row 1, column 1.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 2–3 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: 1 must add up to 1; 9 must add up to 9; 2 must add up to 2; 3 must add up to 3; <2 must add up to less than 2.

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

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