# How to Solve Today's NYT Pips Puzzles Step-by-step guide to conquer Thursday's challenging Pips puzzles. - **Source:** [Forbes - Business](https://brifing.si/source/e0310925-a7af-4d4b-80a7-c80d400e49fa) - **Published:** 2026-08-27 - **Topic:** [Career Growth](https://brifing.si/c/growth) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/58864878-fb01-4b04-b1d0-fbe41b61dbb9 ## What Are Pips Puzzles? Pips is a domino-based logic puzzle published daily by The New York Times. It features a grid of colored boxes where each hue represents a different 'condition.' Players must place a limited set of dominoes to satisfy all rules. There are three difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, and Hard. The Hard version typically requires satisfying 8-12 conflicting conditions simultaneously with perfect domino placement. ## Core Game Mechanics Each domino displays two numbers that can be rotated into four possible orientations. Colored areas contain symbols (=, ≠, >, <) indicating mathematical conditions. For example, a crossed-out equals sign means adjacent numbers can't match. Blank squares accept any domino. In Hard puzzles, 70% of placements require considering multiple overlapping conditions across 2-3 neighboring tiles simultaneously. ## Hard Level Strategies Double-numbered dominoes (like 3/3 or 4/4) are keystones in Hard Pips. Start solving from the most constrained areas - typically spaces requiring zeros or specific sums. The 'Green 0' corner with only two valid placements is ideal for initial moves. Save flexible areas (like Blue = zones) for last since they often accommodate multiple solutions. Statistics show Hard puzzles have exactly one valid solution 85% of the time. ## Domino Rotation Tactics Rotating dominoes clockwise changes their number orientation. A 0/2 domino becomes 2/0 when flipped horizontally. Hard puzzles require correct rotation for 90% of placements. Always verify both current and neighboring conditions after each rotation. Pro tip: Dominos touching three colored areas must satisfy all adjacent rules in their final orientation, making corner pieces particularly challenging to place correctly. ## Condition Types Explained Pips features six core condition types: Equality (=), Inequality (≠), Sum (e.g., Pink 6), Greater Than (>), Less Than (<), and Blank (any domino). Hard puzzles combine these in seemingly contradictory ways - an area needing >3 might border one requiring <5. When this occurs, focus on domino values that satisfy overlapping ranges. Recent puzzles introduced new variants where domino halves must differ by exactly 1 or 2. ## Solution Walkthrough: Opening For August 27th Hard Pips, begin at the bottom-left Green 0 area. Place the 0/2 domino upward into Pink 6 and the 0/3 domino rightward into Purple 4. Move the 1/2 domino from Pink 6 bottom-right to Purple 4, then slide the 4/5 domino from Pink 6 to left-side Purple =. The 5/5 domino completes this cluster. Reserve 5-pip dominos for Dark Blue 5's sum requirement. This opening sequence creates necessary space for mid-game placements. ## Solution Walkthrough: Midgame From the bottom-right corner, place the 4/2 domino from Pink 6 up into Dark Blue 8. Move the 6/5 domino from Orange = to Green= and the 6/6 domino from Dark Blue 8 to Orange =. Position the 6/1 domino from Orange = into Purple =, then place the 4/4 domino in the top Pink = pair. The 4/4 must go here because the remaining double (3/3) is reserved for Blue = areas. These moves systematically reduce placement options for remaining dominos. ## Final Solution Steps Complete the puzzle by placing the 3/6 domino from Blue = into Orange 7 and the 1/5 domino from Orange 7 down to Green =. Slide the 5/3 domino from Dark Blue 5 into Blue = and the 1/3 domino from Purple = into Blue =. The final 3/3 domino fills remaining Blue = tiles. This 12-domino solution uniquely satisfies all 11 conditions of August 27th's Hard Pips. Verify each placement by checking both vertical and horizontal neighbors - correct solutions will have no conflicting adjacent numbers. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2026/08/27/how-to-solve-todays-nyt-pips-puzzles-thursday-august-27/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._