Pips Answer for Sunday, March 29, 2026
Complete NYT Pips puzzle solution with interactive board and expert analysis.
Click a domino below or a cell on the board to reveal
Expert Puzzle Analysis
Deep insights from puzzle experts
Warming Up With The Easy One
Nyt Pips easy answer for 2026-03-29
Answer for 2026-03-29
I started today's puzzle by looking at that big equals region in the top left corner. Since cells (0,0), (0,1), and (1,1) all had to be the same, I knew I needed a value that appeared on at least two different dominoes. When I saw that cell (1,2) had to be greater than 4, I tried putting the [3,6] domino at (1,1) and (1,2). That meant (1,1) was 3, so (0,0) and (0,1) also had to be 3. The [3,3] domino fit there perfectly.
Next, I looked at the bottom of the grid. The cell at (4,1) had to be a 3, so I placed the [0,3] domino at (4,2) and (4,1). That left a 0 at (4,2). Looking at the sum constraint for (3,2) and (4,2), I needed them to add up to 5, so (3,2) had to be 5. Using the [5,5] domino for (3,1) and (3,2) worked great, which then helped me finish the rest of the left side. It was a really smooth start to the morning!
Finding The Right Fit In Medium Mode
Nyt Pips medium answer for 2026-03-29
Answer for 2026-03-29
The medium puzzle felt a bit like a jigsaw today. I immediately noticed the sum of 4 at cell (2,1), which meant that specific spot had to be a 4. Since (2,1) is paired with (2,2) in a domino, I looked for my dominoes with a 4 and found [1,4] and [4,4]. I eventually figured out that using [2,2] for the (2,2) and (2,1) spot wouldn't work, so I focused on the sum of 3 across (2,2), (2,3), and (2,4).
The real breakthrough was the equals region at (2,5) and (3,5). I tried a few combinations until the sum of 4 at (2,0) and (3,0) clicked into place. It is all about how those small sums in the middle of the board limit your choices. Once I got the [1,2] and [1,1] domino in place, everything else just fell into line. This one definitely required a bit more patience than the easy level!
A Real Brain Workout For Sunday
Nyt Pips hard answer for 2026-03-29
Answer for 2026-03-29
The hard puzzle today really made me think! I spent a lot of time staring at the sum of 10 regions first. There are three of them, and since we only have a few high-value dominoes like [4,6] and [5,5], I knew they had to go there. I started by placing the [5,5] domino at (5,4) and (5,5) because that equals region at the bottom was so long. It forced the other cells in that row to also be 5, which really narrowed down the options for the rest of the bottom row.
The hardest part was the top left where (0,0), (0,1), (0,2), and (1,2) all had to be equal. I had to keep swapping dominoes around until I found a value that did not use up the numbers I needed for the sum of 10s. The breakthrough came when I realized the empty cells at (2,0) and (3,0) could act as buffers for the other dominoes. Once I placed the [4,6] and [6,6] dominoes in their sum regions, the rest of the board finally made sense. It was a tough one, but so satisfying to finish!
Pro Tips for Today's Puzzle
Start by looking for the largest and smallest sum regions, as they have the fewest possible number combinations.
Always keep an eye on the dominoes you have left in your tray to see what fits in the remaining gaps. If you get stuck, try looking at the equals constraints because they act like anchors for the whole grid and tell you exactly what numbers must be repeated.
What I Learned
Today I learned that the equals regions are often the secret to solving the harder puzzles quickly. They limit the board much more than the sums do because they lock multiple cells into one value.
I also noticed how the empty cells are strategically placed to break up long chains of dominoes, making you rethink your connections. It is a good reminder to look at the board as a whole rather than just focusing on one corner.