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Pips Answer for Sunday, November 30, 2025

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

Progress 0/5 dominoes
3
=
6
6

Click a domino below or a cell on the board to reveal

Expert Puzzle Analysis

Deep insights from puzzle experts

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Nyt Pips easy answer for 2025-11-30

3
=
6
6

Answer for 2025-11-30

I started with the Easy puzzle to get my brain in the right headspace. The first thing I noticed were the two Sum=6 regions at the bottom. Since I only had a few dominoes with high enough numbers like the 5-4 and 4-1, I knew those had to be involved there.

The Equals region in the middle row was the anchor. Once I realized the middle row had to be consistent, the rest of the dominoes like the 1-6 and 0-4 fell into place. Moving on to the

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Nyt Pips medium answer for 2025-11-30

9
>1
8
0
7
2

Answer for 2025-11-30

Medium puzzle, the Sum=0 region was an absolute gift. It immediately told me where the blank sides of the dominoes were. I then looked at the Sum=9 region at the top right.

In a set that includes a 6-5 and 4-4, there are only a couple of ways to get to 9, especially when you're restricted by the empty cells at (0,2) and (2,2). I used a bit of trial and error with the 4-4 domino, which eventually forced the 6-5 into the Sum=11 range, but since the target was 9, I had to adjust and use the 0-4 and 5-6 differently. The

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Nyt Pips hard answer for 2025-11-30

>4
0
=
0
2
>4
<2
4
>2
4
=
<2
18
0
=

Answer for 2025-11-30

Hard puzzle was a real marathon. I immediately jumped on the Sum=18 region spanning three cells. To get an 18 out of three cells, you almost always need 6s. I saw the 6-6 domino in the list and knew it had to live there. Then I looked at the three different Sum=0 regions.

These are like land mines—they dictate exactly where the zeros go. The Equals region at the bottom right (four cells!) was the hardest part. I had to make sure the value I picked for those cells didn't use up a number I needed for the Sum=4 or the Greater than 4 clues. I spent a lot of time toggling the 3-4 and 3-3 dominoes back and forth until the logic finally clicked. It's all about finding those tiny anchors and building out from them.

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What I Learned

This set really taught me the value of looking at the domino pool before making a move. In the Hard puzzle, seeing that there was a 6-6 and a 1-5 made the Sum=18 region much less intimidating.

I also learned that 'Equals' regions with four cells are actually easier than they look because they limit your options so much—you can't use a number if you don't have enough of them left on your dominoes. A tricky move I found was in the Medium puzzle where an empty cell actually helped me narrow down which side of the domino was which, acting as a sort of wall. I used to ignore the 'Greater than' clues until the end, but today I realized they are great for eliminating high-value dominoes early on so you don't accidentally waste a 6 or a 5 where a 2 would have worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start a Hard Pips puzzle?
Always look for the most restrictive regions first. Sums that are very high (like 18) or very low (like 0) usually only have one or two possible domino combinations, which gives you a solid starting point.
How do you handle 'Equals' regions that span many cells?
Check your remaining dominoes to see which numbers appear most frequently. If you need four cells to be equal, you need at least two dominoes that have that specific number on them. It’s often a low number like 0, 1, or 2.
What should I do if I have two dominoes that both fit a sum?
Look at the adjacent regions. Often, one of those dominoes will be needed elsewhere to satisfy a more difficult clue, like a 'Greater than' or a specific 'Sum' that only that domino can fulfill.
Do 'Empty' cells count toward sums?
No, empty cells are essentially blockers. They don't have pips and don't contribute to the math, but they are crucial because they limit where a domino can be placed.