Today's hints
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The answer
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Why this answer
The letters, categories, or grid logic that made this one tricky.
What made this one tricky:
- Pips is an ID-first solve check: confirm the Easy, Medium, and Hard labels before opening the reveal so you do not mix boards.
The September 5 set is identified by NYT’s dated Pips feed as Easy #1211, Medium #1215 and Hard #1228. The Easy board has a forced 6 from its >5 region. Medium revolves around totals of 10 and 15. Hard becomes manageable after fixing its single-cell totals of 3 and 5, then reconciling the low sums, 15-sum regions and equality cells.
Recent Pips answers
Stuck on a streak day? Past solves keep you moving.
Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sep 4, 2026 | Pips | Easy #1213, Medium #1217 and Hard #1230. |
More from the desk
Pips is solved by satisfying every colored region while placing each domino orientation consistently. Start with forced single cells and narrow inequalities before tackling flexible equality areas.
On today’s Hard board, the single-cell sums are the strongest anchors. The small sum regions then rule out high-value placements, while the 15 totals absorb them elsewhere.
The numbers in the revealed answer are the official dated board IDs for each difficulty.
FAQ
Which NYT Pips boards are dated September 5, 2026?
Easy is #1211, Medium is #1215 and Hard is #1228.
What is the best first move on today’s Easy Pips board?
Start with the greater-than-5 region because it must contain a 6.
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