Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThese are the NYT Pips hints and answer placements for Sunday, December 21, 2025. Start with the rule reminder, then open only the difficulty-level spoilers you need. The listed placements give domino values and orientations, not board coordinates.
How to approach the December 21 Pips puzzle
Pips is a domino-placement logic game: fill the grid with dominoes while making each colored region satisfy its printed condition. A region may require a target sum, matching values, or a comparison such as staying below a limit. Some harder puzzles may have more than one valid solution.
For a gentler nudge, use the condition types above to check what each region asks of its pips. The spoilers below give the available placements for the Easy, Medium, and Hard boards. Each pair is a domino’s values; “horizontal” and “vertical” describe its orientation. They do not identify where to place it on the grid.
Easy board answers
Spoilers for Easy:
- Equal (0): 0-0 vertical; 0-2 horizontal.
- Number (4): 4-2 vertical.
- Number (6): 4-2 vertical; 0-2 horizontal; 2-5 horizontal.
- Number (8): 3-3 horizontal; 2-5 horizontal.
Medium board answers
Spoilers for Medium:
- Equal (2): 2-2 horizontal; 2-6 vertical.
- Equal (5): 5-5 horizontal.
- Number (6), light blue region: 1-4 horizontal; 5-6 horizontal.
- Number (11): 1-4 horizontal; 1-0 vertical; 3-6 vertical.
- Number (6), dark blue region: 2-6 vertical; 5-6 horizontal.
- Number (6), green region: 1-0 vertical.
- Less Than (4): 1-0 vertical.
Hard board answers
Spoilers for Hard:
- Number (3): 3-6 horizontal.
- Not Equal, purple region: 4-3 horizontal; 3-6 horizontal; 4-2 horizontal; 5-0 vertical.
- Number (11): 5-6 horizontal; 6-1 vertical.
- Number (18): 5-6 horizontal; 6-4 vertical; 6-0 vertical.
What these placements do—and do not—tell you
The available answer listing groups dominoes by region condition and supplies values and orientations. It does not provide coordinates, so it is not a complete placement map or a step-by-step solution. The Yahoo Tech page carrying the dated answer result could not be opened; these placements are based on its search-result excerpt rather than an independently reconstructed board. A community thread identifies the puzzle as Pips #126, but notes that numbering can vary by location.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Because a Hard board can admit multiple valid solutions, treat the listed placements as answer guidance rather than proof that there is only one possible completed grid.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
