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Pips Answer for Saturday, January 24, 2026

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

Progress 0/5 dominoes
>2
<2
7
<3
=
=

Click a domino below or a cell on the board to reveal

Expert Puzzle Analysis

Deep insights from puzzle experts

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Nyt Pips easy answer for 2026-01-24

>2
<2
7
<3
=
=

Answer for 2026-01-24

I started by tackling the Easy puzzle first to warm up. I looked at the constraints for the regions and noticed the 'less than 2' and 'greater than 2' conditions, which immediately narrowed down the possible domino placements for the [3,1] and [2,3] pieces.

By checking the sums and equality regions, I could see where the [6,6] had to sit because it's such a large value. Once the anchors were in place, the rest of the dominoes fell into line based on the remaining space. Moving to the

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Nyt Pips medium answer for 2026-01-24

6
=
6
<4
=
6

Answer for 2026-01-24

Medium puzzle, I focused on the 'sum to 6' regions. Since I had dominoes like [3,3] and [4,2] equivalents, I had to be careful not to overlap.

The equality constraint between indices [2,1] and [3,1] was the key break-in point there. Finally,

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Nyt Pips hard answer for 2026-01-24

2
6
1
10
=
0
>21
=
5
2
>10
0

Answer for 2026-01-24

for the Hard puzzle, I looked for the most restrictive sums first. The sum of 0 and the sum of 1 are very limiting, so I placed those early.

The 'greater than 21' region was the biggest challenge, requiring the highest value pips left in the pool. I used a process of elimination for the 'equals' regions that spanned four cells, ensuring the values matched the available domino halves. It took a bit of back-and-forth shifting, but the logic held up.

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What I Learned

One thing that really stood out today was how the 'empty' cells act as natural barriers that define the board's flow. In the Hard puzzle, the way the 'equals' regions were shaped forced a specific orientation for the longer dominoes.

I also realized that whenever you see a very high sum requirement, like the 21 in the hard set, you should immediately look at your 5s and 6s because there is almost no other way to reach that total. It’s a great reminder to always scan for the most extreme constraints first.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start a Pips puzzle?
Always look for regions with very small or very large target sums, or those with unique types like 'empty'. These provide the firmest starting points.
How do you handle the 'equals' regions with many cells?
If a region says four cells are equal, they must all contain the same pip value. Check your remaining dominoes to see which number has enough halves available to fill those spots.
Can a domino be placed vertically or horizontally?
Yes, dominoes can be placed in either orientation as long as they fit within the grid and satisfy the regional constraints.