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Past puzzleAugust 9, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: August 9, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from August 9, 2026 (2026-08-09) with hints and answers for every level.

August 9, 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.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A2Sum > 4
A3All equal
A4All equal
A3All equal
A4All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum < 1
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum > 4Area 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 1

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 5 (5 | 1), horizontal: row 1, column 3 has 5, paired with row 1, column 2 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11All equal
A11All equal
A25Sum > 4
A36All equal
A44All equal
A36All equal
A44All equal
A52All equal
A52All equal
A60Sum < 1
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum > 4Area 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 1

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 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 6, paired with row 2, column 4 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 1, column 1 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 3, column 4 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 3, column 1 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 5, paired with row 1, column 2 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 8
A2Sum = 6
A2Sum = 6
A3All equal
A3All equal
A4Sum < 4
A1Sum = 8
A4Sum < 4
A5No rule
A6Sum > 2
A7All equal
A7All equal
A7All equal
A8Sum > 1
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum = 6Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum < 4Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum > 2Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum > 1

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

Where to look

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

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 6 (5 | 1), vertical: row 3, column 6 has 5, paired with row 2, column 6 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12Sum = 8
A22Sum = 6
A24Sum = 6
A36All equal
A36All equal
A41Sum < 4
A16Sum = 8
A41Sum < 4
A53No rule
A65Sum > 2
A75All equal
A75All equal
A75All equal
A82Sum > 1
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum = 6Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum < 4Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum > 2Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum > 1

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

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

9 × 8

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A1Sum = 8
A1Sum = 8
A2Sum > 5
A3No rule
A4All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 0
A6Sum = 0
A4All equal
A5All equal
A7Sum = 2
A8Sum = 15
A8Sum = 15
A8Sum = 15
A9Sum = 2
A5All equal
A10Sum = 4
A11Sum < 4
A9Sum = 2
A12All equal
A12All equal
A13Sum > 5
A14Sum < 4
A15Sum > 4
A16Sum > 5
A17Sum = 7
A17Sum = 7
A17Sum = 7
A17Sum = 7
A17Sum = 7
A18Sum < 3
A19Sum < 2
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum > 5Area 3: No ruleArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 2Area 8: Sum = 15Area 9: Sum = 2Area 10: Sum = 4Area 11: Sum < 4Area 12: All equalArea 13: Sum > 5Area 14: Sum < 4Area 15: Sum > 4Area 16: Sum > 5Area 17: Sum = 7Area 18: Sum < 3Area 19: Sum < 2

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 1 cell: Sum > 5. Look at row 1, column 8.

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 13 (6 | 2), horizontal: row 1, column 8 has 6, paired with row 1, column 7 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum = 8
A12Sum = 8
A26Sum > 5
A31No rule
A44All equal
A54All equal
A60Sum = 0
A60Sum = 0
A44All equal
A54All equal
A72Sum = 2
A83Sum = 15
A86Sum = 15
A86Sum = 15
A91Sum = 2
A54All equal
A104Sum = 4
A113Sum < 4
A91Sum = 2
A125All equal
A125All equal
A136Sum > 5
A143Sum < 4
A155Sum > 4
A166Sum > 5
A171Sum = 7
A172Sum = 7
A171Sum = 7
A172Sum = 7
A171Sum = 7
A182Sum < 3
A191Sum < 2
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum > 5Area 3: No ruleArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 2Area 8: Sum = 15Area 9: Sum = 2Area 10: Sum = 4Area 11: Sum < 4Area 12: All equalArea 13: Sum > 5Area 14: Sum < 4Area 15: Sum > 4Area 16: Sum > 5Area 17: Sum = 7Area 18: Sum < 3Area 19: 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 (6 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 6, paired with row 3, column 2 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 1 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 3, paired with row 5, column 1 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 6): vertical; row 8, column 7 = 1, paired with row 7, column 7 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 7 = 2, paired with row 3, column 6 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 3 = 3, paired with row 4, column 3 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 2): vertical; row 9, column 6 = 1, paired with row 8, column 6 = 2.
  8. Piece 8 (6 | 4): vertical; row 1, column 6 = 6, paired with row 2, column 6 = 4.
  9. Piece 9 (2 | 2): vertical; row 8, column 4 = 2, paired with row 9, column 4 = 2.
  10. Piece 10 (1 | 3): vertical; row 8, column 3 = 1, paired with row 7, column 3 = 3.
  11. Piece 11 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  12. Piece 12 (1 | 5): vertical; row 8, column 5 = 1, paired with row 7, column 5 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (6 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 8 = 6, paired with row 1, column 7 = 2.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 6 = 5, paired with row 4, column 6 = 4.
  15. Piece 15 (1 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 1, paired with row 5, column 4 = 1.
  16. Piece 16 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 5, column 7 = 5, paired with row 5, column 8 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 8. 6 + 2 = 8; target 8.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.
  3. Area 3: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 15. 3 + 6 + 6 = 15; target 15.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  11. Area 11: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  12. Area 12: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  13. Area 13: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.
  14. Area 14: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  15. Area 15: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  16. Area 16: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.
  17. Area 17: Sum = 7. 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 7; target 7.
  18. Area 18: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  19. Area 19: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.

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