Pips Answer for Wednesday, April 15, 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 A Morning Brew
Nyt Pips easy answer for 2026-04-15
Answer for 2026-04-15
I started my morning with this easy puzzle and a fresh cup of coffee, and it was the perfect way to wake up. I immediately looked at the cell at 1,6 which had to be greater than 4. Since the highest number on our list was a 5 from that 0,5 domino, I knew 1,6 had to be a 5. This helped me place the 1,5 and 1,6 domino right away. From there, I saw that cells 0,4, 0,5, and 1,5 all had to be equal. Since I just figured out 1,5 was a 1 from that domino, the others had to be 1s too. It felt like watching a row of dominos fall in the best way possible.
Next, I focused on the equals constraint at 1,3, 2,3, and 3,3. I had a 2,3 and 3,3 domino available, so I tried putting those together. That left me with cell 1,3 needing to match them. Looking at my remaining pieces, I saw the 0,3 and 1,3 domino fit perfectly if I used the 3 value there. Once those big chains were set, the rest of the board just kind of clicked into place. I used the 0,0 and 1,1 dominoes to fill in the final spots, making sure the cell at 1,0 stayed less than 2, which was easy since it ended up being a 1.
Stepping Into The Midday Heat
Nyt Pips medium answer for 2026-04-15
Answer for 2026-04-15
The medium puzzle today felt like a nice step up. The first thing that caught my eye was the sum target of 2 at cell 3,1 and the sum of 3 at 2,0 and 2,5. These small totals are usually the easiest place to start because there are so few ways to make them. For the sum of 2, I used a domino that placed a 2 in that spot. I also noticed cell 3,4 had to be greater than 5, which meant it absolutely had to be a 6. This allowed me to place the 1,6 domino across 3,3 and 3,4, which was a huge relief.
One part that made me pause was the unequal box in the middle at 3,2, 3,3, 4,2, and 4,3. This meant I couldn't have any repeating numbers in those four cells. By the time I got there, I only had a few dominoes left, like the 4,3 and 3,2. I had to be careful with how I rotated them so I didn't break the rules. After some trial and error with the equals regions at 1,0 and 1,1, I realized that the empty cells at 0,2 and 1,2 were the keys to finishing the layout without running out of options.
The Late Night Brain Buster
Nyt Pips hard answer for 2026-04-15
Answer for 2026-04-15
Wow, this hard puzzle really made me work for the win! The breakthrough came when I saw the sum target of 23 for the cells at 0,4, 1,4, 2,4, and 3,4. To get a sum that high with only four cells, you almost exclusively need 6s and 5s. I looked at my dominoes and saw the 6,6 and 5,5, and knew they had to live somewhere in that column. Placing the 1,4 and 2,4 domino together with the 4,4 and 3,4 domino made that math work out perfectly. It was a giant weight off my shoulders once that column was settled.
Then I had to tackle that massive five-cell equals region in the top left. Having cells 0,0 through 2,1 all be the same number is a tall order. I looked at the dominoes I had left and saw a lot of 0s and 3s. I eventually realized that using the 0 values there wouldn't work with the other sum constraints, so I pivoted to the 3,5 and 0,3 dominoes. The very last piece I placed was the 5,6 domino near the bottom, which helped satisfy the sum of 7 in that little four-cell cluster. It was a tough one, but finishing it felt like a real victory!
Pro Tips for Today's Puzzle
When you are just starting out, always look for the greater than or less than clues first since they limit your options the most.
Also, keep an eye on your domino list to see which numbers you have a lot of; if you see three dominoes with a 6, they are likely going to fill those big sum areas. Don't be afraid to clear a section and try again if the pieces stop fitting!
What I Learned
Today I learned that big equals regions that span across different dominoes are actually your best friend.
Even though they look scary, they narrow down the possibilities so much that they almost solve themselves. I also realized how important the empty cell constraints are for blocking off sections of the board, which helps you see the remaining paths more clearly.