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Home Archive 2026-01-20

Pips Answer for Tuesday, January 20, 2026

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

Today's Answer Back to Archive
Progress 0/5 dominoes
3
7
9
=

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-01-20

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-01-20

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-01-20

3
7
9
=

Complete answer for 2026-01-20 (Easy)

When I first opened up the Pips puzzle for today, I started with the Easy one to get my brain moving. Ian Livengood set a nice trap with those empty cells, but I focused on the Sum 9 first. Knowing I had dominoes like [6,4] and [1,5], I had to be careful where those high numbers landed.

The Sum 3 region at the top was a quick giveaway—I just needed to see which domino could bridge that gap. I eventually realized that the [2,3] domino was the only way to satisfy the mid-range sums without blocking the [6,6]. Moving to the

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-01-20

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-01-20

10
<3
>3
>1
10
10
=

Complete answer for 2026-01-20 (Medium)

Medium puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan, the difficulty definitely jumped. The three different 'Sum 10' regions were the main puzzle.

I looked at the dominoes [5,5] and [2,6] and knew they had to go there. The 'greater than' and 'less than' constraints (like the <3 and >3) helped me orient the dominoes so they didn't overlap incorrectly. The real breakthrough was the empty cell at [2,5], which forced the [2,4] side of a domino into a corner.

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-01-20

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-01-20

>8
2
=
=
0
5
=
3
=
=
<2
5
<5
<6

Complete answer for 2026-01-20 (Hard)

Finally, the Hard puzzle was a marathon. With 15 dominoes and that massive 'Equals' region involving six different cells, I had to find a value that appeared frequently across the set. I spent a good chunk of time tracking the [6,6] and [3,3] dominoes.

The region that required a 'Sum 0' was a total gift because it instantly told me where a 0-pip side had to be. I worked from the bottom up, using the <2 and Sum 5 constraints to lock in the bottom row before the middle of the board got too messy. It was all about finding those tiny anchors and building out from there.

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What I Learned

Today really reinforced how powerful 'Empty' cells are. In the Easy puzzle, they basically act as walls that dictate the entire flow of the dominoes.

I also noticed a tricky pattern in the Hard puzzle where the 'Equals' constraints were used to bridge multiple dominoes together in a chain—if you get one value wrong in that six-cell chain, the whole thing falls apart like a house of cards. I learned to look for the 'Sum 0' or 'Sum 1' regions first because they have the fewest possible combinations, which gives you a solid starting point. Also, Rodolfo loves using 'Sum 10' in Medium puzzles to force you to use your high-value pips early, which can leave you struggling for small numbers later if you aren't careful.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start a Pips puzzle?
Always look for the regions with the most restrictive rules. Things like 'Sum 0', 'Sum 12', or very small 'Less Than' targets usually only have one or two possible domino combinations.
How do empty cells affect the game?
Empty cells are placeholders that cannot be part of a domino. They are strategically placed to limit where dominoes can be laid, often forcing them into specific horizontal or vertical orientations.
Can dominoes be rotated?
Yes, dominoes can be placed either horizontally or vertically, and the pips on either side can be swapped depending on what the local region requires.
What does the 'Equals' constraint mean in a large region?
It means every single cell within that colored region must have the exact same number of pips. This is a huge hint when you have a limited number of a certain pip value left in your tray.

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