NYT Pips hints and answers, Monday, October 5, 2026

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

That cell is a 0, and only one domino has a 0: the 0–1.

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

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 4–3: R3C4→R2C4; 4–5: R1C3→R1C4; 0–1: R2C1→R1C1; 2–3: R3C3→R3C2; 6–3: R2C2→R1C2.

Start with the cell that must equal 4 at row 2, column 1. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 4. Only 3 dominoes have a 4: 4–6, 1–4, 5–4.

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

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 5–3: R4C3→R3C3; 5–2: R2C3→R1C3; 3–3: R3C1→R3C2; 4–6: R1C4→R2C4; 1–4: R4C4→R3C4; 2–6: R4C5→R3C5; 5–4: R2C2→R2C1.

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

That cell is a 6. Only 4 dominoes have a 6: 6–1, 6–3, 2–6, 0–6.

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

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 0–1: R1C3→R1C2; 5–0: R6C4→R6C5; 6–1: R4C6→R3C6; 2–4: R2C4→R2C3; 6–3: R3C1→R4C1; 4–4: R1C6→R2C6; 2–6: R5C5→R5C4; 2–2: R5C2→R6C2; 0–6: R2C1→R1C1; 0–2: R3C5→R2C5; 3–3: R5C1→R6C1; 3–2: R1C5→R1C4; 1–3: R5C3→R6C3; 3–0: R3C2→R2C2; 0–0: R5C6→R6C6.