TodayHint

Pips July 20, 2026: Hints & Answers

Constructed by Ian Livengood, Rodolfo Kurchan, Rodolfo Kurchan, edited by Ian Livengood.

Recap

The July 20, 2026 NYT Pips puzzle features three boards of increasing difficulty, each with a unique set of dominoes and region constraints. Solvers must strategically place dominoes to satisfy all conditions, using logic and deduction to overcome challenges.

The three boards that day

The tray and each region's rule — board data, no solutions.

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 7 regions

2–60–50–32–54–2

  • one cell: more than 5.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 1.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • one cell: more than 1.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

This board is relatively straightforward due to its small size and simple constraints.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

0–03–10–11–22–03–45–0

  • one cell: under 2.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 5.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 3.
  • two cells: exactly 0.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

The medium board introduces more complex interactions between regions, making it slightly more challenging.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 14 regions

5–26–30–01–16–62–21–64–42–61–53–35–60–14–65–50–6

  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • 3 ×three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • three cells: exactly 0.
  • 2 ×four cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • one cell: exactly 2.

The hard board features a large number of dominoes and complex interactions between regions, making it significantly more challenging.

Pips hints, one rung at a time

Six rungs, easy board first. The recap above already named the walkthroughs, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the boards fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

  1. How the three boards compared

    Sizes and constraint mixes, counted off the boards.

    Easy board
    5 dominoes, 7 regions (2 greater, 2 sum, 1 empty, 1 equals, 1 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 sum, 2 equals, 2 greater, 1 empty, 1 less)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 14 regions (7 equals, 6 sum, 1 greater)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible domino placements, focusing on those with specific numerical constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the region that must contain a sum of 10 over 2 cells, as this has limited possibilities.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with unique constraints that can be satisfied by a single domino placement, then build from there.

    Start with the region that requires a sum of 0 over 2 cells, as this will likely involve a 0 domino.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

    Where the hard board differed in kind, not just size.

    Focus on regions with the most restrictive constraints, such as the sum 1 over 1 cell, and build outward from there.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with the region that must contain a sum of 1 over 1 cell, as this has very limited possibilities.

    Open the full walkthroughs

Every Pips walkthrough from that day

All three walkthroughs, folded: each one places every domino on its board, one after another.

  • Easy board · 5 dominoes

    Easy board walkthrough

    Place the 4/2 domino to satisfy the sum 10 constraint. Then, use the 2/6 and 2/5 dominoes to fulfill the greater 5 and less 1 constraints. Continue with the remaining dominoes, ensuring all regions meet their respective conditions.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing the 0/0 domino in the sum 0 region. Then, use the 3/1 and 2/0 dominoes to satisfy the sum 5 and greater 3 constraints. Continue placing dominoes, ensuring each region meets its condition.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 1/0 domino combination to satisfy the sum 1 constraint. Then, place the 6/6 domino to meet the equals constraint over 2 cells. Continue with the 5/2 and 6/3 dominoes, using them to fulfill the greater 3 and sum 10 constraints. Next, place the 0/0 domino in the sum 0 region over 3 cells. Use the 1/1 and 2/2 dominoes to satisfy the equals constraints over 4 and 3 cells. Finally, place the remaining dominoes, ensuring all regions meet their respective conditions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Monday, July 20, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 7 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 14 regions

More Pips

See the live Pips hints and answers page for the current boards, or browse every archived Pips date by month.

Try the other two puzzles