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NYT Pips answers — Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Pips #339 · 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 — July 22, 2026

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

The easy board runs 3 rows by 3 columns: 4 dominoes to place across 4 regions. The mix is 3 sum regions, 1 "less than". The two-cell region at row 2, column 1 adds to 11: the only split is 5 + 6.. After that, the pair at row 1, column 1 adds to 10; list the ways to make 10 with the rack you have.. Rack check: 2 blank halves, 2 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The two-cell region at row 2, column 1 adds to 11: the only split is 5 + 6.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 5–6 domino with its 5 at row 2, column 1 and its 6 at row 1, column 1.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 0–4 goes at row 1, column 3 → row 1, 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: 10 must add up to 10; 4 must add up to 4; 11 must add up to 11; <4 must add up to less than 4.

10
4
11
<4
Solution as text
  1. 3–4 — 3 at row 3, column 3, 4 at row 2, column 3
  2. 0–4 — 0 at row 1, column 3, 4 at row 1, column 2
  3. 5–6 — 5 at row 2, column 1, 6 at row 1, column 1
  4. 6–0 — 6 at row 3, column 1, 0 at row 3, column 2

Medium Pips answer — July 22, 2026

5×5 board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

The medium board runs 5 rows by 5 columns: 7 dominoes to place across 9 regions. You're working with 2 sum regions, 3 "all equal", 1 "less than", 1 "greater than", 2 free regions. The way in: the "=" pair at row 2, column 2 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. After that, the "=" pair at row 2, column 3 needs two identical pips — a double, or matching halves from two dominoes.. Rack check: 2 doubles, 2 blank halves, 4 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

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

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 4–0 domino with its 4 at row 2, column 2 and its 0 at row 1, column 2.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 6–6 goes at row 2, column 3 → 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: <3 must add up to less than 3; = must all be the same number; 6 must add up to 6; >1 must add up to more than 1.

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

Hard Pips answer — July 22, 2026

8×8 board · 16 dominoes · 18 regions · by Rodolfo Kurchan

Hard today is a 8×8 board with 16 dominoes and 18 regions. The mix is 11 sum regions, 6 "all equal", 1 "greater than". The single cell at row 1, column 7 is marked 5, so it can only hold a 5. After that, the single cell at row 2, column 6 is marked 1, so it can only hold a 1. Rack check: 3 doubles, 4 blank halves, 3 sixes.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The single cell at row 1, column 7 is marked 5, so it can only hold a 5. Find the domino with a 5 that fits there.

Hint 2 — first domino

Place the 3–5 domino with its 3 at row 1, column 6 and its 5 at row 1, column 7.

Hint 3 — second domino

Next, the 4–1 goes at row 3, column 6 → row 2, column 6. 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; 5 must add up to 5; 3 must add up to 3; 1 must add up to 1; 12 must add up to 12.

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

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