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Home Archive 2025-12-04

Pips Answer for Thursday, December 4, 2025

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

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Progress 0/5 dominoes
1
=
12
11
=

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2025-12-04

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2025-12-04

NYT Pips easy answer for 2025-12-04

1
=
12
11
=

Complete answer for 2025-12-04 (Easy)

Solving the Pips puzzles for December 4th felt like a great morning workout for my brain. I started with the Easy level, where my eyes immediately went to the sum target of 12 for the region containing (1,2) and (2,2). Since the dominoes provided were [5,3], [4,4], [0,0], [1,5], and [6,6], the only way to hit 12 was using the [6,6] domino.

Once that was locked in vertically, I looked at the single cell sum of 1 at (0,0). That forced the [1,5] domino to be placed at [[0,0],[0,1]], putting the 1 at (0,0). Because (0,1) and (1,1) had to be equal, (1,1) became 5. This left the remaining pieces to fall into place for the sum of 11 in the first column.

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2025-12-04

NYT Pips medium answer for 2025-12-04

6
6
5
5
5
5
>3
=

Complete answer for 2025-12-04 (Medium)

For the Medium puzzle, things got a bit more interesting with the empty cells and multiple target sums of 5. I spotted the single cell target of 6 at (1,0) right away. Looking at my dominoes, the only ones with a 6 were [3,6] and [6,5]. I noticed a long 'equals' region for cells (1,3), (2,3), (3,3), and (4,3). This meant all four cells needed the same number.

I cross-referenced this with the sum targets of 5 at (2,4) and (2,5). By testing the [0,3] and [3,2] dominoes, I realized the equal value had to be 0 or 3. I eventually found that 0 fit perfectly, allowing the [5,0] and [0,0] dominoes to anchor that section. The Greater Than 3 clue at (4,2) was the final piece of the puzzle to confirm my layout. The

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2025-12-04

NYT Pips hard answer for 2025-12-04

1
>4
>1
>3
1
0
=
=
0
1
11
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Complete answer for 2025-12-04 (Hard)

Hard puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan was a real masterpiece of constraints. I always look for zeros first in Hard mode. The regions (2,5) and the sum of (3,2) and (4,2) both needing to be 0 meant I had to burn my [0,0] and [0,5] or [0,4] dominoes carefully. I placed the [0,0] at [[3,2],[4,2]] because they were in a sum region together.

Then I tackled the 'equals' columns at column 6 and column 1. Column 6 needed three identical numbers, and Column 1 needed three identical numbers. By observing the [1,1], [3,3], and [4,4] dominoes, I realized these 'doubles' were the keys to satisfying those equality constraints. The 'unequal' region was the trickiest part, requiring me to keep a mental tally of which numbers I had already used in that cluster to ensure no repeats. It took some back-and-forth shifting, but once the [4,6] and [5,3] dominoes were placed to satisfy the sum of 11 at (4,3) and (5,3), the rest of the board cleared up.

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What I Learned

Today's puzzles really highlighted how powerful 'Equals' regions are when they span across multiple dominoes. In the Hard puzzle, having two separate sets of triple-equals cells essentially forced the use of double-number dominoes or very specific placement of pairs.

I also learned a neat trick on the Medium puzzle: when you have multiple regions with the same sum target (like all those 5s), it usually implies a rotation of similar dominoes or a shared common number. The most 'aha' moment was realizing that the 'Unequal' region in the Hard puzzle isn't just a list of numbers you can't use; it's a logic gate that prevents you from placing doubles in a way that would repeat a digit within that specific shape.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 'Unequal' region type mean?
In an 'Unequal' region, every single cell within that designated shape must contain a different number of pips. If there are five cells in the region, you must use five different values from 0 to 6.
How do I handle the 'Greater' target in Medium/Hard?
The 'Greater' target (e.g., target 3) means the specific cell must have more pips than the target number. So for target 3, the cell must be a 4, 5, or 6.
Can dominoes be rotated?
Yes, dominoes can be placed horizontally or vertically, and the numbers on them can be flipped (e.g., a [1,5] can be placed as 1-5 or 5-1) to satisfy the regional constraints.
What happens if a region has only one cell and a sum target?
That is essentially a fixed value. If a single cell has a sum target of 6, you must place a domino so that the half covering that cell is a 6.
Is there always only one solution?
Yes, NYT Pips puzzles are designed to have a unique logical solution based on the domino set and the constraints provided.

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