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Here are hints and published placements for the New York Times Pips puzzle dated September 8, 2025. Start with the rule reminders if you want to solve it yourself; the full placements follow in a clearly marked spoiler section.
How Pips works
Pips is a single-player domino puzzle released by The New York Times in August 2025. Place each domino vertically or horizontally across the board. Unlike traditional domino games, touching values do not have to match. Instead, each colored region sets a condition for the domino halves inside it; an uncolored cell has no condition and can offer placement flexibility. The rules below are summarized in Delimiter Online’s guide to this puzzle.
- Number: The pips in the region must add up to the target. A region can contain only one half of a domino.
- Equal: Every domino half in the region has the same value.
- Not Equal: Every half in the region has a different value.
- Less Than: Every half’s value is below the target.
- Greater Than: Every half’s value is above the target.
Hints by difficulty
The September 8 guide divides the puzzle into Easy, Medium, and Hard. For a light nudge, use the rule list above to match each region’s condition to its domino halves. The full placements are below.
Spoilers: September 8, 2025 answers
Spoiler warning: The following lists the complete placements published by Delimiter Online. Tile values are shown in the guide’s order, and each orientation is preserved.
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#1 Best Overall
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Spin Master Games Double 9 Dominoes Set in Storage Tin Classic Tile Game
- Classic Game For Everyone: This set comes with bright color-dot dominoes, allowing for easier gameplay for kids & people with vision issues; comes with instructions for different gameplay variations
- Educational & Fun: This set of Double-Nine Dominoes teaches kids simple matching & math skills; play as a beginner, expert, & the whole family; for 2-6 players, adults & kids games for kids 8-12
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Easy
- Greater Than (2): 4-1, horizontal.
- Equal (1): 2-2, vertical; 2-1, horizontal.
- Less Than (2): 2-1, horizontal.
Medium
- Number (5): 5-4, vertical.
- Equal (3): 5-3, 2-3, and 1-3, all vertical.
- Not Equal: 5-3, 5-6, 1-3, and 2-3, all vertical.
Hard
- Number (0): 0-0, horizontal.
- Number (2): 4-2, vertical.
- Number (1): 3-1, vertical.
- Number (4): 4-2, vertical.
- Number (3): 3-1, vertical.
- Number (3): 1-1 horizontal and 1-2 horizontal.
- Number (3): 1-2 horizontal and 1-4 horizontal.
- Number (16): 1-4 horizontal, 4-3 horizontal, and 4-4 vertical.
- Equal (3): 4-3 horizontal and 3-3 vertical.
- Number (3): 3-2 horizontal.
- Equal (2): 3-2 horizontal, 6-2 vertical, 2-5 vertical, and 2-2 vertical.
- Number (5): 5-2 vertical.
- Number (2): 0-2 vertical.
- Number (6): 6-2 vertical.
- Number (5): 5-0 vertical.
- Number (0): 0-2 vertical and 5-0 vertical.
These are the placements reported in Delimiter Online’s September 8, 2025 guide. An official NYT solution archive was not established in the available source material.
Quick Recap
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Queensell Mexican Train Dominoes Set with Wooden Hub, Domino Tile Board Games - Double 12 Dominos Set for Family Game Night for Adults and Kids Ages 8 and up (Double 12)
- ALL IN ONE SET - Mexican train dominoes set comes with everything you need to have a good time with family and friends including 91 Classic Double Tiles, 9 Plastic Trains, and a Wood Hub in a Reusable Aluminum Carry Case to make sure you have enough to play with 2+ Players
- TIMELESS AND CLASSIC GAME - Double 12 dominoes set provides timeless fun for all ages, and is perfect for family game, sleepovers, parties and gatherings
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- PERFECT GIFT - Dominoes double 12 is a unique and entertaining gift idea for Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, New Years, Thanksgiving, Anniversaries, Christmas Games etc. Great for Halloween Games.
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Spin Master Games Wooden Domino Racks Set of 4 Trays Classic Board Game
- KEEP YOUR DOMINOES ORGANIZED: Set up a winning hand. Each rack holds up to 15 domino pieces. Dominoes not included. Perfect for your Mexican Train Dominoes set or for a night of family games
- HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Made from solid wood and designed to last for years to come. Domino wooden toys make great building toys and games for kids 8-12. Also perfect for adult games
- PERFECT FOR VETERANS AND BEGINNERS: The most convenient way to constantly view your tiles so you can focus on winning instead of worrying about palming and concealing your tiles or keeping them balanced and upright
- FAMILY BOARD GAMES: Looking for classic board games for family game night? Shop our classic collection of checkers, chess, bingo, dominoes set, poker set & more, the perfect travel games for beach days, vacations & summer party
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Queensell Dominos Set for Adults, Double 6 Dominoes Set with 28 Tiles in Wooden Case, Classic Dominoes, Family Board Game for Kids & Adults, Travel Game for Family Game Night, Juegos de Mesa
- Classic Domino Set: Double 6 dominos set for adults with 28 professional dominoes in a wooden storage case; ideal for classic board games, family board games and memorable family game night
- Durable Quality: Premium melamine dominoes with deeply engraved, colorfast dots and smooth edges for comfortable play; built for years of domino & tile games at home or while traveling
- Fun for Everyone: Dominoes set for adults and kids designed for two to four players; perfect for family games, board games for adults, games for family night and screen-free entertainment
- Portable Storage: Compact wood case keeps every domino organized and protected; easy to pack for travel games, camping trips, vacations, parties and gatherings with friends or family
- Certified & Gift Ready: Tested to meet applicable toy safety requirements for the US, Canada, EU and UK; an excellent Christmas, birthday or holiday gift for anyone who enjoys classic games and juegos de mesa
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Spin Master Games Mexican Train Dominoes Set in Metal Case Classic Game
- Great For On-The-Go Fun: This set of double 12 dominoes comes in a sleek, stylish aluminum carry case and has everything you need to play; the sturdy aluminum case makes it easy and safe to transport
- Indoor/Outdoor Play: Have a blast at home and enjoy this simple yet exciting game that everyone in the family will love; great tool for kids games and outdoor games
- Quick Start, Fun & Engaging: Just take the game out of the box, read the easy-to-follow instructions and choo-choo; you're off on an exciting trip to play Mexican train dominoes; recommended for 2-8 players, ages 8 and up
- Family Game Night: Keep the fun going with more Spin Master Games to add to your family’s board game shelf: Hedbanz, Beat the Parents, Family Feud, Jumanji, Wicked: The Game, Mind the Gap & more
- Spin Master Games & Toys: Looking for kids games, yard games & card games for adults, kids or teens? Find family favorite puzzles & games for family game night, travel games, kids puzzles & more
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