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NYT Pips Answers for October 3, 2026

NYT Pips answers for October 3, 2026, a Saturday: hints first, then the full solution for the easy, medium and hard boards. Take the hints in order and stop when you have enough — nothing below is revealed until you open it.

Today's set runs from a 10-square easy board to a 28-square hard one, a gap of 18 squares, with the hard board carrying 2 doubles against easy's 1 and 6 loose regions against 2. Constructed by Ian Livengood.

Sukie, Puzzle editor at EnergyPips

By Sukie · Puzzle editor

Easy — 10 squares, 5 dominoes

A 10-square board across 6 regions, with 2 exact sums to anchor it and 2 looser regions to work around.

At 10 squares this is a typical easy board — the average is 9.9 — so nothing about its size explains an unusually long or short solve.

The rule mix is 2 exact sums, 2 all-equal, 2 comparison across 6 regions. Every region on this board constrains something, so there are no free squares to park an awkward tile in.

Nothing here is far enough from the easy norm to explain an unusually fast or slow solve, which makes it a good board to practise the standard opening on: bound the exact sums first, work out where the doubles cannot go, then check for an orphan square before you touch a comparison region.

Where the information is on this board

Ordered from most constrained to least — which is the order worth working them in. No values are given away here, only how much each region can tell you.

  • < 1 (the bottom left single square) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 1 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • > 4 (the top left single square) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 4. 2 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 8 (the middle centre column of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 8. 3 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 6 (the bottom centre row of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 6. 4 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the top centre column of 2) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the middle right column of 2) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
Hint 1 — where to start

Start with the < 1 region — the bottom left single square — where the pips in this region must add up to less than 1. Work there first because exactly one combination of values can fill it, so it is fully forced before you place anything.

Hint 2 — what your tray forces

The tray carries 1 double: 6-6. A double is the only tile that fits wholly inside an all-equal region, and there are 2 here.

Hint 3 — the opening region's values

The < 1 region resolves to 0. Which half of which domino supplies each is still yours to work out.

Full answer — easy board, October 3, 2026
How each region resolves.
RegionWhereValues
> 4the top left single square5
=the top centre column of 21, 1
= 8the middle centre column of 22, 6
=the middle right column of 26, 6
< 1the bottom left single square0
= 6the bottom centre row of 22, 4

Every tile and the squares it covers

  • 2-1 → row 2 col 3 and row 2 col 2
  • 1-5 → row 1 col 2 and row 1 col 1
  • 2-0 → row 4 col 2 and row 4 col 1
  • 6-4 → row 3 col 3 and row 4 col 3
  • 6-6 → row 2 col 4 and row 3 col 4

Rows and columns are counted from the top-left of the board, starting at 1.

Medium — 14 squares, 7 dominoes

56% of the regions on this board are loose — comparisons or unconstrained — so there is little to calculate from and most of the work is deciding where tiles cannot go.

At 14 squares this is a typical medium board — the average is 14.7 — so nothing about its size explains an unusually long or short solve.

56% of its regions are loose against a norm of 41%, so this board is vaguer than usual — there is less exact arithmetic to anchor on and more reasoning by elimination.

Its tightest sum target is 2, against a median of 5 across every board published. A target that low forces blanks and low values, and is usually the fastest way in.

Where the information is on this board

Ordered from most constrained to least — which is the order worth working them in. No values are given away here, only how much each region can tell you.

  • = 6 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 6 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 6 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 6 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 2 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 2 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • < 5 (the bottom right single square) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 5. 5 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • > 0 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 0. 6 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the top left column of 3) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • no rule (the bottom centre single square) — No rule. A single free square — useful as somewhere to park a value the constrained regions cannot take.
  • < 5 (the top centre row of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 5. 9 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • ≠ (the middle centre 3-square block) — no two pip values in this region may be the same. 35 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
Hint 1 — where to start

Start with the = 6 region — the middle centre single square — where the pips in this region must add up to exactly 6. Work there first because exactly one combination of values can fill it, so it is fully forced before you place anything.

Hint 2 — what your tray forces

The tray carries 1 double: 0-0. With 1 all-different and 1 all-equal region on the board, those doubles are barred from the former and are the only tiles that fit wholly inside the latter — which usually pins two of them before you make a real decision.

Hint 3 — the opening region's values

The = 6 region resolves to 6. Which half of which domino supplies each is still yours to work out.

Full answer — medium board, October 3, 2026
How each region resolves.
RegionWhereValues
=the top left column of 30, 0, 0
< 5the top centre row of 21, 3
= 6the middle centre single square6
= 6the middle centre single square6
≠the middle centre 3-square block5, 0, 2
> 0the middle centre single square4
= 2the middle centre single square2
no rulethe bottom centre single square5
< 5the bottom right single square4

Every tile and the squares it covers

  • 6-3 → row 2 col 3 and row 1 col 3
  • 1-0 → row 1 col 2 and row 1 col 1
  • 0-2 → row 4 col 2 and row 4 col 3
  • 5-4 → row 4 col 4 and row 4 col 5
  • 0-0 → row 2 col 1 and row 3 col 1
  • 4-2 → row 3 col 3 and row 3 col 4
  • 5-6 → row 3 col 2 and row 2 col 2

Rows and columns are counted from the top-left of the board, starting at 1.

