NYT Pips answers — Monday, October 19, 2026
The NYT Pips answers for Monday, October 19, 2026: the solved easy, medium and hard boards are below, with the squares of every domino listed and three hints per level if you would rather solve it yourself.
Easy Pips answer
Pips row by row, top to bottom (· is a gap in the board)
5 5 5 1 4 · 6 2 · 1 2 · · 5 · ·
Each domino and its squares
- 5–5 — 5 at row 1, column 2, 5 at row 1, column 3
- 2–1 — 2 at row 2, column 4, 1 at row 1, column 4
- 1–5 — 1 at row 3, column 2, 5 at row 4, column 2
- 5–4 — 5 at row 1, column 1, 4 at row 2, column 1
- 2–6 — 2 at row 3, column 3, 6 at row 2, column 3
Medium Pips answer
Pips row by row, top to bottom (· is a gap in the board)
· 4 2 · 6 1 3 6 3 0 4 5 4 · 4 1 · · 4 ·
Each domino and its squares
- 4–3 — 4 at row 4, column 1, 3 at row 3, column 1
- 4–2 — 4 at row 1, column 2, 2 at row 1, column 3
- 6–3 — 6 at row 2, column 4, 3 at row 2, column 3
- 0–4 — 0 at row 3, column 2, 4 at row 3, column 3
- 6–1 — 6 at row 2, column 1, 1 at row 2, column 2
- 5–1 — 5 at row 3, column 4, 1 at row 4, column 4
- 4–4 — 4 at row 4, column 3, 4 at row 5, column 3
Hard Pips answer
Pips row by row, top to bottom (· is a gap in the board)
4 4 4 2 · 1 5 3 3 · · · · 6 · · 3 6 2 · · 0 2 · 5 · · · · 4 · · 5 · · · · 0 6 4
Each domino and its squares
- 2–6 — 2 at row 3, column 3, 6 at row 3, column 2
- 4–0 — 4 at row 4, column 6, 0 at row 5, column 6
- 4–4 — 4 at row 1, column 1, 4 at row 1, column 2
- 3–3 — 3 at row 2, column 1, 3 at row 3, column 1
- 6–1 — 6 at row 2, column 6, 1 at row 1, column 6
- 4–6 — 4 at row 5, column 8, 6 at row 5, column 7
- 2–4 — 2 at row 1, column 4, 4 at row 1, column 3
- 2–0 — 2 at row 3, column 7, 0 at row 3, column 6
- 3–5 — 3 at row 1, column 8, 5 at row 1, column 7
- 5–5 — 5 at row 4, column 1, 5 at row 5, column 1
Rather solve it yourself?
Three hints per level, the last one placing the second domino.
Easy
Easy today is a 4×4 board with 5 dominoes and 6 regions. The mix is 2 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 2 "greater than", 1 free region. Two cells at row 2, column 3 total 8. Keep in mind that two cells at row 3, column 2 total 3. Rack check: 1 double, 1 six.
Hint 1: where to start
The long "all equal" region at row 1, column 1 (3 cells) takes one number throughout. Count how many halves of that number the rack has.
Hint 2: first domino
First domino: 5–4, covering row 1, column 1 (5) and row 2, column 1 (4).
Hint 3: second domino
Second: 2–6 on row 3, column 3 and row 2, column 3. Check the other 3 against the regions they could still fill.
Medium
7 dominoes, 7 regions, a 5×4 grid: that's the medium puzzle for October 19, 2026. You're working with 2 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 1 "less than", 2 "greater than". The "=" region starting at row 3, column 3 has 3 matching cells, all 4s. Worth noting on the rack: 1 double, 1 blank half, 2 sixes.
Hint 1: where to start
Row 3, column 1 is a region of its own with target 3: that cell is a 3. Only dominoes carrying a 3 can reach it.
Hint 2: first domino
The 4–3 goes there: 4 on row 4, column 1, 3 on row 3, column 1.
Hint 3: second domino
Next, the 0–4 goes at row 3, column 2 → row 3, column 3. That leaves 5 dominoes, each with far fewer homes.
Hard
Hard is 13 regions on a 5×8 grid, filled by 10 dominoes. Rules on the board: 6 sum regions, 1 "all equal", 1 "less than", 3 "greater than", 2 free regions. Besides the opening move in Hint 1, the single cell at row 2, column 6 is marked 6, so it can only hold a 6. Keep in mind that a one-cell region at row 3, column 7 asks for 2, which fixes that cell outright. The rack holds 3 doubles, 2 blank halves, 3 sixes.
Hint 1: where to start
A one-cell region at row 1, column 4 asks for 2, which fixes that cell outright. Find the domino with a 2 that fits there.
Hint 2: first domino
The 2–4 goes there: 2 on row 1, column 4, 4 on row 1, column 3.
Hint 3: second domino
Next, the 6–1 goes at row 2, column 6 → row 1, column 6. That leaves 8 dominoes, each with far fewer homes.