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Past puzzleJune 17, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: June 17, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from June 17, 2026 (2026-06-17) with hints and answers for every level.

June 17, 2026

Pips hints and answers

Use the board and domino inventory as your reference. Each level has separate area clues, an optional placement from the recorded answer, and its complete solution.

Easy · 6 pieces

Easy board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum > 2
A1All equal
A2All equal
A4Sum < 9
A2All equal
A5No rule
A4Sum < 9
A2All equal
A6No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 2Area 4: Sum < 9Area 5: No ruleArea 6: No rule

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 3-4; Piece 2: 2-4; Piece 3: 3-1; Piece 4: 5-6; Piece 5: 3-3; Piece 6: 5-5.

Where to look

Area 3 has 1 cell: Sum > 2. Look at row 1, column 5.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 1 (3 | 4), horizontal: row 1, column 4 has 3, paired with row 1, column 5 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A15All equal
A15All equal
A23All equal
A34Sum > 2
A15All equal
A23All equal
A46Sum < 9
A23All equal
A54No rule
A42Sum < 9
A23All equal
A61No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 2Area 4: Sum < 9Area 5: No ruleArea 6: No rule

Each outlined pair is one piece. Piece numbers identify the same domino in the list below, including when two pieces have the same values.

  1. Piece 1 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 3, paired with row 1, column 5 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 1 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 5, paired with row 3, column 2 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 3, paired with row 3, column 4 = 3.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 5, paired with row 1, column 2 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 2. 4 = 4 > 2.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 9. 6 + 2 = 8 < 9.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 9
A2All equal
A1Sum = 9
A2All equal
A3All equal
A4No rule
A3All equal
A5Sum = 4
A6Sum < 2
A5Sum = 4
A7Sum = 9
A7Sum = 9
A8All equal
A8All equal
Area 1: Sum = 9Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum = 4Area 6: Sum < 2Area 7: Sum = 9Area 8: All equal

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 4-1; Piece 2: 5-6; Piece 3: 3-0; Piece 4: 4-4; Piece 5: 2-2; Piece 6: 0-5; Piece 7: 0-6.

Where to look

Area 6 has 1 cell: Sum < 2. Look at row 3, column 6.

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 must total 9. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 3 + 6; 4 + 5.

Other areas and the available dominoes may rule out some of these pairs.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 6 (0 | 5), vertical: row 3, column 6 has 0, paired with row 4, column 6 containing 5.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A15Sum = 9
A26All equal
A14Sum = 9
A26All equal
A30All equal
A44No rule
A30All equal
A53Sum = 4
A60Sum < 2
A51Sum = 4
A74Sum = 9
A75Sum = 9
A82All equal
A82All equal
Area 1: Sum = 9Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum = 4Area 6: Sum < 2Area 7: Sum = 9Area 8: All equal

Each outlined pair is one piece. Piece numbers identify the same domino in the list below, including when two pieces have the same values.

  1. Piece 1 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 5 = 4, paired with row 4, column 4 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 5, paired with row 1, column 2 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 3, paired with row 3, column 3 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 3, column 1 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 5 = 2, paired with row 5, column 6 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (0 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 6 = 0, paired with row 4, column 6 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 9. 5 + 4 = 9; target 9.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 4. 3 + 1 = 4; target 4.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

10 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum < 4
A4Sum > 9
A2All equal
A4Sum > 9
A2All equal
A5Sum > 4
A6Sum = 7
A7Sum = 4
A6Sum = 7
A8Sum = 2
A9Sum = 6
A9Sum = 6
A10Sum = 6
A11Sum = 6
A11Sum = 6
A11Sum = 6
A12Sum = 6
A13Sum = 0
A12Sum = 6
A14All equal
A15Sum = 6
A14All equal
A15Sum = 6
A16Sum = 6
A16Sum = 6
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum < 4Area 4: Sum > 9Area 5: Sum > 4Area 6: Sum = 7Area 7: Sum = 4Area 8: Sum = 2Area 9: Sum = 6Area 10: Sum = 6Area 11: Sum = 6Area 12: Sum = 6Area 13: Sum = 0Area 14: All equalArea 15: Sum = 6Area 16: Sum = 6

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 2-1; Piece 2: 3-4; Piece 3: 5-2; Piece 4: 4-6; Piece 5: 0-0; Piece 6: 4-2; Piece 7: 0-5; Piece 8: 1-1; Piece 9: 6-2; Piece 10: 3-3; Piece 11: 6-5; Piece 12: 2-0; Piece 13: 5-3; Piece 14: 3-0.

Where to look

Area 1 has 1 cell: Sum = 6. Look at row 1, column 1.

A local clue for Area 6

The two cells in Area 6 must total 7. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 1 + 6; 2 + 5; 3 + 4.

Other areas and the available dominoes may rule out some of these pairs.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 11 (6 | 5), vertical: row 1, column 1 has 6, paired with row 2, column 1 containing 5.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

10 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum = 6
A20All equal
A20All equal
A33Sum < 4
A45Sum > 9
A20All equal
A46Sum > 9
A20All equal
A55Sum > 4
A62Sum = 7
A74Sum = 4
A65Sum = 7
A82Sum = 2
A92Sum = 6
A94Sum = 6
A106Sum = 6
A114Sum = 6
A111Sum = 6
A111Sum = 6
A123Sum = 6
A130Sum = 0
A123Sum = 6
A142All equal
A153Sum = 6
A142All equal
A153Sum = 6
A165Sum = 6
A161Sum = 6
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum < 4Area 4: Sum > 9Area 5: Sum > 4Area 6: Sum = 7Area 7: Sum = 4Area 8: Sum = 2Area 9: Sum = 6Area 10: Sum = 6Area 11: Sum = 6Area 12: Sum = 6Area 13: Sum = 0Area 14: All equalArea 15: Sum = 6Area 16: Sum = 6

Each outlined pair is one piece. Piece numbers identify the same domino in the list below, including when two pieces have the same values.

  1. Piece 1 (2 | 1): vertical; row 9, column 9 = 2, paired with row 10, column 9 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 4): vertical; row 7, column 7 = 3, paired with row 6, column 7 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 1 = 5, paired with row 5, column 2 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 5, column 5 = 4, paired with row 5, column 6 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 0): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 0, paired with row 2, column 4 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 2): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 4, paired with row 5, column 4 = 2.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 5 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 6, column 8 = 1, paired with row 6, column 9 = 1.
  9. Piece 9 (6 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 4, column 1 = 2.
  10. Piece 10 (3 | 3): vertical; row 8, column 7 = 3, paired with row 9, column 7 = 3.
  11. Piece 11 (6 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 6, paired with row 2, column 1 = 5.
  12. Piece 12 (2 | 0): vertical; row 8, column 9 = 2, paired with row 7, column 9 = 0.
  13. Piece 13 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 10, column 8 = 5, paired with row 10, column 7 = 3.
  14. Piece 14 (3 | 0): horizontal; row 1, column 6 = 3, paired with row 1, column 5 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 9. 5 + 6 = 11 > 9.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 7. 2 + 5 = 7; target 7.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 6. 2 + 4 = 6; target 6.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 6. 4 + 1 + 1 = 6; target 6.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 6. 3 + 3 = 6; target 6.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  14. Area 14: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 6. 3 + 3 = 6; target 6.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 6. 5 + 1 = 6; target 6.

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