NYT Pips is a daily logic puzzle from The New York Times. You place dominoes on a color-coded grid so that every region satisfies a mathematical rule. It launched in August 2025 and quickly became one of the most popular games in the NYT lineup. On TECHi daily hubs, answers use the same tap-to-reveal spoiler strip as Wordle and Quordle before the full write-up.
What Is NYT Pips?
Pips are the dots on dominoes, numbered 0 to 6 on each half. In the game, you drag and drop dominoes onto a grid divided into colored regions. Each region has a rule you must satisfy — an exact sum, an equality constraint, or a comparison. There are three puzzles every day: Easy, Medium, and Hard.
Rules and Symbols
| Symbol | What It Means |
|---|---|
| = | All pip values in the region must be equal |
| ≠ | All pip values must be different |
| > N | The sum of pips must be greater than N |
| < N | The sum of pips must be less than N |
| Number (e.g. 8) | Pips in the region must add up to exactly that number |
| Blank / no color | No constraint — any domino goes here |
How to Play (Step by Step)
- Open the NYT Pips game page and pick a difficulty (Easy, Medium, or Hard).
- Look at the grid — note the colored regions and the rule shown in each one.
- Review the dominoes available below the board.
- Click a domino to rotate it. Drag it onto the grid to place it.
- A single domino can span two colored regions — each half satisfies the rule for its own region.
- Every domino must be used and every cell must be filled.
- You win when all regions are satisfied. There is no timer and no penalty for mistakes.
Proven Strategies
- Start with corners and edges. Edge dominoes have only two possible orientations (horizontal or vertical), compared to four for interior pieces. Locking the border first dramatically reduces the remaining possibilities.
- Identify forced moves. Single-cell regions, strict equality zones, and very low/high sum targets usually have only one valid domino. Do those first.
- Think about where a domino cannot go. Elimination is often faster than trial and error.
- Save high-value dominoes (5s and 6s). These are the most constrained pieces — don’t waste them on regions that accept anything.
- Memorize common totals. Sums like 7 (6+1, 5+2, 4+3), 8, 10, and 12 come up frequently.
Difficulty Levels Explained
| Level | Grid Size | Dominoes | Typical Solve Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Small (3×4 or 4×4) | 4–6 | 1–3 minutes |
| Medium | Medium (4×5 or 5×5) | 6–9 | 3–8 minutes |
| Hard | Large (5×7 or larger) | 10–14 | 8–20 minutes |
Ready to play? See today’s NYT Pips hints and answers →
Missed yesterday? Check yesterday’s NYT Pips answers →
When does NYT Pips refresh?
New puzzles (Easy, Medium, and Hard) drop every day at midnight in your local time zone.
Can one domino satisfy two different rules?
Yes. A single domino can span two colored regions, with each half satisfying a different constraint. This is often the key to solving Hard puzzles.
Is there a timer or penalty for mistakes?
No timer and no penalty. You can undo moves, rotate dominoes, and experiment freely until you solve the board.
Is NYT Pips free?
Pips offers limited free access. Full access to all three difficulty levels requires a New York Times Games subscription.
What is the best opening strategy?
Start with corners and edges, then lock forced moves (single-cell regions and strict equality zones). Work inward from the border to the center.
Enjoy other NYT daily games? See our Wordle hints, Connections hints, and Strands hints.
