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Home Archive 2026-02-28

Pips Answer for Saturday, February 28, 2026

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

Today's Answer Back to Archive
Progress 0/5 dominoes
6
=
>4
6
=

Click a domino or a cell to reveal the answer

Solution & Analysis

Complete answers and solving insights for 2026-02-28

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NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-28

NYT Pips easy answer for 2026-02-28

6
=
>4
6
=

Complete answer for 2026-02-28 (Easy)

I started with the Easy puzzle by focusing on the fixed targets first. Seeing a 6 target for a single cell at [1,0] was a huge giveaway because it immediately limited which dominoes could fit nearby.

I mapped out the equals region covering [0,1] to [3,1] and realized that the values there had to be consistent with the remaining dominoes like [4,4] and [0,4]. Moving to the

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NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-28

NYT Pips medium answer for 2026-02-28

>1
9
0
3
=
>0
15
>1

Complete answer for 2026-02-28 (Medium)

Medium puzzle, the target sum of 0 at [2,1] was the perfect anchor.

Since it's a sum of 0, that cell had to be 0, which narrowed down the [0,5] and [0,4] dominoes. I spent a good chunk of time on the sum of 3 across four cells at [1,2] through [4,2]; with so many cells and such a small sum, I knew most of those had to be 0s or 1s.

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NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-28

NYT Pips hard answer for 2026-02-28

>3
=
2
1
<6
6
5
4
=
0
3

Complete answer for 2026-02-28 (Hard)

Finally, the Hard puzzle was a real brain-buster. I looked for the empty cells first to see what they blocked off.

The sum of 0 at [6,1] and the sum of 1 at [2,4] were my primary keys. I used a process of elimination for the long equals region at [2,2] through [5,1], testing which of the available dominoes like [4,4] or [6,4] could satisfy those constraints without breaking the target sums of 5 and 6 elsewhere. It was a game of fitting the high-value pips into the less restrictive areas while saving the low numbers for the tight sum requirements.

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What I Learned

The most interesting takeaway today was how powerful a sum of 0 or a very low sum can be in a large region. In the Medium puzzle, that sum of 3 across four cells basically dictated the layout for the entire middle section.

I also noticed a pattern where the 'greater than' and 'less than' constraints are often placed near 'equals' regions to force a specific orientation of the dominoes. It’s a classic trick to make you think there are multiple options when there’s actually only one that doesn't violate the neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I get stuck on a long equals region?
Look at the cells surrounding it first. Usually, one of the cells in an equals chain is part of a sum or a comparison region that will limit the possible values for the whole chain.
Are the target sums always achievable with the provided dominoes?
Yes, every Pips puzzle is designed so that there is exactly one way to place the given dominoes to satisfy every single region constraint on the board.
Is it better to start with the easy regions or the empty cells?
I always start with the empty cells or the smallest sums (like 0 or 1). These provide immediate 'anchors' that help you rule out most of your dominoes right away.

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