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NYT Pips answers — Friday, May 22, 2026

Pips #278 · 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.

Jump to: Easy · Medium · Hard

Easy Pips answer — May 22, 2026

5×4 board · 6 dominoes · 8 regions · by Ian Livengood

The easy board runs 5 rows by 4 columns: 6 dominoes to place across 8 regions. The mix is 1 sum region, 2 "all equal", 2 "greater than", 3 free regions. The single cell marked ">5" at row 4, column 1 must be a 6.. After that, the single cell marked ">5" at row 4, column 4 must be a 6.. Rack check: 1 double, 1 blank half, 2 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell marked ">5" at row 4, column 1 must be a 6.

Hint 2 — first domino

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

Hint 3 — second domino

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

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

Medium Pips answer — May 22, 2026

3×8 board · 8 dominoes · 9 regions · by Ian Livengood

Medium today is a 3×8 board with 8 dominoes and 9 regions. Rules on the board: 4 sum regions, 2 "all equal", 2 "less than", 1 free region. Best foothold — the single cell at row 2, column 5 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. After that, the single cell at row 3, column 8 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. Rack check: 1 double, 4 blank halves, 3 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 2, column 5 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 3–6 domino with its 3 at row 2, column 5 and its 6 at row 2, column 4.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 3–5 goes at row 3, column 8 → row 3, column 7. 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; <1 must add up to less than 1; 3 must add up to 3; 7 must add up to 7.

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

Hard Pips answer — May 22, 2026

9×9 board · 16 dominoes · 21 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

The hard board runs 9 rows by 9 columns: 16 dominoes to place across 21 regions. The mix is 13 sum regions, 3 "less than", 3 "greater than", 2 free regions. Best foothold — the single cell at row 5, column 7 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. After that, the single cell at row 5, column 9 is marked 3, so it can only hold a 3. Rack check: 4 doubles, 5 blank halves, 5 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 5, column 7 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 1–3 domino with its 1 at row 5, column 8 and its 3 at row 5, column 7.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 3–4 goes at row 5, column 9 → row 6, column 9. From there the rest should fall into place.

Solution

Tap any cell to reveal its pips, or reveal the whole board. Region rules: 8 must add up to 8; <3 must add up to less than 3; >10 must add up to more than 10; 9 must add up to 9; 0 must add up to 0.

8
<3
>10
9
0
6
7
3
3
<3
1
>4
10
2
3
<5
1
>3
10
Solution as text
  1. 1–6 — 1 at row 5, column 2, 6 at row 5, column 1
  2. 3–0 — 3 at row 3, column 3, 0 at row 3, column 4
  3. 1–5 — 1 at row 6, column 4, 5 at row 6, column 5
  4. 6–3 — 6 at row 7, column 9, 3 at row 7, column 8
  5. 0–2 — 0 at row 7, column 2, 2 at row 6, column 2
  6. 1–3 — 1 at row 5, column 8, 3 at row 5, column 7
  7. 2–2 — 2 at row 1, column 4, 2 at row 1, column 5
  8. 6–5 — 6 at row 2, column 1, 5 at row 3, column 1
  9. 1–4 — 1 at row 8, column 5, 4 at row 8, column 4
  10. 5–0 — 5 at row 9, column 9, 0 at row 8, column 9
  11. 2–4 — 2 at row 2, column 7, 4 at row 2, column 8
  12. 1–1 — 1 at row 8, column 2, 1 at row 9, column 2
  13. 3–4 — 3 at row 5, column 9, 4 at row 6, column 9
  14. 0–0 — 0 at row 2, column 5, 0 at row 3, column 5
  15. 6–6 — 6 at row 1, column 3, 6 at row 2, column 3
  16. 4–5 — 4 at row 9, column 7, 5 at row 9, column 8

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