Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Spoiler warning: The hints come first; full tile placements follow. Stop after the hint section if you want to keep the rest of the puzzle unsolved. This guide is for the Sunday, January 4, 2026, NYT Pips puzzle and follows the date-matched solution published by Mashable. The placements below are transcribed from that guide and are not independently verified against the NYT board.
How to use these hints
Pips is a single-player domino-style puzzle. Place each tile horizontally or vertically. The color-coded regions set local conditions for the pips inside them; a tile can cross a boundary, and each half is judged in the region it occupies. Uncolored spaces have no condition, and touching tiles do not need matching values.
- Number: the pips in the region must total the displayed number.
- Equal: every domino half in the region has the same pip value.
- Not Equal: the values must differ.
- Less Than: the region total must be below its displayed number.
- Greater Than: the region total must be above its displayed number.
To preserve the puzzle, use the conditions and placements by difficulty only when you need them. The source lists tiles and orientations rather than board coordinates. Because several labels repeat, match each entry to its location on the board image instead of relying on a condition name alone.
Easy: hints and full placements
Use the region labels on the board to identify each group. The source gives these horizontal placements:
#1 Best Overall
- 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
- Durable Storage Tin: Includes convenient sturdy storage tin to keep all of your pieces organized; high-quality color dot dominoes are built to last for years to come
- 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
- Less Than (1): 0-6.
- Equal (6): 0-6 and 6-1.
- Equal (5): 5-5.
- Equal (4): 2-4 and 4-3.
- Greater Than region: 4-3.
Label caution: Mashable labels the last region “Greater Than (2)” but explains it as requiring a total greater than 1. Check the displayed label on the board before applying that condition; the tile placement above reflects the source’s reported answer.
Medium: hints and full placements
All listed tiles are vertical. Repeated conditions are separate regions, so use the board locations to distinguish them.
Rank #2
- 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
- Equal (2): 2-2.
- Less Than (1): 0-2.
- Equal (1): 1-1 and 1-3.
- Greater Than (3): 2-1 and 0-2.
- Greater Than (2): 3-0.
- Less Than (2): 1-0.
- Less Than (1): 3-0 and 0-0.
- Greater Than (2), a second region: 1-3.
- Less Than (1), a third region: 1-0.
Hard: hints and full placements
Hard contains several regions with the same displayed condition. The groups below follow the source’s list; use the position of each matching label on the board to identify the intended region.
- Greater Than (4): 6-5, vertical.
- Equal (3): 3-5, vertical; 3-3, horizontal; 3-4, vertical.
- Equal (5): 0-5, vertical; 6-5, vertical; 3-5, vertical; 5-5, horizontal; 5-1, vertical.
- Number (12): 6-6, horizontal.
- Less Than (4): 3-1, vertical.
- Equal (1): 5-1, vertical; 3-1, vertical; 1-1, vertical; 6-1, vertical.
- Number (4): 3-2, vertical; 1-4, horizontal.
- Number (4), a second region: 1-4, horizontal.
- Less Than (4): 2-6, vertical.
- Number (4), a third region: 3-2, vertical; 2-4, vertical.
- Number (12), a second region: 2-6, vertical; 6-1, horizontal.
- Number (4), a fourth region: 2-4, vertical.
Source and date
The answer set is matched to Sunday, January 4, 2026. Mashable’s date-specific guide was published at 9:51 AM UTC and supplies the rules and placements for Easy, Medium, and Hard. Its text does not give coordinates for the regions, so the repeated labels in the Medium and Hard lists require the original board image to disambiguate them. Mashable also reports an August 2025 release timing for Pips; that is its report, not an independently verified NYT announcement.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Complete Mexican Train Dominoes Set: 4 Wooden Domino Holders, Hub, 91 Tiles, 9 Plastic Trains, Score Pad, Instruction, and Aluminum Carrying Case
- Mexican Train Double 12 Case Size: 10 x 8 x 5 inches; Domino Holders Size: 7 x 3 x 0.7 inches; Domino Tiles Size: 2 x 1 x 0.3 inches
- Premium Mexican Train Game: Full Set and Simple instructions make it easy for 2-9 players to play together
- Colorful Domino Tiles: Mexican Train dominoes game features durable and colorful tiles with indented and well-painted dots so that they are easy to read, and provide you with long term use
- Perfect Gift: Mexican Train Dominoes double 12 is a unique and entertaining gift idea for Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, New Years, Thanksgiving, Anniversaries, Christmas Gifts and Halloween Gifts
Rank #4
- THE BASIC SET: This Basic Set is a great introductory domino set for the whole crew! The perfect addition to any game night and your collection of classic games. Double 6 Dominoes have a timeless appeal that has entertained the young and young-at-heart for generations. The University Games Domino Collection offers a full line of dominoes. Perfect for all playing levels, from the novice to the professional, these dominoes are top- ranked for quality and durability.
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: 28 domino tiles and Instructions for 10 family friendly games such as Chickenfoot, Muggins, 42 Moon and Castle Rock.
- HIGH QUALITY, MODERN, COLORFUL: Made of high quality materials, each domino is painted with brightly colored pips and has a smooth surface with rounded corners giving it the perfect weight and balance in your hand. The large dots feature make tiles easy to read.
- PROMOTES STRATEGIC THINKING: Enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills while having fun with friends and family.
- ON-THE-GO GAMING: The reusable tin case allows for easy storage and great for on-the-go fun.
Rank #3
- 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
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.
