Pips Answer for Thursday, November 20, 2025
Complete NYT Pips puzzle solution with interactive board and expert analysis.
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Expert Puzzle Analysis
Deep insights from puzzle experts
Nyt Pips easy answer for 2025-11-20
Answer for 2025-11-20
I started with the Easy puzzle to get my brain warmed up. The first thing I noticed was the sum target of 5 at (0,0). Since that's just a single cell, it had to be a 5.
Looking at the available dominoes, the [0,5] was the only one that could fit there while also satisfying the equality constraint at (0,1). Once I placed the 0 and 5, the rest of the 3x4 grid fell into place like a series of falling tiles. Moving on to the
Nyt Pips medium answer for 2025-11-20
Answer for 2025-11-20
Medium puzzle, it was a bit more of a spatial challenge. The 'unequal' region in the middle is usually what scares people off, but I used it as a process of elimination. I focused on the sum of 0 at (1,0) and the sum of 5 at (3,0).
Since 0 is such a restricted number in these puzzles, it acted as my anchor. I realized that the [0,2] domino had to start there. The most satisfying part was the
Nyt Pips hard answer for 2025-11-20
Answer for 2025-11-20
Hard puzzle. With 12 dominoes, it looks messy, but the sum target of 18 across just three cells (0,1, 1,0, and 1,1) is a huge gift. Mathematically, the only way to get 18 from three cells in a pips game is if every single one of them is a 6. That immediately locked down three different dominoes.
From there, I followed the 'equals' chains. If one cell in a four-cell equal region is a 2, they all are. I spent most of my time double-checking that I didn't reuse the [6,5] domino where a [6,4] should go. It's all about keeping track of your inventory as you go.
What I Learned
The biggest takeaway from today's set, especially the Hard one, is how powerful large sum constraints are. A sum of 18 in three cells is basically the game telling you exactly what to do.
I also noticed a tricky pattern in the Medium puzzle where the 'unequal' region actually helps you narrow down the 'equal' regions nearby—it's like a reverse logic puzzle. If you know a cell cannot be a 5 because it's in an unequal group with a 5, then any cell it is linked to in an 'equals' group also cannot be a 5. It's all connected in a big web.