Pips — Domino Logic Puzzle (Online)
Game Overview
Pips is a domino logic puzzle from The New York Times. Drag dominoes to cover the grid and satisfy each colored region rule. Cover all valid cells and meet all rules to win.
- Drag to place; each domino covers two adjacent cells (no diagonals).
- Tap a domino in the pool to rotate 90°; dragging uses current orientation.
- Instant checks highlight conflicts; use Undo/Redo freely.
- Switch Easy/Medium/Hard anytime; clear to restart.
This fan-made site focuses on a minimal, mobile-friendly experience for learning, practice, and daily play. Not affiliated with The New York Times.
Rules
EQUAL (=)
All half-cells in the region must have the same value. Tip: for 2-cell regions, a double (e.g., 3|3) often fits.
ALL DIFFERENT (≠)
All half-cells in the region must be pairwise different (no repeats).
SUM = n
The sum of values in the region must equal n (e.g., =7).
SUM < n / SUM > n
The sum must be less/greater than n (e.g., <4 / >10).
Single-cell + number ≡ ‘this cell must be that number’. Each region has exactly one badge; rules do not stack.
Cells without a rule badge (NONE) are not outlined with dashed borders and accept any value.
Tips
- Start with certainties: single-number cells and 2-cell ‘=’.
- Lock in ‘=’ regions early to reduce branches; doubles help.
- Work sums/inequalities next; prune overshoot/undershoot combos.
- Tackle ‘≠’ later when conflicts are easier to spot.
- Use Undo/Redo to explore branches without fear.
FAQ
What is Pips?▶
A domino logic puzzle from The New York Times: cover the grid with dominoes while satisfying each colored region rule.
Do adjacent values need to match?▶
No. This is not domino matching; constraints come only from region rules.
How do I rotate dominoes?▶
Tap a domino in the pool to rotate 90°. Drag uses the current orientation.
Undo/Redo shortcuts?▶
Use the buttons or Ctrl/Cmd + Z to undo and Ctrl/Cmd + Y to redo.
Why ‘Out of bounds’?▶
A half may be outside the board, in a white hole, or misaligned. Align to the grid and try again.
Can a domino cross regions?▶
Yes. Each half follows only the rule of the region it lands in.
What differs by difficulty?▶
Higher difficulty has tighter constraints and trickier regions; switch modes anytime to practice.
Why this site?▶
A minimal, fan-made playground for learning and practice; not affiliated with The New York Times.