A hydrogen-bonded dimer in 6-(4-bromophenyl)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine and a chain of rings built from N-H...N and C-H...pi(pyridine) hydrogen bonds in 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-4-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine.