Menu
XfireXfire
Full search page
Past puzzleAugust 13, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: August 13, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from August 13, 2026 (2026-08-13) with hints and answers for every level.

August 13, 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

2 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

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

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 2 (6 | 0), vertical: row 2, column 3 has 6, paired with row 1, column 3 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

2 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum < 2
A25No rule
A30Sum < 2
A30Sum < 2
A46All equal
A46All equal
A53No rule
A61All equal
A61All equal
A61All equal
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 2Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 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 (5 | 1): vertical; row 1, column 6 = 5, paired with row 2, column 6 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 6, paired with row 1, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 5 = 3, paired with row 2, column 4 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 7 = 1, paired with row 2, column 8 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 2. 0 + 0 = 0 < 2.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2All equal
A3Sum = 10
A4All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum = 10
A3Sum = 10
A5Sum = 10
A4All equal
A6Sum = 7
A6Sum = 7
A7No rule
A5Sum = 10
A8No rule
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 10Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 10Area 6: Sum = 7Area 7: No ruleArea 8: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 2 cells: All equal. Look at row 1, column 2; row 2, column 2.

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11No rule
A22All equal
A33Sum = 10
A40All equal
A22All equal
A33Sum = 10
A34Sum = 10
A54Sum = 10
A40All equal
A63Sum = 7
A64Sum = 7
A75No rule
A56Sum = 10
A86No rule
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 10Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 10Area 6: Sum = 7Area 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 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 6, paired with row 4, column 5 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 1, paired with row 1, column 2 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 3 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 5 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 0.
  7. Piece 7 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 10. 3 + 3 + 4 = 10; target 10.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 7. 3 + 4 = 7; target 7.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 3
A2Sum = 15
A2Sum = 15
A2Sum = 15
A3Sum < 3
A4Sum < 3
A5No rule
A4Sum < 3
A6No rule
A7All equal
A8Sum = 15
A7All equal
A9Sum = 5
A8Sum = 15
A10Sum < 3
A9Sum = 5
A8Sum = 15
A11Sum = 15
A12Sum = 5
A13Sum = 5
A14Sum = 3
A15Sum < 3
A11Sum = 15
A11Sum = 15
A12Sum = 5
A12Sum = 5
A16Sum = 5
A16Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: Sum = 15Area 3: Sum < 3Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: No ruleArea 6: No ruleArea 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 15Area 9: Sum = 5Area 10: Sum < 3Area 11: Sum = 15Area 12: Sum = 5Area 13: Sum = 5Area 14: Sum = 3Area 15: Sum < 3Area 16: Sum = 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 9

The two cells in Area 9 must total 5. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 0 + 5; 1 + 4; 2 + 3.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 10 (4 | 6), horizontal: row 1, column 2 has 4, paired with row 1, column 3 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14Sum > 3
A26Sum = 15
A25Sum = 15
A24Sum = 15
A32Sum < 3
A42Sum < 3
A50No rule
A40Sum < 3
A60No rule
A76All equal
A85Sum = 15
A76All equal
A92Sum = 5
A84Sum = 15
A101Sum < 3
A93Sum = 5
A86Sum = 15
A116Sum = 15
A123Sum = 5
A135Sum = 5
A143Sum = 3
A151Sum < 3
A113Sum = 15
A116Sum = 15
A120Sum = 5
A122Sum = 5
A162Sum = 5
A163Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: Sum = 15Area 3: Sum < 3Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: No ruleArea 6: No ruleArea 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 15Area 9: Sum = 5Area 10: Sum < 3Area 11: Sum = 15Area 12: Sum = 5Area 13: Sum = 5Area 14: Sum = 3Area 15: Sum < 3Area 16: 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 (6 | 6): vertical; row 7, column 4 = 6, paired with row 8, column 4 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 8, column 7 = 2, paired with row 8, column 8 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 6, paired with row 3, column 4 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 8, column 2 = 1, paired with row 8, column 3 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 4 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (0 | 3): vertical; row 8, column 6 = 0, paired with row 7, column 6 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 6): vertical; row 6, column 4 = 1, paired with row 5, column 4 = 6.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 3): vertical; row 5, column 9 = 2, paired with row 6, column 9 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (0 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 9 = 0, paired with row 3, column 9 = 0.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 4, paired with row 1, column 3 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (5 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 9 = 5, paired with row 8, column 9 = 3.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 5 = 4, paired with row 1, column 6 = 2.
  13. Piece 13 (6 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 1 = 6, paired with row 8, column 1 = 3.
  14. Piece 14 (4 | 5): vertical; row 6, column 1 = 4, paired with row 5, column 1 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 15. 6 + 5 + 4 = 15; target 15.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 3. 2 + 0 = 2 < 3.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 15. 5 + 4 + 6 = 15; target 15.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.
  10. Area 10: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 15. 6 + 3 + 6 = 15; target 15.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 5. 3 + 0 + 2 = 5; target 5.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  15. Area 15: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.

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.