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NYT Pips Answers for October 14, 2026

NYT Pips answers for October 14, 2026, a Wednesday: 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 4 doubles against easy's 3 and 6 loose regions against 2. Constructed by Ian Livengood and Rodolfo Kurchan. Edited by Ian Livengood.

Sukie, Puzzle editor at EnergyPips

By Sukie · Puzzle editor

Easy — 10 squares, 5 dominoes

3 doubles in a 5-tile tray is a lot, and doubles are the most constrained tiles you can be dealt. Placing them first is not a preference today, it is the route through.

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 tray holds 3 doubles against a typical 1.31. Doubles are the most constrained tiles you can be dealt, so this board hands you more forced placements than usual — an advantage, if you look for them first.

Its tightest sum target is 9, against a median of 5 across every board published. A high target forces large values into a small space, which narrows the options just as sharply from the other direction.

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.

  • = 9 (the middle centre row of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 9. 2 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • no rule (the top right single square) — No rule. A single free square — useful as somewhere to park a value the constrained regions cannot take.
  • = (the middle left column of 2) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the middle centre 3-square block) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • < 6 (the middle centre column of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 6. 12 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
Hint 1 — where to start

Start with the = 9 region — the middle centre row of 2 — where the pips in this region must add up to exactly 9. Work there first because only 2 combinations of values can fill it.

Hint 2 — what your tray forces

The tray carries 3 doubles: 3-3, 0-0, 1-1. 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 = 9 region resolves to 4, 5. Which half of which domino supplies each is still yours to work out.

Full answer — easy board, October 14, 2026
How each region resolves.
RegionWhereValues
no rulethe top right single square2
=the middle left column of 23, 3
= 9the middle centre row of 25, 4
=the middle centre 3-square block1, 1, 1
< 6the middle centre column of 20, 0

Every tile and the squares it covers

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

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

Medium — 14 squares, 7 dominoes

A 14-square board across 8 regions, with 1 exact sum to anchor it and 3 looser regions to work around.

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.

Its tightest sum target is 8, against a median of 5 across every board published. A high target forces large values into a small space, which narrows the options just as sharply from the other direction.

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.

  • > 4 (the bottom centre 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 top left single square) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 3. 3 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • < 3 (the middle left single square) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 3. 3 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the top centre row of 2) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the top centre row of 2) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the middle 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 centre row of 2) — every pip value in this region must be the same. 7 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 8 (the middle centre 3-square block) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 8. 8 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
Hint 1 — where to start

Start with the > 4 region — the bottom centre single square — where the pips in this region must add up to more than 4. Work there first because only 2 combinations of values can fill it.

Hint 2 — what your tray forces

The tray carries 2 doubles: 4-4, 0-0. A double is the only tile that fits wholly inside an all-equal region, and there are 4 here.

Hint 3 — the opening region's values

The > 4 region resolves to 5. Which half of which domino supplies each is still yours to work out.

Full answer — medium board, October 14, 2026
How each region resolves.
RegionWhereValues
> 3the top left single square4
=the top centre row of 23, 3
=the top centre row of 20, 0
< 3the middle left single square0
=the middle centre column of 21, 1
=the middle centre row of 26, 6
= 8the middle centre 3-square block4, 0, 4
> 4the bottom centre single square5

Every tile and the squares it covers

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

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

Hard — 28 squares, 14 dominoes

4 doubles in a 14-tile tray is a lot, and doubles are the most constrained tiles you can be dealt. Placing them first is not a preference today, it is the route through.

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.

38% of its regions are loose against a norm of 28%, 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 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.

  • = 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.
  • = 4 (the top centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 4 — and exactly one combination of values satisfies it, so it is forced.
  • = 4 (the middle right single square) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 4 — 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.
  • = 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.
  • > 4 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 4. 2 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 14 (the middle centre row of 3) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 14. 4 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • < 4 (the middle centre single square) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 4. 4 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • < 3 (the middle centre row of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to less than 3. 4 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = 6 (the middle centre column of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 6. 4 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • = (the middle 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 left 3-square block) — 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.
  • = 9 (the middle centre column of 3) — the pips in this region must add up to exactly 9. 8 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • > 7 (the top right column of 2) — the pips in this region must add up to more than 7. 9 combinations of values would satisfy it in isolation.
  • ≠ (the top left 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 = 0 region — the top centre single square — where the pips in this region must add up to exactly 0. 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 4 doubles: 1-1, 6-6, 3-3, 4-4. With 1 all-different and 2 all-equal regions 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 = 0 region resolves to 0. Which half of which domino supplies each is still yours to work out.

Full answer — hard board, October 14, 2026
How each region resolves.
RegionWhereValues
≠the top left 3-square block1, 4, 6
= 0the top centre single square0
= 4the top centre single square4
> 7the top right column of 22, 6
=the middle centre column of 23, 3
= 9the middle centre column of 34, 5, 0
=the middle left 3-square block1, 1, 1
= 4the middle right single square4
= 3the middle centre single square3
= 14the middle centre row of 36, 6, 2
< 4the middle centre single square3
< 3the middle centre row of 22, 0
> 4the middle centre single square5
= 6the middle centre single square6
no rulethe middle centre single square6
= 6the middle centre column of 25, 1

Every tile and the squares it covers

  • 2-6 → row 1 col 8 and row 2 col 8
  • 4-0 → row 1 col 2 and row 1 col 3
  • 6-1 → row 2 col 1 and row 1 col 1
  • 5-6 → row 6 col 6 and row 6 col 7
  • 1-1 → row 3 col 1 and row 4 col 1
  • 0-5 → row 4 col 5 and row 3 col 5
  • 1-3 → row 4 col 2 and row 4 col 3
  • 2-3 → row 6 col 4 and row 6 col 3
  • 6-6 → row 4 col 6 and row 4 col 7
  • 3-3 → row 2 col 3 and row 3 col 3
  • 0-6 → row 6 col 5 and row 7 col 5
  • 5-1 → row 8 col 5 and row 9 col 5
  • 2-4 → row 4 col 8 and row 3 col 8
  • 4-4 → row 1 col 5 and row 2 col 5

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 14, 2026?
The full solution for all three boards is on this page, below the hints. 4 doubles in a 14-tile tray is a lot, and doubles are the most constrained tiles you can be dealt. Placing them first is not a preference today, it is the route through.
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 14, 2026 the hard board runs 28 squares across 16 regions against the easy board’s 10 and 5, 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, medium), Rodolfo Kurchan (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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