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Home Archive 2025-12-21

Pips Answer for Sunday, December 21, 2025

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

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Progress 0/5 dominoes
4
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6
8

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2025-12-21

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2025-12-21

NYT Pips easy answer for 2025-12-21

4
=
6
8

Complete answer for 2025-12-21 (Easy)

I jumped into the December 21st set with a coffee in hand, ready for Ian Livengood and Rodolfo Kurchan's challenges. For the Easy puzzle, I immediately spotted the single-cell sum regions.

The cell at (0,1) had a target of 4, and (1,2) was marked as empty, which gave me a solid anchor. Since I had the [2,4] and [2,5] dominoes available, I realized the 4 had to come from the [2,4] domino. Moving to the

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2025-12-21

NYT Pips medium answer for 2025-12-21

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11
6
6
6
<4

Complete answer for 2025-12-21 (Medium)

Medium puzzle, the 'equals' regions were the key. Cells (0,2) and (0,3) had to be the same, and with dominoes like [5,5] and [2,2] in the pool, I looked for pairs that could bridge those spots.

I placed the [5,5] at the top and worked my way down to the sum regions. The

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2025-12-21

NYT Pips hard answer for 2025-12-21

3
2
18
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11
5
5
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Complete answer for 2025-12-21 (Hard)

Hard puzzle by Rodolfo was a different beast entirely. The sum of 18 across three cells (2,2), (2,3), and (2,4) was the big breakthrough. In a Pips puzzle, getting an 18 from three cells almost always means you're looking at 6s.

I scanned the dominoes for anything with a 6—[6,3], [6,4], [6,1], [5,6], [0,6]—and started mapping them out. The 'unequal' region at the top right was tricky, but by process of elimination and checking the 'equals' block at the bottom right, the pieces finally clicked into place. It was all about balancing those large sums with the remaining low-value dominoes like [0,0] and [0,1].

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What I Learned

This puzzle set really emphasized how important the 'empty' cells are. At first, you think they're just dead space, but they actually act as walls that force dominoes into specific orientations.

I also learned that in Rodolfo Kurchan's Hard puzzles, the 'equals' regions that cover five cells are usually the heart of the puzzle; if you solve those, the rest of the board tends to collapse into place. Another trick I picked up today was looking at the domino pool early—seeing a [0,0] or [1,1] helps you identify where those tiny sum regions (like the sum of 2 at (1,6)) have to be.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 'empty' region type mean in Pips?
An empty region means that specific cell doesn't have a numerical value or dot count assigned to it for a sum or comparison. It effectively acts as a blank spot that you must still cover with a domino piece, often using the '0' side of a domino.
How do I handle a region marked 'unequal'?
In an unequal region, every cell within that shaded area must contain a different number of pips. If you have four cells in an unequal region, you can't have two 5s in there, even if they are from different dominoes.
Are the dominoes always used only once?
Yes, just like a standard set of dominoes, each unique pair (like 5-6 or 0-2) is used exactly once to fill the grid. If you think you need two [6,6] pieces, you might want to re-check your math!

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