NYT Pips #136 Answer Today – January 1, 2026
The New York Times Pips puzzle continues to win over logic-game fans, and today’s challenge is another fun mix of numbers, patterns, and careful placement. Inspired by classic domino mechanics, Pips asks you to think visually while satisfying rule-based regions across the board.
If you’re checking your solution or need a helping hand, you’ll find all answers for Easy, Medium, and Hard below—clearly explained and easy to follow.
Today’s NYT Pips #136 Answers (January 1, 2026)
Below are the complete solutions for each difficulty level. Each section is broken down by color region so you can quickly match it with your board.
Easy Puzzle Solution
Pink Region
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(5, 2) domino — Horizontal
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(Blank, 3) — Vertical
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(Blank, 1) — Vertical
Purple Region
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(5, 2) — Horizontal
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(5, 1) — Horizontal
Teal Region
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(5, 1) — Horizontal
Yellow Region
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(Blank, 3) — Vertical
This layout focuses on basic pip matching and simple placement, making it a smooth warm-up puzzle.
Medium Puzzle Solution
Pink Region
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(Blank, 2) — Vertical
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(4, 2) — Horizontal
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(2, 6) — Vertical
Purple Region
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(6, 3) — Horizontal
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(4, 2) — Horizontal
Yellow Region
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(6, Blank) — Horizontal
Teal Region
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(5, 5) — Horizontal
Blue Region
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(6, Blank) — Horizontal
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(4, Blank) — Horizontal
Green Region
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(2, 6) — Vertical
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(4, Blank) — Horizontal
Medium difficulty introduces multi-region overlaps and blank tiles that require forward thinking.
Hard Puzzle Solution
Pink Region
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(5, Blank) — Vertical
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(5, 5) — Horizontal
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(1, 2) — Horizontal
Teal Region
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(6, 4) — Vertical
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(4, 4) — Horizontal
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(4, Blank) — Vertical
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(2, 6) — Vertical
Yellow Region
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(2, 5) — Vertical
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(2, 2) — Horizontal
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(2, 6) — Vertical
Purple Region
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(1, 6) — Horizontal
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(6, 4) — Vertical
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(1, 2) — Horizontal
Blue Region
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(4, Blank) — Vertical
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(Blank, Blank) — Horizontal
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(Blank, 1) — Horizontal
Green Region
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(Blank, 1) — Horizontal
This puzzle leans heavily on blank tiles, vertical stacking, and region-spanning dominoes—classic Hard-mode thinking.
Yesterday’s NYT Pips Answer
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NYT Pips #135 (December 31, 2025)Useful if you’re tracking patterns or practicing daily.
How to Play NYT Pips (Beginner-Friendly Guide)
If you’re new to NYT Pips, here’s a quick explanation in simple words:
Goal
Place all dominoes on the board so that every colored region’s rule is satisfied.
The Board
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A grid divided into colored regions
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Each region has a rule shown in the corner
Common Rules Explained
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= → Pips must be equal
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≠ → Pips must be different
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> / < → Compare pip values
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Number (e.g., 10) → Total pips must equal that number
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Blank → No rule (flexible space)
How to Play
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Drag and rotate dominoes
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A single domino can cross multiple regions
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Only the pips inside a region count for its rule
Winning
There’s no penalty for mistakes. You can keep adjusting until everything fits perfectly.
Pro Tip for Solving Pips Faster
Start with:
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Regions with strict number totals
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Blank-heavy areas (they give flexibility)
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Then lock in equal (=) regions early
This reduces trial-and-error later.
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