NYT Pips hints and answers, Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Start with the cell that must equal 5 at row 1, column 2. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 5. Only 2 dominoes have a 5: 6–5, 5–0.

Place the 6–5 domino with the 6 at row 2, column 2 and the 5 at row 1, column 2.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 1–3: R3C2→R3C3; 6–5: R2C2→R1C2; 5–0: R4C4→R4C3; 6–1: R2C1→R3C1; 3–4: R2C3→R2C4.

Start with the cell that must be greater than 4 at row 2, column 6. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 6, and only one domino has a 6: the 6–4.

Place the 6–4 domino with the 6 at row 2, column 6 and the 4 at row 2, column 5.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 3–0: R2C4→R2C3; 4–1: R4C1→R4C2; 3–4: R1C4→R1C5; 6–4: R2C6→R2C5; 4–5: R3C5→R3C4; 1–1: R4C3→R4C4; 4–0: R3C2→R3C3.

Start with the cell that must be greater than 3 at row 2, column 1. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 4. Only 4 dominoes have a 4: 2–4, 6–4, 4–5, 4–1.

Place the 4–5 domino with the 4 at row 2, column 1 and the 5 at row 1, column 1.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 5–0: R7C4→R8C4; 3–3: R5C1→R6C1; 5–6: R5C6→R6C6; 2–4: R3C1→R4C1; 0–3: R8C2→R8C1; 6–4: R7C2→R7C1; 3–5: R2C2→R1C2; 6–6: R5C2→R6C2; 4–5: R2C1→R1C1; 6–3: R4C2→R3C2; 4–1: R7C6→R8C6; 6–1: R7C3→R8C3; 2–3: R3C6→R4C6.