Pips Answer for Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Complete NYT Pips puzzle solution with interactive board and expert analysis.
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Nyt Pips easy answer for 2025-12-31
Answer for 2025-12-31
Solving the puzzles for December 31st was a great way to end the year. I started with the Easy level by Ian Livengood. The first thing that caught my eye was that huge 'Sum 18' region in the bottom middle.
Since it only covers three squares, I knew I needed high numbers. I looked at my dominoes and saw the [6,3], [4,4], and [6,0]. It turned out that using a 6 from the [6,3] domino and parts of others made it click. Once that big sum was filled, the 'Sum 7' and 'Sum 8' areas fell into place like a breeze.
Nyt Pips medium answer for 2025-12-31
Answer for 2025-12-31
For the Medium puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan, I shifted my strategy to focus on the 'equals' regions. There were two sets of three squares that had to be the same value.
This is a massive hint because it limits which dominoes can bridge those gaps. I noticed the [6,6] and [4,4] dominoes were available, which are always prime candidates for equality regions. I matched the [6,5] and [6,6] around the top to satisfy those triple-equals zones.
Nyt Pips hard answer for 2025-12-31
Answer for 2025-12-31
Finally, the Hard puzzle was a real brain burner. The bottom row had five different sum targets: 12, 3, 1, 2, and 5. I knew the 'Sum 12' at (4,0) and (4,1) had to be two 6s, but since I didn't have a [6,6] domino, I had to use the 6s from two different dominoes, specifically the [6,3] and [6,2].
After fixing those, I worked my way up to the long equality chain of five squares in the middle. Seeing that they all had to be the same number really narrowed down the remaining pieces like the [2,4] and [1,2]. It was like a big math jigsaw puzzle where one piece forced the next into its spot.
What I Learned
This set of puzzles taught me to never ignore the empty squares. In the Easy puzzle, the empty spots at (0,1) and (3,3) actually helped by blocking off certain domino orientations, making the 'Sum 18' much easier to visualize.
I also noticed a pattern in Rodolfo's designs where he likes to use 'Equality Chains.' In both the Medium and Hard puzzles, these chains act as the backbone of the grid. If you get one number wrong in that chain, the whole puzzle collapses, so it’s always best to double-check those first. Also, the Hard puzzle reminded me that a sum of 12 doesn't always mean a [6,6] domino; it can be two 6s from adjacent dominoes, which is a classic trick to trip up beginners.