NYT Pips hints and answers, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Start with the cell that must equal 0 at row 1, column 3. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 0. Only 4 dominoes have a 0: 6–0, 5–0, 4–0, 3–0.

Place the 5–0 domino with the 5 at row 2, column 3 and the 0 at row 1, column 3.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 6–3: R3C2→R3C3; 6–0: R2C2→R2C1; 5–0: R2C3→R1C3; 4–0: R2C4→R2C5; 3–0: R3C4→R4C4.

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 5 dominoes have a 5: 3–5, 6–5, 5–0, 5–1, 5–2.

Place the 5–2 domino with the 5 at row 3, column 4 and the 2 at row 3, column 3.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 3–5: R2C2→R2C3; 6–5: R1C2→R1C3; 5–0: R2C4→R2C5; 6–0: R1C1→R2C1; 5–1: R1C4→R1C5; 3–0: R2C6→R1C6; 5–2: R3C4→R3C3.

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

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

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

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 1–1: R5C5→R6C5; 6–4: R3C3→R2C3; 3–0: R2C7→R2C6; 1–6: R10C3→R9C3; 4–5: R4C5→R4C6; 0–0: R8C2→R9C2; 5–2: R1C1→R1C2; 6–0: R9C4→R8C4; 5–1: R9C6→R8C6; 6–2: R9C5→R10C5; 5–3: R4C1→R5C1; 6–6: R4C3→R5C3; 3–1: R6C1→R6C2; 0–4: R2C5→R3C5; 6–3: R2C1→R3C1.