NYT Pips hints and answers, Wednesday, August 26, 2026

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

That cell is a 0, and only one domino has a 0: the 6–0.

Place the 6–0 domino with the 6 at row 3, column 2 and the 0 at row 3, column 1.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 6–0: R3C2→R3C1; 1–5: R4C3→R3C3; 6–6: R2C2→R2C3; 5–2: R3C4→R2C4; 3–4: R1C4→R1C5.

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

That cell is a 4. Only 2 dominoes have a 4: 4–3, 4–5.

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

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 6–5: R3C1→R3C2; 5–3: R1C2→R1C3; 6–6: R2C1→R2C2; 3–1: R1C4→R2C4; 4–3: R4C1→R4C2; 1–6: R2C3→R3C3; 4–5: R3C5→R3C4; 2–5: R4C3→R4C4.

Start with the cell that must equal 6 at row 1, column 2. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 6. Only 4 dominoes have a 6: 6–3, 6–4, 6–0, 6–2.

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

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 2–2: R5C3→R5C4; 4–4: R9C4→R9C5; 6–3: R1C6→R1C5; 1–4: R9C2→R9C3; 2–0: R5C5→R5C6; 6–4: R7C5→R8C5; 0–0: R4C3→R4C4; 3–3: R5C1→R5C2; 0–1: R7C2→R8C2; 2–4: R2C1→R2C2; 6–0: R3C2→R4C2; 2–3: R3C1→R4C1; 5–5: R3C6→R4C6; 0–3: R4C5→R3C5; 6–2: R1C2→R1C1; 3–5: R2C5→R2C6.