Hard — 28 squares, 14 dominoes

Two or more regions carry no rule at all today, which sounds generous and is not: unconstrained squares give you nothing to reason from, so the 11 sum regions have to carry the whole board.

At 28 squares this is a typical hard board — the average is 26.4 — so nothing about its size explains an unusually long or short solve.

The tray holds 2 doubles against a typical 3.12. Doubles are the most constrained tiles you can be dealt, so you get fewer of the free constraints doubles normally provide, and have to find your footholds elsewhere.

Its tightest sum target is 0, against a median of 4 across every board published. A target that low forces blanks and low values, and is usually the fastest way in.

Where the information is on this board

Ordered from most constrained to least — which is the order worth working them in. No values are given away here, only how much each region can tell you.

  • = 1 (the top centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 1 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 0 (the top centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 0 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 5 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 5 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 3 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 3 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 0 (the bottom centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 0 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 2 (the bottom centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 2 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 2 (the bottom right single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 2 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • > 4 (the top left single square) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 4. 2 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 3 (the middle centre column of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 3. 2 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 8 (the top centre row of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 8. 3 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • > 3 (the middle left single square) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 3. 3 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 4 (the middle centre column of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 4. 3 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • no rule (the top centre single square) — No rule. A single free square — useful as somewhere to park a value the constrained regions cannot take.
  • no rule (the top centre single square) — No rule. A single free square — useful as somewhere to park a value the constrained regions cannot take.
  • = (the middle right column of 3) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the middle left column of 3) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • no rule (the middle centre single square) — No rule. A single free square — useful as somewhere to park a value the constrained regions cannot take.
  • no rule (the middle centre single square) — No rule. A single free square — useful as somewhere to park a value the constrained regions cannot take.
  • = 10 (the bottom centre row of 3) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 10. 8 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
Hint 1 — where to start

Start with the = 1 region — the top centre single square — where the pips in this region must add up to exactly 1. Work there first because exactly one combination of values can fill it, so it is fully forced before you place anything.

Hint 2 — what your tray forces

The tray carries 2 doubles: 5-5, 3-3. A double is the only tile that fits wholly inside an all-equal region, and there are 2 here.

Hint 3 — the opening region's values

The = 1 region resolves to 1. Which half of which domino supplies each is still yours to work out.

Full answer — hard board, October 3, 2026
How each region resolves.
RegionWhereValues
> 4the top left single square5
= 1the top centre single square1
= 0the top centre single square0
no rulethe top centre single square1
no rulethe top centre single square4
= 8the top centre row of 23, 5
> 3the middle left single square4
= 4the middle centre column of 23, 1
=the middle right column of 35, 5, 5
=the middle left column of 33, 3, 3
= 3the middle centre column of 21, 2
no rulethe middle centre single square0
no rulethe middle centre single square6
= 5the middle centre single square5
= 3the middle centre single square3
= 10the bottom centre row of 34, 2, 4
= 0the bottom centre single square0
= 2the bottom centre single square2
= 2the bottom right single square2

Every tile and the squares it covers

  • 5-5 → row 2 col 7 and row 3 col 7
  • 3-5 → row 1 col 6 and row 1 col 7
  • 5-2 → row 4 col 7 and row 5 col 7
  • 1-3 → row 3 col 2 and row 2 col 2
  • 2-0 → row 5 col 6 and row 5 col 5
  • 4-5 → row 2 col 1 and row 1 col 1
  • 3-4 → row 5 col 1 and row 5 col 2
  • 2-4 → row 5 col 3 and row 5 col 4
  • 2-1 → row 4 col 4 and row 3 col 4
  • 1-0 → row 1 col 2 and row 1 col 3
  • 0-5 → row 3 col 5 and row 4 col 5
  • 4-1 → row 1 col 5 and row 1 col 4
  • 3-3 → row 3 col 1 and row 4 col 1
  • 3-6 → row 4 col 6 and row 3 col 6

Rows and columns are counted from the top-left of the board, starting at 1.

Questions about this day

What is the answer to NYT Pips on October 3, 2026?
The full solution for all three boards is on this page, below the hints. Two or more regions carry no rule at all today, which sounds generous and is not: unconstrained squares give you nothing to reason from, so the 11 sum regions have to carry the whole board.
Can I see a hint without seeing the whole answer?
Yes. Each difficulty has three hints in order — where to start, what your tray forces, then the values in the opening region — each behind its own disclosure, with the full solution last. Nothing is revealed until you open it.
Are these the official New York Times boards?
The puzzle data is the Times’ own, and this page reports and explains the solution. EnergyPips is not affiliated with The New York Times, and the boards are not reproduced here to play — to play, go to the Times. To play a free daily domino puzzle of our own, the rest of this site is that.
Why is the hard board harder than the easy one?
On October 3, 2026 the hard board runs 28 squares across 19 regions against the easy board’s 10 and 6, and carries 6 regions that give you no exact number to work from.

About these answers

EnergyPips is an independent site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to The New York Times. This page reports and explains the solution to a published puzzle, constructed by Ian Livengood (easy), Rodolfo Kurchan (medium, hard) and edited by Ian Livengood — the board itself is not reproduced here to play. To play it, go to the official NYT Pips puzzle. To play a free daily domino puzzle of our own making, with a full archive, start here.

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