Home Archive 2026-01-28

Pips Answer for Wednesday, January 28, 2026

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

Today's Answer Back to Archive

Progress 0/5 dominoes

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-01-28

🟢

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-01-28

Complete answer for 2026-01-28 (Easy)

I started the Easy puzzle by looking for the most restrictive spots. The single-cell sum target of 4 at (1,4) was my first anchor. Since only one cell was involved, that part of the domino had to be a 4.

Then I looked at the sum of 8 at (3,3) and (3,4). In this set, the only way to get an 8 was using the [4,4] domino, which locked those two in place. From there, the 'equals' constraints at (1,2)/(2,2) and (2,3)/(2,4) acted like a bridge, helping me thread the [5,1] and [4,1] dominoes through the remaining gaps.

🟡

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-01-28

Complete answer for 2026-01-28 (Medium)

For the Medium puzzle, the difficulty jumped. I immediately scanned for high-value targets. The sum of 9 at (1,0) and (2,0) was a huge hint.

I looked at my dominoes—[5,2], [3,4], [5,3], [0,6], [4,5], [6,6], [1,1]—and realized the [6,6] couldn't fit there because 6+6 is 12, so it had to be something like the 4 and 5 from the [4,5] tile. The 'greater than' clues were my next priority. (1,5) had to be greater than 5, which meant it almost certainly had to be a 6. By the time I reached the

🔴

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-01-28

>10

≠

Complete answer for 2026-01-28 (Hard)

Hard puzzle, I knew I had to be very methodical. The 'unequal' region was the trickiest part; four different cells [(3,2), (4,0), (4,1), (4,2)] all had to have different values.

I used the 'less than 2' sum at (4,3) and (4,4) to narrow things down to 0 and 1. This forced the [0,0] and [5,1] dominoes into very specific orientations. The 'greater than 10' region was the final piece of the puzzle, requiring the [5,5] and [2,6] dominoes to be positioned just right so their high-value ends met the target.

💡

What I Learned

This set of puzzles really taught me the value of looking at what *isn't* possible. Especially in the Hard puzzle, the 'unequal' constraint is a powerful tool for elimination. If you know a region can't have duplicate numbers, you can cross-reference it with your remaining dominoes to see which ones are physically impossible to place there.

I also noticed a pattern where 'equals' constraints often act as connectors between two different dominoes, forcing a specific number to appear in both. Another trick I picked up today was prioritizing the 'empty' cells. They might seem useless, but they act as walls that define the board's shape, often leaving only one or two paths for the longer domino chains to follow.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I get stuck on a sum constraint?

Check your available dominoes first. Often, a high sum like 10 or 11 can only be made by one or two specific dominoes in your tray. If the sum is small, like 1 or 2, look for tiles with zeros or ones.

How do the 'equals' regions work?

An equals region means that every cell within that highlighted area must have the same number of pips. This usually forces you to align two different dominoes so that their touching ends match.

Is it better to start from the corners or the center?

Usually, starting near the specific sum or greater/less than constraints is better than just picking a corner. These constraints give you concrete numbers to work with, whereas corners might be part of several different domino combinations.

What does the 'unequal' constraint mean?

It means every single cell within that colored region must contain a different number of pips. If there are four cells in the region, you must use four different values (like 1, 2, 3, and 4) across those spots.

How to Use This Board

Select a Domino

Tap any domino from the tray below the board to select it

Place on Board

Tap a cell on the board where you think it belongs. If correct, both cells reveal!

Rotate if Needed

Tap a selected domino again to rotate it, or use the rotate button

Use Hints

Stuck? Use the Hint button to reveal one domino, or Solve All to see everything