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Past puzzleJuly 29, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: July 29, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from July 29, 2026 (2026-07-29) with hints and answers for every level.

July 29, 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

5 × 3

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 4
A1Sum = 4
A2No rule
A3Sum > 1
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5No rule
A6All equal
A7Sum > 5
A6All equal
Area 1: Sum = 4Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum > 1Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: All equalArea 7: Sum > 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 5 (4 | 3), vertical: row 2, column 3 has 4, paired with row 3, column 3 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

5 × 3

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12Sum = 4
A12Sum = 4
A20No rule
A34Sum > 1
A43All equal
A43All equal
A55No rule
A62All equal
A76Sum > 5
A62All equal
Area 1: Sum = 4Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum > 1Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: All equalArea 7: 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 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 2, paired with row 1, column 2 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 3, paired with row 2, column 2 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 1 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (6 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 1 = 6, paired with row 5, column 2 = 2.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 4. 2 + 2 = 4; target 4.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 1. 4 = 4 > 1.
  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: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.

Medium · 8 pieces

Medium board

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2Sum = 1
A3Sum = 1
A4Sum = 1
A3Sum = 1
A5Sum = 10
A6No rule
A7Sum = 12
A7Sum = 12
A7Sum = 12
A3Sum = 1
A5Sum = 10
A8Sum = 3
A9Sum = 9
A9Sum = 9
A8Sum = 3
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: Sum = 1Area 3: Sum = 1Area 4: Sum = 1Area 5: Sum = 10Area 6: No ruleArea 7: Sum = 12Area 8: Sum = 3Area 9: Sum = 9

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 4-4; Piece 2: 5-0; Piece 3: 6-3; Piece 4: 5-1; Piece 5: 3-2; Piece 6: 5-5; Piece 7: 1-1; Piece 8: 0-0.

Where to look

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

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 7 (1 | 1), horizontal: row 1, column 5 has 1, paired with row 1, column 6 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A15No rule
A21Sum = 1
A31Sum = 1
A41Sum = 1
A30Sum = 1
A56Sum = 10
A63No rule
A72Sum = 12
A75Sum = 12
A75Sum = 12
A30Sum = 1
A54Sum = 10
A83Sum = 3
A94Sum = 9
A95Sum = 9
A80Sum = 3
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: Sum = 1Area 3: Sum = 1Area 4: Sum = 1Area 5: Sum = 10Area 6: No ruleArea 7: Sum = 12Area 8: Sum = 3Area 9: Sum = 9

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 4, column 1 = 4, paired with row 5, column 1 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 0): horizontal; row 5, column 2 = 5, paired with row 5, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 1): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 4 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 2): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 3, paired with row 3, column 3 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 5 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 5 = 1, paired with row 1, column 6 = 1.
  8. Piece 8 (0 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 0, paired with row 3, column 6 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 1. 1 + 0 + 0 = 1; target 1.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 10. 6 + 4 = 10; target 10.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 12. 2 + 5 + 5 = 12; target 12.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 3. 3 + 0 = 3; target 3.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 12
A2Sum = 11
A3No rule
A1Sum = 12
A2Sum = 11
A2Sum = 11
A4Sum = 3
A4Sum = 3
A5Sum = 3
A5Sum = 3
A4Sum = 3
A6Sum = 3
A7Sum = 5
A7Sum = 5
A8Sum = 8
A9Sum = 3
A9Sum = 3
A6Sum = 3
A10Sum = 9
A10Sum = 9
A8Sum = 8
A11Sum = 10
A12Sum = 3
A13Sum = 24
A13Sum = 24
A13Sum = 24
A13Sum = 24
A11Sum = 10
Area 1: Sum = 12Area 2: Sum = 11Area 3: No ruleArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum = 3Area 6: Sum = 3Area 7: Sum = 5Area 8: Sum = 8Area 9: Sum = 3Area 10: Sum = 9Area 11: Sum = 10Area 12: Sum = 3Area 13: Sum = 24

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

Where to look

Area 12 has 1 cell: Sum = 3. Look at row 8, column 4.

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 must total 12. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 6 + 6.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 7 (3 | 3), vertical: row 7, column 4 has 3, paired with row 8, column 4 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum = 12
A23Sum = 11
A32No rule
A16Sum = 12
A24Sum = 11
A24Sum = 11
A41Sum = 3
A41Sum = 3
A51Sum = 3
A52Sum = 3
A41Sum = 3
A62Sum = 3
A72Sum = 5
A73Sum = 5
A84Sum = 8
A90Sum = 3
A93Sum = 3
A61Sum = 3
A104Sum = 9
A105Sum = 9
A84Sum = 8
A115Sum = 10
A123Sum = 3
A136Sum = 24
A136Sum = 24
A136Sum = 24
A136Sum = 24
A115Sum = 10
Area 1: Sum = 12Area 2: Sum = 11Area 3: No ruleArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum = 3Area 6: Sum = 3Area 7: Sum = 5Area 8: Sum = 8Area 9: Sum = 3Area 10: Sum = 9Area 11: Sum = 10Area 12: Sum = 3Area 13: Sum = 24

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 7, column 3 = 0, paired with row 6, column 3 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 1, paired with row 5, column 3 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 6 = 1, paired with row 5, column 7 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 7, column 5 = 1, paired with row 7, column 6 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 6, column 5 = 2, paired with row 6, column 6 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 2 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 4 = 3, paired with row 8, column 4 = 3.
  8. Piece 8 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 6, column 7 = 3, paired with row 6, column 8 = 4.
  9. Piece 9 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 1, column 2 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
  11. Piece 11 (4 | 6): vertical; row 7, column 8 = 4, paired with row 8, column 8 = 6.
  12. Piece 12 (5 | 5): vertical; row 7, column 9 = 5, paired with row 8, column 9 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (5 | 6): vertical; row 7, column 7 = 5, paired with row 8, column 7 = 6.
  14. Piece 14 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 8, column 5 = 6, paired with row 8, column 6 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 12. 6 + 6 = 12; target 12.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 11. 3 + 4 + 4 = 11; target 11.
  3. Area 3: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 3. 1 + 1 + 1 = 3; target 3.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 3. 1 + 2 = 3; target 3.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 3. 2 + 1 = 3; target 3.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 3. 0 + 3 = 3; target 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 24. 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24; target 24.

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