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Pips October 9, 2026 answer — October 9, 2026

Friday, Oct 9, 2026

The Pips October 9, 2026 answer for October 9, 2026, with the full solution and how it fits together. Looking for the current puzzle? See nyt pips answers today.

Sukie
Written by Sukie
Published

Friday, October 9, 2026 · edited by Ian Livengood

Today's Pips: easy has 5 dominoes, medium has 7 dominoes, hard has 12 dominoes; the hard board is by Rodolfo Kurchan.

Cells are written row then column from the top-left (R1C1). Each domino is read in the Times’ own orientation: its first number on the first cell listed.

Easy Pips answer (5 dominoes · by Ian Livengood)

Easy Pips for October 9, 2026, solved==3=

Where each domino goes

  1. 1–1: 1 on R1C2, 1 on R2C2
  2. 2–2: 2 on R1C4, 2 on R2C4
  3. 1–3: 1 on R1C1, 3 on R2C1
  4. 6–2: 6 on R2C3, 2 on R1C3
  5. 6–3: 6 on R3C3, 3 on R3C2

Every region, checked

  • R1C1, R1C2, R2C2 (all the same number): 1 + 1 + 1
  • R1C3, R1C4, R2C4 (all the same number): 2 + 2 + 2
  • R2C1 (must total 3): 3
  • R2C3, R3C3 (all the same number): 6 + 6

Medium Pips answer (7 dominoes · by Ian Livengood)

Medium Pips for October 9, 2026, solved<3>10=26

Where each domino goes

  1. 5–5: 5 on R2C4, 5 on R3C4
  2. 0–0: 0 on R1C1, 0 on R1C2
  3. 3–1: 3 on R1C4, 1 on R1C3
  4. 2–6: 2 on R3C1, 6 on R2C1
  5. 0–3: 0 on R3C2, 3 on R4C2
  6. 5–3: 5 on R3C3, 3 on R4C3
  7. 6–0: 6 on R2C2, 0 on R2C3

Every region, checked

  • R1C1, R1C2, R1C3, R2C3 (must total less than 3): 0 + 0 + 1 + 0 = 1
  • R2C1, R2C2 (must total more than 10): 6 + 6 = 12
  • R2C4, R3C3, R3C4 (all the same number): 5 + 5 + 5
  • R3C1, R3C2 (must total 2): 2 + 0 = 2
  • R4C2, R4C3 (must total 6): 3 + 3 = 6

Hard Pips answer (12 dominoes · by Rodolfo Kurchan)

Hard Pips for October 9, 2026, solved343>744156≠<33<3=

Where each domino goes

  1. 4–3: 4 on R1C2, 3 on R1C1
  2. 4–2: 4 on R1C8, 2 on R2C8
  3. 6–1: 6 on R3C5, 1 on R4C5
  4. 0–3: 0 on R3C8, 3 on R4C8
  5. 6–6: 6 on R1C5, 6 on R2C5
  6. 5–2: 5 on R5C5, 2 on R5C6
  7. 2–2: 2 on R5C7, 2 on R5C8
  8. 0–4: 0 on R3C1, 4 on R2C1
  9. 3–3: 3 on R3C2, 3 on R3C3
  10. 2–3: 2 on R5C3, 3 on R4C3
  11. 0–2: 0 on R5C1, 2 on R4C1
  12. 3–1: 3 on R1C3, 1 on R2C3

Every region, checked

  • R1C1 (must total 3): 3
  • R1C2 (must total 4): 4
  • R1C3 (must total 3): 3
  • R1C5, R2C5 (must total more than 7): 6 + 6 = 12
  • R1C8 (must total 4): 4
  • R2C1, R3C1 (must total 4): 4 + 0 = 4
  • R2C3 (must total 1): 1
  • R2C8, R3C8, R4C8 (must total 5): 2 + 0 + 3 = 5
  • R3C2, R3C3 (must total 6): 3 + 3 = 6
  • R3C5, R4C5, R5C5 (all different numbers): 6 + 1 + 5
  • R4C1, R5C1 (must total less than 3): 2 + 0 = 2
  • R4C3 (must total 3): 3
  • R5C3 (must total less than 3): 2
  • R5C6, R5C7, R5C8 (all the same number): 2 + 2 + 2
Place the one-cell regions with a fixed number first: each one tells you a half you must find in the tray.
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