NYT Pips game — Hints & Answers (October 4, 2025)

Daily Guide

Quick, spoiler-free tips first — full solutions are hidden behind "Show Solution" so you can choose how much to reveal.

Spoiler warning

This page includes full puzzle solutions below. If you want only hints, read the short tips and avoid expanding the solution sections.

How to use these hints

Start small: look for the most constrained region first (single-number or small equals zones).
Edges help: corners and borders reduce domino placement options.
Use sums: sum constraints quickly rule out impossible domino combinations.
Prefer logic: try to deduce forced placements before guessing — backtrack if needed.

📖 Show Complete Solution (Spoilers)

💡 Click a cell to reveal its answer number

Start at the top-left region — the sum forces a single domino choice.
Place that domino and propagate matching numbers to adjacent regions.
Use remaining sums to eliminate impossible placements; finish by filling the bottom area.

Tip: use the game "Play Easy" link to confirm placements interactively.

Identify the central equals/unequals region — it often unlocks multiple neighbors.
Watch greater-than/less-than clues to narrow possible sums quickly.
If stuck, rule out placements that violate two different constraints at once.

📖 Show Complete Solution (Spoilers)

💡 Click a cell to reveal its answer number

Resolve the central equals region first — identical halves reduce possibilities.
Apply greater/less constraints to lock in minimum or maximum sums for adjacent zones.
Progress outward, confirming not-equal rules as you place dominoes.

Medium puzzles reward careful cross-checking between adjacent constraints.

Start by mapping dependencies: which regions strictly determine others?
Look for "empty" or near-empty zones — they constrain how dominoes can cross boundaries.
Be prepared to assume a placement and backtrack if contradictions arise.

📖 Show Advanced Solution (Spoilers)

💡 Click a cell to reveal its answer number

Create a constraint dependency map — mark which zones force others.
Find forced dominoes by combining multiple constraints (sum + equals + adjacency).
Work through implication chains; validate each step by checking all affected regions.

Hard puzzles often require juggling several constraints — methodical work beats guessing.

Start solving now!

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Good luck with today's puzzle! Remember, the journey is more important than the destination. 🎮