Pips July 9, 2026: Hints & Answers
Recap
The easy board requires strategic placement to meet sum and equals constraints. The medium board adds complexity with more regions and dominoes. The hard board demands careful attention to multiple constraints and domino placements.
The three boards that day
The tray and each region's rule — board data, no solutions.
Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions
Dominoes: 1–54–64–52–34–0
- one cell: under 3.
- three cells: exactly 4.
- 2 ×two cells: exactly 10.
- two cells: all matching.
Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.
Medium board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions
Dominoes: 4–61–23–32–24–31–52–6
- two cells: exactly 10.
- one cell: under 3.
- two cells: more than 7.
- 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
- two cells: under 3.
- two cells: all matching.
- three cells: all matching.
More regions and dominoes increase the complexity.
Hard board · 12 dominoes · 17 regions
Dominoes: 6–24–31–13–01–25–42–31–62–50–41–32–4
- 2 ×one cell: more than 3.
- 3 ×two cells: exactly 3.
- 3 ×one cell: under 3.
- two cells: more than 7.
- one cell: under 2.
- one cell: exactly 3.
- three cells: exactly 3.
- two cells: exactly 6.
- 2 ×one cell: exactly 6.
- one cell: more than 4.
- one cell: left uncovered.
Large number of dominoes and regions, combined with complex constraints, make it 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.
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Hint 1: How the three boards compared
Sizes and constraint mixes, counted off the boards.
- Easy board
- 5 dominoes, 5 regions (3 sum, 1 equals, 1 less)
- Medium board
- 7 dominoes, 8 regions (2 empty, 2 equals, 2 less, 1 greater, 1 sum)
- Hard board
- 12 dominoes, 17 regions (8 sum, 4 greater, 4 less, 1 empty)
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Hint 2: Easy board: how to approach it
Method only.
Start by identifying regions with limited possibilities, focusing on those with specific sum or difference constraints.
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Hint 3: Easy board: where to start
One region named by its constraint.
Begin with the region that must have a sum of 10 over 2 cells.
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Hint 4: Medium board: approach and first region
The same two steps, one difficulty up.
Look for regions with strict constraints like 'empty over 1 cell' or 'less 3 over 1 cell' to start.
Start with a region that has an 'equals' constraint over 2 cells.
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Hint 5: Hard board: how to approach it
Where the hard board differed in kind, not just size.
Focus on regions with multiple constraints or those that limit domino placement significantly.
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Hint 6: Hard board: where to start
The last rung before the full walkthroughs.
Begin with a region that has a 'greater 7 over 2 cells' constraint.
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 4/0 domino to satisfy the equals constraint. Then, use the 4/5 and 2/3 dominoes to fulfill the sum 10 and sum 4 constraints. The 1/5 domino fits in the remaining sum 10 region. Finally, place the 4/6 domino.
Medium board · 7 dominoes
Medium board walkthrough
Begin by placing dominoes that satisfy the 'sum 10 over 2 cells' and 'less 3 over 1 cell' constraints. Use the 4/6 and 1/2 dominoes to start. Then, fit in the 2/2 and 3/3 dominoes. Continue with the remaining dominoes, ensuring all constraints are met.
Hard board · 12 dominoes
Hard board walkthrough
Start by satisfying the 'sum 3 over 2 cells' and 'greater 3 over 1 cell' constraints with the 1/1 and 3/0 dominoes. Then, use the 6/2 domino to help with the 'sum 6 over 2 cells' region. Continue placing dominoes, ensuring that all constraints are fulfilled. The 2/3 and 5/4 dominoes will help with several regions. Finally, fit in the remaining dominoes, paying close attention to the 'less 3 over 1 cell' and 'sum 3 over 1 cell' constraints.
Those boards by the numbers
- Date
- Thursday, July 9, 2026
- Boards
- 3 — easy, medium, hard
- Dominoes in play
- 24 across the three boards
- Easy board
- 5 dominoes · 5 regions
- Medium board
- 7 dominoes · 8 regions
- Hard board
- 12 dominoes · 17 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
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The live NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers page
Six theme words plus the spangram, with a read-only board that traces each answer.
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The live NYT Connections hints and answers page
Sixteen tiles, four groups, and a graded hint ladder from nudge to full answer.