Pips Answer for Saturday, April 18, 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
Starting the Day with a Quick Coffee and a Puzzle
Nyt Pips easy answer for 2026-04-18
Answer for 2026-04-18
I sat down with my morning coffee and decided to warm up with the easy grid. Right away, I noticed the empty cell at [1,0]. Since empty cells cannot have any pips, I knew I needed to find a domino that could put a zero in that spot. Looking at my list, the [3,0] domino was the perfect candidate. I placed it vertically so the zero sat at [1,0] and the three was at [0,0].
Next, I focused on the target sum of 11 for cells [0,0] and [0,1]. Since I already placed a three at [0,0], cell [0,1] needed to be an eight. However, since pips only go up to six, I realized my first placement was a little off and I needed to use the [5,5] or [3,6] dominoes nearby to help reach those high totals. Once I shifted the [3,6] domino into place, the rest of the board fell into line. The equals regions at [2,1] and [2,2] were much easier to handle after the big numbers were settled, letting me finish the whole thing before my coffee even got cold.
Balancing the Highs and Lows in Medium Mode
Nyt Pips medium answer for 2026-04-18
Answer for 2026-04-18
The medium puzzle today really wanted to test my math skills with all those sum constraints! I went straight for the biggest number on the board, which was the sum of 12 at [3,1] and [3,2]. In the world of pips, the only way to get a 12 is with two sixes. I looked at my dominoes and saw [2,6] and [6,0]. I split them up so that the sixes occupied those bottom cells, which gave me a great foundation to work from.
After that, I tackled the sum of 4 in the middle at [2,1] and [2,2]. I had the [2,2] domino ready to go, and it fit perfectly into that spot. The most helpful hint was the less than 3 region at [1,0]. Since I had already used one part of my [6,0] domino for the sum at the bottom, putting the zero at [1,0] was the only logical move. It felt like a giant game of domino-Tetris, but once the corners were anchored, the middle pieces just clicked into place.
Navigating the Great Equals Divide
Nyt Pips hard answer for 2026-04-18
Answer for 2026-04-18
Wow, the hard puzzle today was a real brain teaser! I spent a good chunk of time just staring at the huge equals region in the center involving cells [1,2], [2,2], [2,3], and [3,2]. It is rare to see four cells tied together like that. I eventually realized those cells had to be small numbers to allow the surrounding dominoes to satisfy their own sums. I used the [2,1] and [1,1] dominoes to feed into those cells, which was my big breakthrough moment.
Another lifesaver was the sum of 0 at [0,3] and [0,4] and again at [4,4] and [5,4]. Since you cannot have negative pips, a sum of zero always means both cells must be zeros. This let me place the [0,0] domino and parts of other low-value dominoes with total confidence. The final challenge was the bottom right corner where I had to hit a sum of 8. Sliding the [4,4] domino into [7,4] and [7,5] was the very last move I made, and seeing that final checkmark was so satisfying!
Pro Tips for Today's Puzzle
Always start by looking for zero sums or empty cells because they have the fewest possibilities.
If you see a high sum like 11 or 12, you know you need your sixes and fives there right away. Also, try to work from the edges of the grid toward the center to avoid getting boxed in.
What I Learned
I learned today that equals regions are actually your best friends because they narrow down your choices so much more than sums do.
I also found it interesting how the empty cells can act as a wall that forces your dominoes into very specific orientations, especially in the smaller easy and medium grids.