NYT Pips Guide: How to Solve Every Board

NYT Pips is the NYT's domino puzzle. Place dominoes to satisfy each zone's condition. Here's how to master it.

1. Understand Zone Types

Each colored zone has a condition:

• Equal (=): All values in the zone must match
• Sum (=N): Values must add up to N
• Greater than (>N): Sum must exceed N
• Less than (<N): Sum must be below N

Read each zone before placing anything.

2. Start With Constrained Zones

Single-cell zones with strict conditions are easiest. A single cell that must be less than 2 can only be 0 or 1. Start there.

3. Use the Domino Tray Strategically

Look at your dominoes first. If you have a 0-0 double, find the Equal zone. If you have high numbers, look for sum zones that need them.

4. Work Backwards From Sums

If a zone needs sum 10 across 2 cells, the pairs are limited: 4+6, 5+5, 3+7 (but 7 doesn't exist). This narrows options fast.

5. Check Domino Orientation

Dominoes can be placed horizontally or vertically. A 3-4 domino in a vertical 2-cell zone could be 3 on top or 4 on top. Both matter for adjacent zones.

6. Easy Before Hard

Start with Easy boards to learn the mechanics. Medium adds complexity. Hard has two separate boards. Master each level before moving up.

7. Use Process of Elimination

When stuck, list what each zone could be, then eliminate based on available dominoes. This systematic approach beats random guessing.

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