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Past puzzleJuly 25, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: July 25, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from July 25, 2026 (2026-07-25) with hints and answers for every level.

July 25, 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

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum = 8
A3Sum = 8
A4Sum > 7
A5Sum < 2
A4Sum > 7
A6No rule
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum > 7Area 5: Sum < 2Area 6: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 5 has 1 cell: Sum < 2. Look at row 3, column 4.

A local clue for Area 3

The two cells in Area 3 must total 8. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 2 + 6; 3 + 5; 4 + 4.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 2 (1 | 2), vertical: row 3, column 4 has 1, paired with row 4, column 4 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16No rule
A23All equal
A23All equal
A23All equal
A34Sum = 8
A34Sum = 8
A45Sum > 7
A51Sum < 2
A45Sum > 7
A62No rule
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum > 7Area 5: Sum < 2Area 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 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 4, paired with row 3, column 2 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 1, paired with row 4, column 4 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 3): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 3 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 3, paired with row 1, column 2 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 7. 5 + 5 = 10 > 7.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 3
A2Sum = 5
A1Sum = 3
A2Sum = 5
A3Sum = 8
A3Sum = 8
A4Sum = 6
A5Sum = 2
A6No rule
A7No rule
A8Sum < 3
A9All equal
A9All equal
A5Sum = 2
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: No ruleArea 7: No ruleArea 8: Sum < 3Area 9: All equal

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

Where to look

Area 4 has 1 cell: Sum = 6. Look at row 2, column 5.

A local clue for Area 1

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 2 (4 | 6), horizontal: row 2, column 4 has 4, paired with row 2, column 5 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 3
A24Sum = 5
A10Sum = 3
A21Sum = 5
A34Sum = 8
A34Sum = 8
A46Sum = 6
A51Sum = 2
A66No rule
A75No rule
A82Sum < 3
A93All equal
A93All equal
A51Sum = 2
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: No ruleArea 7: No ruleArea 8: Sum < 3Area 9: 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 (1 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 1, paired with row 3, column 6 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 5 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 5, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 4, paired with row 1, column 1 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 2, column 1 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 2.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 3, paired with row 3, column 5 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 3. 3 + 0 = 3; target 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 5. 4 + 1 = 5; target 5.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  8. Area 8: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

6 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A1All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum = 7
A4Sum = 0
A5All equal
A6Sum = 0
A7Sum = 7
A8All equal
A8All equal
A3Sum = 7
A9All equal
A9All equal
A5All equal
A7Sum = 7
A8All equal
A10Sum = 6
A9All equal
A11Sum = 2
A12All equal
A12All equal
A13All equal
A13All equal
A12All equal
A12All equal
A13All equal
A13All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 7Area 4: Sum = 0Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 7Area 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: Sum = 6Area 11: Sum = 2Area 12: All equalArea 13: All equal

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 0-1; Piece 2: 0-4; Piece 3: 1-1; Piece 4: 1-4; Piece 5: 1-6; Piece 6: 2-4; Piece 7: 2-6; Piece 8: 3-3; Piece 9: 3-4; Piece 10: 3-5; Piece 11: 3-6; Piece 12: 4-4; Piece 13: 4-6; Piece 14: 5-5; Piece 15: 5-6; Piece 16: 6-6.

Where to look

Area 4 has 1 cell: Sum = 0. Look at row 2, column 7.

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 2 (0 | 4), horizontal: row 2, column 7 has 0, paired with row 2, column 6 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

6 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14All equal
A14All equal
A14All equal
A21All equal
A21All equal
A21All equal
A21All equal
A21All equal
A34Sum = 7
A40Sum = 0
A56All equal
A60Sum = 0
A72Sum = 7
A84All equal
A84All equal
A33Sum = 7
A95All equal
A95All equal
A56All equal
A75Sum = 7
A84All equal
A106Sum = 6
A95All equal
A112Sum = 2
A126All equal
A126All equal
A133All equal
A133All equal
A126All equal
A126All equal
A133All equal
A133All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 7Area 4: Sum = 0Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 7Area 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: Sum = 6Area 11: Sum = 2Area 12: All equalArea 13: 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 (0 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 7 = 0, paired with row 2, column 6 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 1, paired with row 2, column 5 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 3 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 1, paired with row 3, column 1 = 6.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 1 = 2, paired with row 4, column 1 = 6.
  8. Piece 8 (3 | 3): horizontal; row 6, column 6 = 3, paired with row 6, column 7 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 6 = 3, paired with row 3, column 5 = 4.
  10. Piece 10 (3 | 5): vertical; row 5, column 7 = 3, paired with row 4, column 7 = 5.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 6 = 3, paired with row 4, column 6 = 6.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 4, paired with row 1, column 2 = 4.
  13. Piece 13 (4 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 4, paired with row 5, column 4 = 6.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 7 = 5, paired with row 3, column 8 = 5.
  15. Piece 15 (5 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 5, column 3 = 6.
  16. Piece 16 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 6, column 3 = 6, paired with row 6, column 4 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 7. 4 + 3 = 7; target 7.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 7. 2 + 5 = 7; target 7.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  12. Area 12: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  13. Area 13: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.

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