The NYT Pips is a well-known daily logic puzzle from The New York Times. It is one of the newest additions to the NYT Games lineup. It requires you to drag and place dominoes into a color-coded grid full of mathematical conditions, such as the sum of numbers, greater than/ less than a number, and more. It tests your pattern recognition and logical reasoning skills, but not everyone knows how to play the NYT Pips game. So, keep reading to check out the Pips game rules, simple tips and tricks, and common mistakes to avoid.
How to Play NYT Pips on the NYT Website
Pips game is a fresh alternative to word games, like Wordle and Connections. Here are the steps to follow when playing the NY Times Pips game on the official website:
- Visit the Pips website: Open the official Pips page on the NYT Games website.
- Select difficulty: Choose between easy, medium, and hard difficulty on the dashboard.
- Read the Pips game grid: You will now see colored regions with mathematical conditions on the puzzle grid. Study the grid before you proceed further: For example, in the image below, the pips in the purple region should add up to 6.
- Go over the dominoes: Next, you should study all the available dominoes at the bottom of the grid. Each domino carries pips (dots).
- Plan and start placing tiles: After you have scanned the grid and dominoes, make possible combinations to satisfy the game conditions. Select dominoes carefully. Click and drag them to place them on the grid.
- The puzzle is solved when all dominoes are placed in the correct places in the NYT Pips game grid.
NYT Pips Game Rules
Understanding the NY Times Pips game’s rules is helpful to master the game. These rules make the game logical, mentally challenging, and fair for all. While learning how to play NYT Pips, you must also learn the core game rules that you must follow:
- You can use each Pips domino tile only once.
- You have an unlimited number of moves.
- You’re timed, but there is no time limit to complete NYT Pips.
- The game ends when you place all dominoes correctly in the grid.
- The NYT Pips game has three difficulty levels. They are Easy, Medium, and Hard. So, with an increasing difficulty level, you need to place more tiles on the board.
- Only one official Pips puzzle per difficulty is available per day.
- Moreover, the NYT Pips grid can include the following conditions:
| Condition | Meaning |
|---|---|
| = (Equal) | The pips (dots) on the dominoes in this region should be the same number. |
| ≠ (Not Equal) | The pips on the dominoes in this region are not equal. |
| > (Greater than) | The total of the domino dots in the region should be greater than the number next to this symbol. |
| < (Less Than) | The total of the domino dots in the region should be less than the number next to this symbol. |
| A Number | The domino numbers in the region must add up to the specific number in this condition. |
| Empty/ Blank | The empty or blank region has no conditions and can contain any valid domino. |
Now that you know how to play NYT Pips and the conditions you need to remember to solve the puzzle, we have some handy tips and tricks listed below to help you win the game:
Beginner Tips to Master NYT Pips Game
The NYT Pips game is all about logical reasoning and number awareness. Winning percentage depends on recognizing the patterns and avoiding common mistakes. To improve your game, here are the tips to play NYT Pips:
- Start with the larger Pip values: Pick the high Pip value tiles. Then, arrange the later ones to reduce the guesswork.
- Split the condition number across tiles: Divide the target number into smaller numbers. For example, a sum of 12 can be solved as: 6 + 6 or 5 + 5 +2 or 4 + 4 + 4.
- Plan for two moves ahead: Avoid focusing only on the current move and domino. Consider how your selection affects the remaining possible conditions on the grid.
- Breaks are good: If you are stuck, just step away from the puzzle for a bit. A fresh mind can help you spot better combinations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in the NYT Pips Game
Furthermore, read the following list of common mistakes that you should avoid while playing NYT Pips, your favorite new logical puzzle.
- Clicking dominoes too quickly
- Ignoring high-value tiles early
- Not tracking the conditions actively
- Overthinking simple combinations
We hope this guide helped you understand how to play NYT Pips, along with the game’s rules, tips and tricks, and other tactics to solve the puzzle.
Pips are tiny dots on a domino. These dots carry a numerical value. One dot is equal to 1 value.
Yes, the Pips game from The New York Times is generally free to play for everyone. You can use the NYT Games website, NYT Games app, and the Games tab in the News app to play the game without a subscription.
You can only access some basic features of the NYT Pips game without paying. But to access its full features, you need to get the New York Times Games subscription.
To solve the Pips puzzle faster, you first need to study the grid. Note the color/ symbol rules and start with dominoes with big value Pips. Use overlaps to link rules and anchor dominoes. Follow the mathematical signs (<, >, =, and ≠). Use the elimination method. Also, you need to practice daily to learn tricks and build an understanding of the game.
Yes, NYT Pips involves number calculations, so it builds memory and logic. It is a spatial and reasoning puzzle, and players can strengthen their cognitive skills by playing this game daily.
