El-Balad presents essential insights for players navigating the popular game Pips, launched by the New York Times in August 2025. This game revitalizes the classic dominoes format, offering an engaging single-player experience that challenges players with color-coded conditions.
Understanding Pips
Pips combines elements of traditional dominoes with unique gameplay. Players must connect tiles based on specific rules determined by the colors of the spaces. These rules enhance cognitive skills and puzzle-solving abilities.
Gameplay Mechanics
Players place tiles either vertically or horizontally. Each color-coded space has its own rules, which can include conditions like sums and equalities:
- Number: The sum of all pips must equal the specified number.
- Equal: Each domino half must share the same number of pips.
- Not Equal: Domino halves must exhibit different pips.
- Less Than: The total must be less than the given number.
- Greater Than: The total must exceed the specified value.
If a space shows no color coding, there are no limits on the dominoes placed there.
Tips for November 14, 2025
Easy Difficulty Hints
- Number (5): Place 5-6 vertically.
- Equal (6): Use 5-6 vertically, 6-6 horizontally, and 6-3 vertically.
- Equal (3): Place 6-3 vertically and 3-1 horizontally.
- Number (1): Position 3-1 horizontally.
Medium Difficulty Hints
- Greater Than (2): Use 6-2 horizontally.
- Equal (2): Place 6-2, 2-0, and 2-4 all horizontally.
- Equal (0): Position 1-0 and 2-0 horizontally.
- Equal (1): Use 1-1 and 1-5 vertically.
- Number (9): Position both 2-4 and 5-4 horizontally.
Hard Difficulty Hints
- Number (5): Use 3-3 in red and light blue spaces.
- Equal (0): Position 0-3, 0-2, and 0-0 in various orientations.
- Number (5): Place 0-5 horizontally.
- Number (5): Use both 5-4 and 1-0 across different colored spaces.
- Number (5): Position 1-5 and both 4-2 and 3-1 in vertical and horizontal orientations respectively.
Pips continues to engage players with its intricate puzzles and strategic gameplay. Visit El-Balad for more updates and tips on your favorite games.
