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Past puzzleJune 18, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: June 18, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from June 18, 2026 (2026-06-18) with hints and answers for every level.

June 18, 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 · 5 pieces

Easy board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2Sum > 2
A3Sum > 2
A4Sum = 5
A1All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 5
A7Sum > 3
A8Sum = 5
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum > 2Area 3: Sum > 2Area 4: Sum = 5Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 5Area 7: Sum > 3Area 8: Sum = 5

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 1 cell: Sum > 2. Look at row 1, column 4.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 4 (1 | 6), horizontal: row 1, column 3 has 1, paired with row 1, column 4 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11All equal
A26Sum > 2
A34Sum > 2
A45Sum = 5
A11All equal
A53All equal
A53All equal
A65Sum = 5
A76Sum > 3
A85Sum = 5
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum > 2Area 3: Sum > 2Area 4: Sum = 5Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 5Area 7: Sum > 3Area 8: Sum = 5

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 | 5): horizontal; row 2, column 5 = 3, paired with row 2, column 6 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 5, paired with row 2, column 1 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 6.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 1, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 2. 6 = 6 > 2.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 2. 4 = 4 > 2.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 7

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2No rule
A3Sum = 7
A3Sum = 7
A4Sum = 1
A4Sum = 1
A5Sum = 9
A5Sum = 9
A6Sum = 8
A6Sum = 8
A7Sum = 8
A7Sum = 8
A7Sum = 8
A8Sum > 4
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 7Area 4: Sum = 1Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum = 8Area 7: Sum = 8Area 8: Sum > 4

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

Where to look

Area 8 has 1 cell: Sum > 4. Look at row 5, column 4.

A local clue for Area 3

The two cells in Area 3 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 3 (6 | 2), vertical: row 5, column 4 has 6, paired with row 4, column 4 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 7

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11No rule
A22No rule
A33Sum = 7
A34Sum = 7
A40Sum = 1
A41Sum = 1
A54Sum = 9
A55Sum = 9
A63Sum = 8
A65Sum = 8
A73Sum = 8
A72Sum = 8
A73Sum = 8
A86Sum > 4
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 7Area 4: Sum = 1Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum = 8Area 7: Sum = 8Area 8: Sum > 4

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 (0 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 0, paired with row 3, column 6 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 2): vertical; row 5, column 4 = 6, paired with row 4, column 4 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 3 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 7 = 1, paired with row 1, column 7 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 4, paired with row 3, column 2 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 7. 3 + 4 = 7; target 7.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 1. 0 + 1 = 1; target 1.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 8. 3 + 5 = 8; target 8.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 8. 3 + 2 + 3 = 8; target 8.
  8. Area 8: Sum > 4. 6 = 6 > 4.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

6 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2Sum = 10
A2Sum = 10
A1All equal
A3Sum > 10
A3Sum > 10
A4Sum < 3
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum < 4
A4Sum < 3
A7Sum = 6
A8All equal
A8All equal
A8All equal
A9All equal
A9All equal
A10Sum < 3
A7Sum = 6
A8All equal
A8All equal
A11Sum > 4
A9All equal
A9All equal
A12Sum = 10
A12Sum = 10
A13Sum > 4
A14No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 10Area 3: Sum > 10Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 4Area 7: Sum = 6Area 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: Sum < 3Area 11: Sum > 4Area 12: Sum = 10Area 13: Sum > 4Area 14: No rule

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 3-0; Piece 2: 2-1; Piece 3: 4-3; Piece 4: 2-0; Piece 5: 5-2; Piece 6: 1-3; Piece 7: 6-5; Piece 8: 0-5; Piece 9: 6-3; Piece 10: 1-0; Piece 11: 1-4; Piece 12: 0-0; Piece 13: 2-6; Piece 14: 5-1; Piece 15: 2-2.

Where to look

Area 6 has 1 cell: Sum < 4. Look at row 3, column 7.

A local clue for Area 2

The two cells in Area 2 must total 10. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 4 + 6; 5 + 5.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 1 (3 | 0), horizontal: row 3, column 7 has 3, paired with row 3, column 6 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

6 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13All equal
A24Sum = 10
A26Sum = 10
A13All equal
A36Sum > 10
A35Sum > 10
A42Sum < 3
A50All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A63Sum < 4
A40Sum < 3
A75Sum = 6
A82All equal
A82All equal
A82All equal
A91All equal
A91All equal
A100Sum < 3
A71Sum = 6
A82All equal
A82All equal
A115Sum > 4
A91All equal
A91All equal
A124Sum = 10
A126Sum = 10
A135Sum > 4
A143No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 10Area 3: Sum > 10Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 4Area 7: Sum = 6Area 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: Sum < 3Area 11: Sum > 4Area 12: Sum = 10Area 13: Sum > 4Area 14: 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 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 7 = 3, paired with row 3, column 6 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 6 = 2, paired with row 4, column 7 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 4, paired with row 1, column 1 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 2, paired with row 4, column 1 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 6 = 5, paired with row 5, column 5 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (1 | 3): vertical; row 5, column 8 = 1, paired with row 6, column 8 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (6 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (0 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 0, paired with row 4, column 3 = 5.
  9. Piece 9 (6 | 3): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 6, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
  10. Piece 10 (1 | 0): horizontal; row 4, column 8 = 1, paired with row 4, column 9 = 0.
  11. Piece 11 (1 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 3 = 1, paired with row 6, column 3 = 4.
  12. Piece 12 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 5 = 0.
  13. Piece 13 (2 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 4 = 2, paired with row 6, column 4 = 6.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 1): vertical; row 6, column 7 = 5, paired with row 5, column 7 = 1.
  15. Piece 15 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 2, paired with row 4, column 5 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 10. 6 + 5 = 11 > 10.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 3. 2 + 0 = 2 < 3.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 6. 5 + 1 = 6; target 6.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  10. Area 10: Sum < 3. 0 = 0 < 3.
  11. Area 11: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  13. Area 13: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  14. Area 14: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

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