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Home Archive 2025-10-25

Pips Answer for Saturday, October 25, 2025

Complete NYT Pips puzzle solution with interactive board and expert analysis.

Today's Answer Back to Archive
Progress 0/6 dominoes
=
<8
11
10

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2025-10-25

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2025-10-25

NYT Pips easy answer for 2025-10-25

=
<8
11
10

Complete answer for 2025-10-25 (Easy)

I jumped into the Easy puzzle by Heidi Erwin first, and it was a great warm-up. I immediately looked for the Sum 11 and Sum 10 regions because they usually have the most restricted options.

For the Sum 11 at (2,0) and (3,0), I knew it had to be the 5-6 domino since that was the only pair in the list that added up to 11. Once that was in, the Sum 10 at (3,2) and (3,3) was obviously the 5-5 double. The

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2025-10-25

NYT Pips medium answer for 2025-10-25

1
24
=
=
≠
3

Complete answer for 2025-10-25 (Medium)

Medium puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan was a step up in logic. The Sum 24 region was the real anchor.

I had to look at the available dominoes and find four cells that hit that high number, which meant using the 6-6 and parts of the 6-3 and 5-5 dominoes. The 'unequal' region was a bit of a brain teaser until I realized it just meant none of those five cells could share a value.

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2025-10-25

NYT Pips hard answer for 2025-10-25

2
12
≠
1
4
26
=
>4
0
0
6
4

Complete answer for 2025-10-25 (Hard)

Finally, the Hard puzzle was a marathon. Rodolfo really likes using those 'Sum 0' regions as anchors. Finding the 0-0 spots (like at 4,1) helped clear up the board.

The Sum 26 region across five cells was the hardest part; I had to basically count backwards from the total available pips to see what was left. I spent a good chunk of time on the 'equals' region at (2,5) through (2,8), making sure the values matched up with the dominoes I had left over like the 2-2 and parts of the 1-2. It felt like a giant game of elimination where every zero and every high sum was a clue that narrowed down the field.

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What I Learned

I learned that the 'unequal' regions are actually easier if you solve the surrounding areas first, rather than trying to guess what five different numbers could be. In the Medium puzzle, it was a good reminder that the empty cells act as natural barriers that define the shape of the remaining dominoes.

I also noticed a pattern in Rodolfo Kurchan's designs where he uses several 'Sum 0' or 'Sum 1' regions to force your hand early on. It makes you realize that even a small number like 1 is just as powerful for solving as a big number like 26 because it limits the possibilities to almost nothing. The trickiest part today was definitely the Hard puzzle's 2-5 to 2-8 'equals' region; seeing how the pips had to balance across those four cells while fitting the available dominoes felt like balancing a scale.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start a Pips puzzle?
Always look for the regions with very high or very low sum targets first. A sum of 0 or 1, or a very high sum like 24 or 26, usually only has one or two possible domino combinations, which gives you a solid starting point.
How do 'equals' regions work in larger puzzles?
In an 'equals' region, every single cell listed in that region must have the exact same number of pips. This is a huge hint because it means you are looking for dominoes that have matching halves or parts of different dominoes that share the same number.
What should I do if I get stuck on the Hard level?
Look for the empty cells. These are spots where no domino pips are placed, and they often act as 'walls' that dictate how the dominoes must be oriented. Once you map out the walls, the physical space for the remaining dominoes becomes much clearer.
Do dominoes have to be placed horizontally or vertically?
They can be either! The solution depends on how the regions are shaped and which dominoes are left in your tray. Don't get tunnel vision; if a horizontal fit isn't working, try flipping it to a vertical orientation.

How to Use This Board

1

Select a Domino

Tap any domino from the tray below the board to select it

2

Place on Board

Tap a cell on the board where you think it belongs. If correct, both cells reveal!

3

Rotate if Needed

Tap a selected domino again to rotate it, or use the rotate button

4

Use Hints

Stuck? Use the Hint button to reveal one domino, or Solve All to see everything