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NYT Pips answers — Monday, May 18, 2026

Pips #274 · 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 — May 18, 2026

3×3 board · 4 dominoes · 5 regions · by Ian Livengood

4 dominoes, 5 regions, a 3×3 grid — that's the easy puzzle for May 18, 2026. The mix is 2 sum regions, 1 "less than", 2 free regions. Best foothold — the pair at row 3, column 1 adds to 9; list the ways to make 9 with the rack you have.. Rack check: 2 doubles.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The pair at row 3, column 1 adds to 9; list the ways to make 9 with the rack you have.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 1–2 goes at row 2, column 3 → 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: 6 must add up to 6; <5 must add up to less than 5; 9 must add up to 9.

6
<5
9
Solution as text
  1. 2–2 — 2 at row 1, column 1, 2 at row 1, column 2
  2. 5–5 — 5 at row 3, column 2, 5 at row 3, column 3
  3. 2–4 — 2 at row 2, column 1, 4 at row 3, column 1
  4. 1–2 — 1 at row 2, column 3, 2 at row 1, column 3

Medium Pips answer — May 18, 2026

4×6 board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Medium today is a 4×6 board with 7 dominoes and 8 regions. Rules on the board: 1 sum region, 2 "all equal", 1 "less than", 3 free regions. The way in: the "=" region starting at row 1, column 5 has 3 cells that must all match — every 3 in the puzzle should come here.. After that, the "=" pair at row 3, column 5 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 2 blank halves, 2 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

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

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 5–3 domino with its 5 at row 1, column 6 and its 3 at row 1, column 5.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 0–3 goes at row 3, column 5 → row 2, column 5. 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; ≠ must all be different; 8 must add up to 8; <5 must add up to less than 5.

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

Hard Pips answer — May 18, 2026

10×8 board · 14 dominoes · 19 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Hard today is a 10×8 board with 14 dominoes and 19 regions. You're working with 7 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 2 "less than", 5 "greater than", 4 free regions. The single cell at row 5, column 1 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. After that, the single cell at row 5, column 3 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. Rack check: 4 doubles, 5 blank halves, 4 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 5, column 1 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. Find the domino with a 3 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 6–3 goes at row 4, column 3 → row 5, 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: >1 must add up to more than 1; 7 must add up to 7; >2 must add up to more than 2; 11 must add up to 11; >11 must add up to more than 11.

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

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Pips is a game by The New York Times. This page is an independent solving guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. Puzzle layouts are described here for the purpose of commentary and help.