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Home Archive 2026-02-16

Pips Answer for Monday, February 16, 2026

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

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Progress 0/5 dominoes
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6
9

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-02-16

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-16

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-16

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6
9

Complete answer for 2026-02-16 (Easy)

Solving the February 16th Pips set felt like a classic progression from warming up to a full-on mental workout. For the Easy puzzle by Ian Livengood, I immediately zeroed in on the Sum 9 region. Since 9 is a high total for just two cells, I knew I had to use my high-value dominoes.

Looking at the list, [6,5] and [4,4] were the obvious candidates. By placing the 5 from the [6,5] domino and the 4 from the [4,4] domino into that region, the math worked perfectly. From there, the 'equals' region for the three cells at the top meant they all had to be the same value, which was a breeze once the other dominoes were slotted into the empty cells. The

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-16

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-16

8
<3
8
<5
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>5

Complete answer for 2026-02-16 (Medium)

Medium puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan was a bit more of a squeeze. The 'unequal' region across cells [4,1], [4,2], and [4,3] was the real bottleneck.

I had to make sure no two numbers were the same there, while also satisfying the 'Greater than 5' requirement at [4,4]. I saved the

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-16

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-16

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2
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1
11
7
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Complete answer for 2026-02-16 (Hard)

Hard puzzle for last, and it definitely earned its name. With 12 dominoes to place, I started with the smallest and largest sums.

The Sum 1 at [3,3] and [4,3] had to be a 0 and 1, while the Sum 11 at [5,3] and [5,4] had to be 5 and 6. These small 'anchors' gave me a framework to start connecting the Equals and Unequal regions. The seven-cell Unequal region was the hardest part; I had to keep a mental checklist of which numbers from 0 to 6 I had already used so I didn't repeat any in that cluster.

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What I Learned

I learned that Rodolfo Kurchan really likes to use 'Unequal' regions to force you into a corner. In the Hard puzzle, that seven-cell region acted like a Sudoku block, meaning I couldn't just throw any domino anywhere.

I also noticed a pattern in Ian’s puzzles where doubles (like the [0,0] or [4,4]) are often placed near regions that require specific totals, acting as a fixed point that limits your choices in a helpful way. A tricky move today was definitely the Sum 7 in the Hard puzzle; I initially tried using a [3,4] domino, but I realized that domino was needed elsewhere for an 'Equals' constraint, so I had to backtrack and use a different combination.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I have multiple dominoes that could fit a Sum region?
Check the available dominoes list first. Often, while two numbers might add up to the target, you might not actually have a domino with those specific pips left in your tray.
How do 'Equals' regions with three or more cells work?
Every single cell within that colored region must contain the exact same number of pips. If one is a 4, they all must be 4s.
Is it better to start with large regions or small ones?
Generally, start with the 'Empty' cells and the regions with the most restrictive rules, like very high sums (11 or 12) or very low sums (0 or 1), as they have fewer mathematical possibilities.

How to Use This Board

1

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2

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3

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4

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