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Past puzzleJuly 27, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: July 27, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from July 27, 2026 (2026-07-27) with hints and answers for every level.

July 27, 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 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A1Sum = 6
A2No rule
A3Sum < 3
A4Sum = 9
A4Sum = 9
A5No rule
A6Sum = 11
A6Sum = 11
A7Sum < 4
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: Sum = 9Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum = 11Area 7: Sum < 4

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 6
A13Sum = 6
A24No rule
A32Sum < 3
A44Sum = 9
A45Sum = 9
A56No rule
A65Sum = 11
A66Sum = 11
A73Sum < 4
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: Sum = 9Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum = 11Area 7: 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 (6 | 4): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 2, column 1 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 2, paired with row 1, column 3 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 6, paired with row 3, column 4 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 5, paired with row 3, column 2 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 3, paired with row 1, column 2 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 3 + 3 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 11. 5 + 6 = 11; target 11.
  7. Area 7: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum < 3
A1All equal
A4All equal
A5Sum = 10
A6Sum = 10
A4All equal
A5Sum = 10
A6Sum = 10
A7No rule
A4All equal
A8No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 10Area 6: Sum = 10Area 7: No ruleArea 8: No rule

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 5

The two cells in Area 5 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 3 (6 | 2), vertical: row 2, column 4 has 6, paired with row 1, column 4 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16All equal
A23All equal
A23All equal
A32Sum < 3
A16All equal
A40All equal
A56Sum = 10
A65Sum = 10
A40All equal
A54Sum = 10
A65Sum = 10
A72No rule
A40All equal
A82No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 10Area 6: Sum = 10Area 7: No ruleArea 8: 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 (6 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 6, paired with row 3, column 1 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 0, paired with row 1, column 3 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 6, paired with row 1, column 4 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 1 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 3, paired with row 1, column 1 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 2): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 0, paired with row 4, column 4 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 10. 6 + 4 = 10; target 10.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

6 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 3
A2Sum = 4
A3Sum = 4
A4Sum = 0
A1Sum = 3
A5All equal
A6Sum = 0
A7All equal
A4Sum = 0
A4Sum = 0
A5All equal
A8All equal
A8All equal
A9Sum = 2
A9Sum = 2
A7All equal
A7All equal
A5All equal
A8All equal
A10Sum > 4
A11All equal
A11All equal
A12Sum = 0
A12Sum = 0
A13Sum = 4
A8All equal
A11All equal
A14Sum > 4
A15Sum = 0
A13Sum = 4
A16No rule
A17Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: Sum = 4Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum = 0Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 0Area 7: All equalArea 8: All equalArea 9: Sum = 2Area 10: Sum > 4Area 11: All equalArea 12: Sum = 0Area 13: Sum = 4Area 14: Sum > 4Area 15: Sum = 0Area 16: No ruleArea 17: Sum = 4

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

Where to look

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

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

6 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12Sum = 3
A24Sum = 4
A34Sum = 4
A40Sum = 0
A11Sum = 3
A56All equal
A60Sum = 0
A75All equal
A40Sum = 0
A40Sum = 0
A56All equal
A82All equal
A82All equal
A91Sum = 2
A91Sum = 2
A75All equal
A75All equal
A56All equal
A82All equal
A105Sum > 4
A113All equal
A113All equal
A120Sum = 0
A120Sum = 0
A133Sum = 4
A82All equal
A113All equal
A145Sum > 4
A150Sum = 0
A131Sum = 4
A160No rule
A174Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: Sum = 4Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum = 0Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 0Area 7: All equalArea 8: All equalArea 9: Sum = 2Area 10: Sum > 4Area 11: All equalArea 12: Sum = 0Area 13: Sum = 4Area 14: Sum > 4Area 15: Sum = 0Area 16: No ruleArea 17: 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 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 2, paired with row 1, column 3 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 0, paired with row 3, column 1 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 7 = 1, paired with row 3, column 8 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 4, column 8 = 0, paired with row 4, column 7 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 2): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 6, paired with row 4, column 4 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 9 = 5, paired with row 4, column 9 = 0.
  7. Piece 7 (6 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 6, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  8. Piece 8 (0 | 4): horizontal; row 6, column 6 = 0, paired with row 6, column 7 = 4.
  9. Piece 9 (2 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 2, paired with row 4, column 5 = 5.
  10. Piece 10 (0 | 1): horizontal; row 6, column 2 = 0, paired with row 6, column 3 = 1.
  11. Piece 11 (2 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 2, paired with row 5, column 3 = 3.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 9 = 4, paired with row 2, column 9 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (0 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 4 = 2.
  14. Piece 14 (3 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 6 = 3, paired with row 3, column 6 = 1.
  15. Piece 15 (6 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 6, paired with row 3, column 2 = 0.
  16. Piece 16 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 8 = 5, paired with row 5, column 7 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 3. 2 + 1 = 3; target 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  10. Area 10: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  11. Area 11: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 4. 3 + 1 = 4; target 4.
  14. Area 14: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  16. Area 16: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  17. Area 17: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.

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