NYT Pips hints and answers, Sunday, August 16, 2026

Start with the cell that must equal 2 at row 2, column 1. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 2, and only one domino has a 2: the 5–2.

Place the 5–2 domino with the 5 at row 2, column 2 and the 2 at row 2, column 1.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 6–4: R4C2→R3C2; 4–5: R3C3→R2C3; 0–6: R4C4→R4C3; 5–2: R2C2→R2C1; 3–3: R1C2→R1C3.

Start with the cell that must equal 3 at row 3, column 6. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 3. Only 3 dominoes have a 3: 4–3, 3–3, 3–0.

Place the 3–3 domino with the 3 at row 3, column 5 and the 3 at row 3, column 6.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 5–0: R3C3→R3C4; 0–4: R4C4→R4C5; 5–5: R1C3→R1C4; 5–1: R2C3→R2C2; 2–0: R2C5→R2C4; 4–3: R3C1→R3C2; 3–3: R3C5→R3C6; 3–0: R4C2→R4C3.

Start with the cell that must equal 5 at row 3, column 4. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 5. Only 4 dominoes have a 5: 0–5, 1–5, 5–5, 5–6.

Place the 5–6 domino with the 5 at row 3, column 4 and the 6 at row 3, column 3.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 0–2: R2C7→R1C7; 0–4: R3C7→R3C8; 0–5: R1C9→R2C9; 1–1: R3C1→R3C2; 1–2: R5C7→R4C7; 1–4: R4C5→R5C5; 1–5: R2C1→R1C1; 2–6: R4C2→R5C2; 3–3: R4C1→R5C1; 3–4: R4C9→R5C9; 4–4: R1C2→R2C2; 5–5: R1C5→R2C5; 5–6: R3C4→R3C3.