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Past puzzleJuly 26, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: July 26, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from July 26, 2026 (2026-07-26) with hints and answers for every level.

July 26, 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.

A1Sum = 8
A1Sum = 8
A2Sum = 11
A3Sum = 4
A2Sum = 11
A3Sum = 4
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5No rule
A6Sum < 2
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum = 11Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum < 2

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 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 (0 | 4), vertical: row 4, column 4 has 0, paired with row 3, column 4 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12Sum = 8
A16Sum = 8
A26Sum = 11
A33Sum = 4
A25Sum = 11
A31Sum = 4
A43All equal
A43All equal
A54No rule
A60Sum < 2
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum = 11Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum < 2

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 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 3 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 6, paired with row 1, column 3 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 1, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 8. 2 + 6 = 8; target 8.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 3 + 1 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A2All equal
A3All equal
A1All equal
A2All equal
A4All equal
A3All equal
A5No rule
A2All equal
A4All equal
A6Sum > 2
A4All equal
A7No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum > 2Area 7: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 6 has 1 cell: Sum > 2. Look at row 5, column 3.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14All equal
A14All equal
A25All equal
A35All equal
A14All equal
A25All equal
A42All equal
A35All equal
A50No rule
A25All equal
A42All equal
A63Sum > 2
A42All equal
A71No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum > 2Area 7: 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): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 4, paired with row 2, column 2 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 2, paired with row 4, column 4 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 4, paired with row 3, column 1 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 2, paired with row 5, column 5 = 1.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 3): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 5, column 3 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 0, paired with row 4, column 1 = 5.
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. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 2. 3 = 3 > 2.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 2
A2Sum = 2
A3Sum = 5
A3Sum = 5
A2Sum = 2
A4Sum = 5
A4Sum = 5
A5Sum = 9
A5Sum = 9
A6Sum = 5
A7All equal
A8All different
A8All different
A9Sum = 10
A9Sum = 10
A10Sum = 3
A7All equal
A8All different
A8All different
A11Sum = 3
A10Sum = 3
A7All equal
A12Sum = 2
A13Sum = 6
A14Sum = 7
A15Sum = 0
A7All equal
A14Sum = 7
A16Sum = 6
A17Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum = 2Area 2: Sum = 2Area 3: Sum = 5Area 4: Sum = 5Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum = 5Area 7: All equalArea 8: All differentArea 9: Sum = 10Area 10: Sum = 3Area 11: Sum = 3Area 12: Sum = 2Area 13: Sum = 6Area 14: Sum = 7Area 15: Sum = 0Area 16: Sum = 6Area 17: Sum = 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 2

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 15 (2 | 3), vertical: row 1, column 3 has 2, paired with row 2, column 3 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12Sum = 2
A21Sum = 2
A32Sum = 5
A33Sum = 5
A21Sum = 2
A43Sum = 5
A42Sum = 5
A54Sum = 9
A55Sum = 9
A65Sum = 5
A70All equal
A83All different
A80All different
A95Sum = 10
A95Sum = 10
A101Sum = 3
A70All equal
A82All different
A81All different
A113Sum = 3
A102Sum = 3
A70All equal
A122Sum = 2
A136Sum = 6
A144Sum = 7
A150Sum = 0
A70All equal
A143Sum = 7
A166Sum = 6
A175Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum = 2Area 2: Sum = 2Area 3: Sum = 5Area 4: Sum = 5Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum = 5Area 7: All equalArea 8: All differentArea 9: Sum = 10Area 10: Sum = 3Area 11: Sum = 3Area 12: Sum = 2Area 13: Sum = 6Area 14: Sum = 7Area 15: Sum = 0Area 16: Sum = 6Area 17: 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 (5 | 0): horizontal; row 4, column 7 = 5, paired with row 4, column 6 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 2): vertical; row 5, column 5 = 2, paired with row 6, column 5 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 0): vertical; row 8, column 4 = 6, paired with row 7, column 4 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 2): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 2.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 0): vertical; row 5, column 4 = 0, paired with row 6, column 4 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (1 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 6 = 1, paired with row 6, column 6 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 0, paired with row 4, column 5 = 3.
  8. Piece 8 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 4, paired with row 3, column 6 = 5.
  9. Piece 9 (3 | 1): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 3, paired with row 3, column 1 = 1.
  10. Piece 10 (0 | 2): vertical; row 6, column 9 = 0, paired with row 5, column 9 = 2.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 5): vertical; row 7, column 7 = 3, paired with row 8, column 7 = 5.
  12. Piece 12 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 1.
  13. Piece 13 (3 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 7 = 3, paired with row 6, column 7 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 8 = 5, paired with row 4, column 9 = 1.
  15. Piece 15 (2 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 2, paired with row 2, column 3 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 5. 3 + 2 = 5; target 5.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: All different. 3, 0, 2, 1: every value is different.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 3. 1 + 2 = 3; target 3.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 7. 4 + 3 = 7; target 7.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  17. Area 17: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.

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