Pips Answer for Wednesday, December 24, 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 2025-12-24
Answer for 2025-12-24
I started by scanning the Easy grid for the most restrictive areas, specifically looking at the sum targets.
In the Easy puzzle, the target sum of 12 caught my eye immediately because it narrowed down my domino choices to the high-value pieces like the 6-4 and 6-3. I placed those first to see how they interacted with the equals signs.
Nyt Pips medium answer for 2025-12-24
Answer for 2025-12-24
For the Medium puzzle, I shifted my strategy to focus on the empty squares which act as natural barriers. I noticed that the sum of 3 and the greater-than target of 7 were the best places to start because they limited the possible combinations of the 0-1 and 5-5 dominoes.
By locking those in, the rest of the board fell into place through a simple process of elimination. The
Nyt Pips hard answer for 2025-12-24
Answer for 2025-12-24
Hard puzzle was definitely the highlight of this Christmas Eve set. I spent the most time on the upper-left section where the sum of 12 spanned three cells.
I had to balance the high-value pieces like the 6-5 and 4-6 while making sure I didn't use up the low-value pips needed for the sum of 0 and the empty squares at the bottom. I worked from the outside edges inward, which is my favorite technique for Rodolfo's designs, as it usually leaves the most flexible options for the middle of the board. The trickiest part was satisfying the equals constraint while also hitting the sum of 11 near the bottom, but once I realized which dominoes were left in my tray, there was only one logical path forward.
What I Learned
One of the coolest things I picked up from this session was how empty cells can be used to isolate specific dominoes. In the Hard puzzle, the empty cells at [2,5] and [6,2] really dictated where the 5-1 and 2-4 pieces could sit.
I also noticed a recurring pattern where the editor, Ian Livengood, likes to place target sums that use the maximum value of the available dominoes, which is a great hint for solvers to start with their biggest pieces. It also reminded me that target sums of 0 are the best gifts you can get in a Pips puzzle because they almost always point you directly to your blank-blank or blank-low dominoes.