Menu
XfireXfire
Full search page
Past puzzleJuly 31, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: July 31, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from July 31, 2026 (2026-07-31) with hints and answers for every level.

July 31, 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 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 7
A2No rule
A1Sum = 7
A3Sum < 3
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5Sum > 4
A6All equal
A6All equal
A6All equal
Area 1: Sum = 7Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 4Area 6: All equal

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 7
A25No rule
A14Sum = 7
A32Sum < 3
A44All equal
A44All equal
A55Sum > 4
A62All equal
A62All equal
A62All equal
Area 1: Sum = 7Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 4Area 6: 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 (4 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 3, column 1 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 6 = 5, paired with row 4, column 6 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 5 = 2, paired with row 5, column 6 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 3, paired with row 1, column 2 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 7. 3 + 4 = 7; target 7.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 4
A2Sum < 4
A3Sum = 6
A3Sum = 6
A4Sum = 6
A5Sum > 6
A5Sum > 6
A6All equal
A6All equal
A4Sum = 6
A7No rule
A8Sum = 6
A8Sum = 6
A9Sum < 6
Area 1: Sum = 4Area 2: Sum < 4Area 3: Sum = 6Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: Sum > 6Area 6: All equalArea 7: No ruleArea 8: Sum = 6Area 9: Sum < 6

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 3

The two cells in Area 3 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 1 (0 | 4), vertical: row 2, column 4 has 0, paired with row 1, column 4 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14Sum = 4
A21Sum < 4
A36Sum = 6
A30Sum = 6
A43Sum = 6
A56Sum > 6
A55Sum > 6
A64All equal
A64All equal
A43Sum = 6
A76No rule
A84Sum = 6
A82Sum = 6
A94Sum < 6
Area 1: Sum = 4Area 2: Sum < 4Area 3: Sum = 6Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: Sum > 6Area 6: All equalArea 7: No ruleArea 8: Sum = 6Area 9: Sum < 6

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 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 0, paired with row 1, column 4 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 3, column 2 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (6 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 6, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 4, column 5 = 4, paired with row 4, column 4 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 3, paired with row 3, column 5 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (6 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 6, paired with row 4, column 3 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 4. 1 = 1 < 4.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 6. 6 + 0 = 6; target 6.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 6. 3 + 3 = 6; target 6.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 6. 6 + 5 = 11 > 6.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 6. 4 + 2 = 6; target 6.
  9. Area 9: Sum < 6. 4 = 4 < 6.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

7 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 10
A2Sum = 3
A3Sum = 10
A3Sum = 10
A4All equal
A1Sum = 10
A5Sum < 3
A5Sum < 3
A6Sum = 3
A4All equal
A7Sum = 5
A8Sum = 2
A9Sum = 12
A9Sum = 12
A10Sum = 5
A7Sum = 5
A11Sum = 5
A12Sum = 0
A13Sum = 1
A14Sum = 6
A15Sum = 3
A12Sum = 0
A12Sum = 0
A14Sum = 6
A16Sum = 4
A17Sum = 3
A17Sum = 3
A18Sum = 9
A18Sum = 9
A16Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 10Area 2: Sum = 3Area 3: Sum = 10Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum < 3Area 6: Sum = 3Area 7: Sum = 5Area 8: Sum = 2Area 9: Sum = 12Area 10: Sum = 5Area 11: Sum = 5Area 12: Sum = 0Area 13: Sum = 1Area 14: Sum = 6Area 15: Sum = 3Area 16: Sum = 4Area 17: Sum = 3Area 18: Sum = 9

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 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 10 (4 | 3), horizontal: row 1, column 1 has 4, paired with row 1, column 2 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

7 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14Sum = 10
A23Sum = 3
A35Sum = 10
A35Sum = 10
A42All equal
A16Sum = 10
A50Sum < 3
A50Sum < 3
A63Sum = 3
A42All equal
A74Sum = 5
A82Sum = 2
A96Sum = 12
A96Sum = 12
A105Sum = 5
A71Sum = 5
A115Sum = 5
A120Sum = 0
A131Sum = 1
A142Sum = 6
A153Sum = 3
A120Sum = 0
A120Sum = 0
A144Sum = 6
A162Sum = 4
A170Sum = 3
A173Sum = 3
A185Sum = 9
A184Sum = 9
A162Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 10Area 2: Sum = 3Area 3: Sum = 10Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum < 3Area 6: Sum = 3Area 7: Sum = 5Area 8: Sum = 2Area 9: Sum = 12Area 10: Sum = 5Area 11: Sum = 5Area 12: Sum = 0Area 13: Sum = 1Area 14: Sum = 6Area 15: Sum = 3Area 16: Sum = 4Area 17: Sum = 3Area 18: 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 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 4, paired with row 2, column 1 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 5, paired with row 1, column 4 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 0): vertical; row 6, column 1 = 4, paired with row 7, column 1 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 3, column 3 = 6.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 0): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 4 = 0.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 5 = 2, paired with row 2, column 5 = 2.
  8. Piece 8 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 0, paired with row 5, column 3 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (5 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 5, paired with row 4, column 5 = 1.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 4, paired with row 1, column 2 = 3.
  11. Piece 11 (2 | 0): vertical; row 6, column 5 = 2, paired with row 5, column 5 = 0.
  12. Piece 12 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 7, column 3 = 5, paired with row 7, column 2 = 3.
  13. Piece 13 (2 | 1): vertical; row 5, column 1 = 2, paired with row 4, column 1 = 1.
  14. Piece 14 (3 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 3, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  15. Piece 15 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 7, column 5 = 2, paired with row 7, column 4 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 3. 0 + 0 = 0 < 3.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 5. 4 + 1 = 5; target 5.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 12. 6 + 6 = 12; target 12.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 6. 2 + 4 = 6; target 6.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 4. 2 + 2 = 4; target 4.
  17. Area 17: Sum = 3. 0 + 3 = 3; target 3.
  18. Area 18: Sum = 9. 5 + 4 = 9; target 9.

Want the solver-focused view? Open the Pips solver for a completed board view.

Want a completed board view? Open the Pips solver with this date loaded. Need another day? Browse the Pips archive.

More Pips routes

Move between today’s hints, the archive, the hub, and the solver view.

Today’s hintsReveal Pips structure hints, domino sets, and answers step by step.Pips archiveBrowse past Pips puzzles by date.Pips solverOpen a completed board for today’s Pips puzzle.