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Home Archive 2026-02-06

Pips Answer for Friday, February 6, 2026

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

Today's Answer Back to Archive
Progress 0/6 dominoes
5
<1
=
=
>5
10

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-02-06

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-06

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-06

5
<1
=
=
>5
10

Complete answer for 2026-02-06 (Easy)

When I tackled the 2026-02-06 Pips puzzles, I started with the Easy set by Ian Livengood. My strategy always begins with identifying 'locked' cells—those with unique constraints like empty spots or specific target sums.

For instance, the region at [0,4] had a sum target of 5, which immediately restricted the domino choices. I then looked for the 'equals' constraints at [0,3], [1,3], and [2,3] to see which dominoes could bridge those gaps. Moving to the

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-06

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-06

>3
=
1
4
16
21

Complete answer for 2026-02-06 (Medium)

Medium puzzle, I noticed the sum constraint of 16 in the middle was quite high, which helped me narrow down the possible high-value dominoes like the double-sixes or six-fives.

I focused on the empty cells at [2,4] and [3,0] early on to prevent them from blocking my paths later. The

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-06

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-06

8
10
1
4
10
=
4
10
>9
=
=
=

Complete answer for 2026-02-06 (Hard)

Hard puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan was the real challenge. The 'equals' region involving four different cells ([2,3], [3,2], [3,3], [4,2]) required a lot of trial and error.

I cross-referenced the sum targets of 10 at [0,2]/[0,3] and [3,0]/[3,1] against the available dominoes to ensure I wasn't using the same values twice. By carefully mapping out the domino placements like [3,2] and [3,3] first, the rest of the board slowly fell into place through a process of elimination.

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What I Learned

This specific set taught me a lot about the 'equals' constraint in larger clusters. In the Hard puzzle, the four-way equality acts like an anchor for the entire board; if you get one cell wrong, the whole grid collapses.

I also noticed an interesting pattern where the sum of 10 appeared multiple times across different puzzles, which is a common trick to make you second-guess which high-value dominoes to use. A tricky move was managing the empty cells in the Medium puzzle—it's easy to forget they are there and try to place a domino over them, but using them as boundaries actually makes the logic much clearer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start a Pips puzzle?
Always look for the 'empty' or 'sum' regions with very low or very high targets first. These restrict the possibilities the most and give you a solid starting point.
How do you handle the 'equals' constraint when it covers multiple cells?
Think of it as a shared value. If one cell in an 'equals' region is determined to be a 4, every other cell in that specific region must also be a 4. This significantly limits your domino choices.
What should I do if I get stuck on the Hard puzzle?
Check your domino inventory. If you've used all your high numbers (like 5s and 6s) on small sum targets, you likely made a mistake early on and need to backtrack.

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