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Pips Answer for Thursday, February 26, 2026

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

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Progress 0/5 dominoes
3
=
7
=
=

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-02-26

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-26

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-26

3
=
7
=
=

Complete answer for 2026-02-26 (Easy)

Solving this set of Pips puzzles for February 26th was a fun journey through different logic styles. I started with the Easy puzzle by Ian Livengood. In these smaller grids, the biggest numbers are usually the best place to start.

I saw a region asking for a sum of 7 across two cells. Looking at my dominoes, [3,4] (from the 1,4 and 3,1 pool) was the only way to get there quickly. I placed the [1,1] and [0,0] doubles to satisfy the equals constraints, and the rest of the board just fell into place. Moving on to the

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-26

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-26

11
10
≠
8
>2
<2

Complete answer for 2026-02-26 (Medium)

Medium puzzle by Rodolfo Kurchan, things got a bit more interesting with empty cells and inequalities. The sum of 11 at the top was a huge hint; you can only get that with a 5 and a 6.

Since I had a [5,5] and [6,0] domino, I had to be careful where the 6 went. The unequal region at [0,4], [1,4], and [1,5] acted like a Sudoku rule, preventing me from putting the same numbers next to each other. I used the sum of 10 as my anchor on the left side, which narrowed down the 5s.

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-26

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-26

10
<2
=
6
2
=
12
9
17
=
4
>4
4
1

Complete answer for 2026-02-26 (Hard)

Finally, the Hard puzzle was a real workout. With 16 dominoes and a 10x8 grid, I had to be very organized. I immediately looked for the most restrictive regions. The sum of 12 across two cells [2,5] and [3,5] had to be two 6s, so I placed the [6,6] domino there. Then I looked at the sum of 1 for four cells—that's incredibly low!

It meant three of those cells had to be 0 and one had to be 1. That helped me place the [0,0] and part of the [0,1] or [1,1] dominoes. The sum of 17 across three cells [5,3, 5,4, 5,5] was another big helper because you need high values like 6, 6, and 5 to get that high. I spent a lot of time toggling between the equals regions and the sums, slowly narrowing down which dominoes were still available. It felt like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle where the pieces can change their values depending on how you flip them.

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What I Learned

Today really reinforced how powerful the empty cells are. At first, they look like they just take up space, but they actually serve as walls that define where a domino can or cannot go. I also learned a tricky pattern in the Hard puzzle: when you have a sum of 4 for two cells and one of them is part of a greater-than-4 constraint, it forces the logic in a very specific direction.

I had to realize that the 'greater than' cell wasn't just any number, but had to be at least a 5, which then meant the sum constraint next to it had to be handled by a different domino entirely. Another cool thing was seeing how 'Equals' regions across three cells act as a bridge. If you know one number, you know all three, which creates a ripple effect across the board. It's much faster to fill those in than the sums, which usually have a few different combinations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the empty type in a region mean?
An empty region means that specific cell doesn't have a numerical constraint like a sum or an equal sign, but it still must be filled by half of a domino. It often acts as a pivot point for the surrounding logic.
How do you handle a sum of 1 across four cells in the Hard puzzle?
A sum of 1 is very restrictive. Since pips are non-negative, the only way to get a 1 from four cells is to have three 0s and one 1. This is a great starting point because it limits your domino choices to those containing 0s and 1s.
What is the best strategy for the Unequal constraint?
Think of it like a mini-Sudoku. None of the cells inside that region can share the same value. If you have three cells and you've already placed a 4 and a 5, the third cell must be something else entirely, which helps you rule out certain dominoes.
Are the dominoes used only once?
Yes, each domino in the provided list is used exactly once to fill the grid. Keeping track of which ones you've already 'spent' is key to solving the harder levels.
Does the orientation of the domino matter?
Absolutely. A domino like [1,4] can be placed as 1-4 or 4-1. Often, the sum or equal constraints in the regions will dictate which side has to go where.

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