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Past puzzleAugust 12, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: August 12, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from August 12, 2026 (2026-08-12) with hints and answers for every level.

August 12, 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 = 11
A2Sum = 5
A2Sum = 5
A3No rule
A1Sum = 11
A4Sum = 5
A5Sum < 2
A6Sum = 6
A6Sum = 6
A4Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum = 11Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: No ruleArea 4: Sum = 5Area 5: Sum < 2Area 6: Sum = 6

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 must total 11. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 5 + 6.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 3 (0 | 3), vertical: row 3, column 1 has 0, paired with row 2, column 1 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum = 11
A22Sum = 5
A23Sum = 5
A33No rule
A15Sum = 11
A43Sum = 5
A50Sum < 2
A64Sum = 6
A62Sum = 6
A42Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum = 11Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: No ruleArea 4: Sum = 5Area 5: Sum < 2Area 6: 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 (3 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 3, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 2, paired with row 1, column 2 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 3, column 4 = 2.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 4, paired with row 2, column 2 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.
  3. Area 3: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 5. 3 + 2 = 5; target 5.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 6. 4 + 2 = 6; target 6.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

3 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A1All equal
A2Sum > 6
A2Sum > 6
A3No rule
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5Sum > 8
A6Sum > 8
A7Sum = 4
A4All equal
A5Sum > 8
A6Sum > 8
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum > 6Area 3: No ruleArea 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 8Area 6: Sum > 8Area 7: Sum = 4

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

Where to look

Area 7 has 1 cell: Sum = 4. Look at row 3, column 2.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

3 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11All equal
A11All equal
A11All equal
A24Sum > 6
A23Sum > 6
A33No rule
A42All equal
A42All equal
A55Sum > 8
A66Sum > 8
A74Sum = 4
A42All equal
A55Sum > 8
A64Sum > 8
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum > 6Area 3: No ruleArea 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 8Area 6: Sum > 8Area 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 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 5 = 3, paired with row 2, column 5 = 6.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 2, paired with row 1, column 2 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 5 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 2): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 3 = 2.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 3, paired with row 1, column 1 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 6. 4 + 3 = 7 > 6.
  3. Area 3: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 8. 5 + 5 = 10 > 8.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 8. 6 + 4 = 10 > 8.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 3
A2All equal
A3Sum = 16
A4Sum > 3
A2All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 5
A3Sum = 16
A7Sum < 3
A2All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A3Sum = 16
A8Sum > 0
A9Sum < 3
A10Sum > 3
A11All equal
A12Sum > 0
A11All equal
A13Sum = 14
A13Sum = 14
A14Sum = 12
A15All equal
A16Sum > 3
A11All equal
A13Sum = 14
A14Sum = 12
A14Sum = 12
A15All equal
A15All equal
A11All equal
A17No rule
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 16Area 4: Sum > 3Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 5Area 7: Sum < 3Area 8: Sum > 0Area 9: Sum < 3Area 10: Sum > 3Area 11: All equalArea 12: Sum > 0Area 13: Sum = 14Area 14: Sum = 12Area 15: All equalArea 16: Sum > 3Area 17: No rule

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 4 (0 | 3), vertical: row 2, column 2 has 0, paired with row 1, column 2 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 3
A20All equal
A35Sum = 16
A46Sum > 3
A20All equal
A50All equal
A65Sum = 5
A35Sum = 16
A71Sum < 3
A20All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A36Sum = 16
A81Sum > 0
A91Sum < 3
A104Sum > 3
A113All equal
A122Sum > 0
A113All equal
A136Sum = 14
A136Sum = 14
A141Sum = 12
A154All equal
A165Sum > 3
A113All equal
A132Sum = 14
A145Sum = 12
A146Sum = 12
A154All equal
A154All equal
A113All equal
A170No rule
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 16Area 4: Sum > 3Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 5Area 7: Sum < 3Area 8: Sum > 0Area 9: Sum < 3Area 10: Sum > 3Area 11: All equalArea 12: Sum > 0Area 13: Sum = 14Area 14: Sum = 12Area 15: All equalArea 16: Sum > 3Area 17: 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 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 0, paired with row 4, column 5 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 0, paired with row 4, column 1 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 2): vertical; row 9, column 8 = 0, paired with row 8, column 8 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 0, paired with row 1, column 2 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 5 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (0 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 0, paired with row 3, column 1 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 2): vertical; row 8, column 1 = 1, paired with row 7, column 1 = 2.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 6, column 4 = 1, paired with row 6, column 5 = 4.
  9. Piece 9 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 8 = 1, paired with row 4, column 7 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (3 | 3): vertical; row 6, column 6 = 3, paired with row 7, column 6 = 3.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 9, column 6 = 3, paired with row 9, column 5 = 4.
  12. Piece 12 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 8, column 6 = 3, paired with row 8, column 5 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (4 | 4): vertical; row 8, column 4 = 4, paired with row 9, column 4 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 7 = 5, paired with row 3, column 7 = 5.
  15. Piece 15 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 9, column 1 = 5, paired with row 9, column 2 = 6.
  16. Piece 16 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 7, column 8 = 6, paired with row 7, column 9 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 16. 5 + 5 + 6 = 16; target 16.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  7. Area 7: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  8. Area 8: Sum > 0. 1 = 1 > 0.
  9. Area 9: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  11. Area 11: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  12. Area 12: Sum > 0. 2 = 2 > 0.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 14. 6 + 6 + 2 = 14; target 14.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 12. 1 + 5 + 6 = 12; target 12.
  15. Area 15: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  16. Area 16: Sum > 3. 5 = 5 > 3.
  17. Area 17: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

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