Pips Answer
Today's AnswerArchiveStats
Today's Puzzle
Home Archive 2026-01-23

Pips Answer for Friday, January 23, 2026

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

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

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-01-23

🟢

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-01-23

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-01-23

5
9
9
=
=

Complete answer for 2026-01-23 (Easy)

I tackled today's Pips set by Ian Livengood and Rodolfo Kurchan starting with the Easy puzzle, which was a great warm-up. I always look for the big numbers first, so the Sum 9 regions at the top and middle were my starting points.

I saw that the combination of 4 and 5 or 3 and 6 had to fit there. The 'Equals' constraint at the bottom (3,0) and (3,1) was the real key; once I realized those had to be 0 to accommodate the [5,0] and [0,3] dominoes, the whole left side of the board just clicked into place.

🟡

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-01-23

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-01-23

<1
4
=
1
7
1
=

Complete answer for 2026-01-23 (Medium)

For the Medium puzzle, the 'less than 1' rule at (0,2) was a total gift—it had to be a 0. That pinned the [6,0] domino vertically, which then set off a chain reaction for the 'Equals' region spanning (1,2) to (1,4).

Since I knew (1,2) was a 6, the other two had to be 6 as well, which meant the [6,6] double domino was locked in. The

🔴

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-01-23

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-01-23

7
5
7
6
10
9
3

Complete answer for 2026-01-23 (Hard)

Hard puzzle by Kurchan was definitely the main event. I spotted the Sum 10 right in the middle, and since [5,5] was on the domino list, I placed it immediately.

The most challenging part was the bottom edge where Sum 9 and Sum 3 overlapped. I had to visualize how the [6,1] and [2,3] dominoes could share those pips to satisfy both math rules at once. It took a bit of mental juggling, but once the pips were aligned, the remaining pieces like the [3,3] and [1,1] doubles fell right into their empty slots.

💡

What I Learned

Today's puzzles really highlighted how powerful 'Equals' regions can be when they contain more than two cells. In the Medium puzzle, that triple-cell region acted as a bridge that connected the top and bottom halves of the board.

I also learned a tricky move on the Hard puzzle: sometimes an 'empty' region is actually the most constrained spot because it's surrounded by high-value sums. I had to save my [0,0] and [1,1] dominoes for those empty spots near the end to make sure I didn't accidentally break the math in the Sum 7 and Sum 5 areas.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I get stuck on a Hard puzzle?
Look for the highest sum targets like 10, 11, or 12. These usually only have one or two possible domino combinations (like 5-5 or 6-6), which gives you a solid anchor to build from.
Does the order of the pips on a domino matter?
Yes! While a domino like [4,2] is one piece, which side the 4 goes on versus the 2 is crucial for satisfying the math rules in the specific grid cells they occupy.
What does a region with an 'equals' sign and three cells mean?
It means all three cells must contain the exact same number of pips. If you find the value for one, you've found it for all three, which is a huge help in narrow down your domino options.

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