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Past puzzleSeptember 9, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 9, 2026

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

September 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.

A1Sum = 9
A2Sum > 1
A3Sum = 4
A4Sum > 4
A1Sum = 9
A3Sum = 4
A3Sum = 4
A5All equal
A5All equal
A3Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 9Area 2: Sum > 1Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum > 4Area 5: All equal

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 9
A22Sum > 1
A31Sum = 4
A45Sum > 4
A16Sum = 9
A31Sum = 4
A31Sum = 4
A50All equal
A50All equal
A31Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 9Area 2: Sum > 1Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum > 4Area 5: 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 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 1, paired with row 2, column 4 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 3, paired with row 1, column 2 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 1, paired with row 3, column 2 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 1 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 9. 3 + 6 = 9; target 9.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 1. 2 = 2 > 1.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 1
A2No rule
A3Sum = 6
A4Sum = 6
A4Sum = 6
A3Sum = 6
A5Sum = 0
A6All equal
A7All equal
A8All equal
A9Sum < 6
A6All equal
A7All equal
A8All equal
Area 1: Sum > 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 6Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: Sum = 0Area 6: All equalArea 7: All equalArea 8: All equalArea 9: Sum < 6

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

Where to look

Area 1 has 1 cell: Sum > 1. 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 3 (2 | 3), vertical: row 1, column 4 has 2, paired with row 2, column 4 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12Sum > 1
A26No rule
A33Sum = 6
A41Sum = 6
A45Sum = 6
A33Sum = 6
A50Sum = 0
A65All equal
A73All equal
A85All equal
A94Sum < 6
A65All equal
A73All equal
A85All equal
Area 1: Sum > 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 6Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: Sum = 0Area 6: All equalArea 7: All equalArea 8: All equalArea 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 (3 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 3, paired with row 3, column 2 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 5): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 5, paired with row 5, column 1 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 2, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 5, paired with row 2, column 3 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 0, paired with row 3, column 4 = 3.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 3 = 5, paired with row 5, column 2 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 4 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 1. 2 = 2 > 1.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 6. 3 + 3 = 6; target 6.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 6. 1 + 5 = 6; target 6.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: Sum < 6. 4 = 4 < 6.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2Sum = 11
A2Sum = 11
A3All equal
A3All equal
A3All equal
A3All equal
A4Sum = 3
A5All equal
A6Sum = 2
A7All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 2
A6Sum = 2
A7All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 2
A8Sum = 11
A9Sum > 3
A10Sum > 3
A11All equal
A8Sum = 11
A11All equal
A12Sum > 3
A13Sum = 13
A13Sum = 13
A13Sum = 13
A14Sum = 1
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: Sum = 11Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 2Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 11Area 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum > 3Area 11: All equalArea 12: Sum > 3Area 13: Sum = 13Area 14: Sum = 1

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

Where to look

Area 4 has 1 cell: Sum = 3. Look at row 1, column 9.

A local clue for Area 2

The two cells in Area 2 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 6 (3 | 1), horizontal: row 1, column 9 has 3, paired with row 1, column 8 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12No rule
A26Sum = 11
A25Sum = 11
A31All equal
A31All equal
A31All equal
A31All equal
A43Sum = 3
A53All equal
A60Sum = 2
A70All equal
A53All equal
A60Sum = 2
A60Sum = 2
A70All equal
A53All equal
A62Sum = 2
A86Sum = 11
A94Sum > 3
A104Sum > 3
A112All equal
A85Sum = 11
A112All equal
A126Sum > 3
A134Sum = 13
A134Sum = 13
A135Sum = 13
A141Sum = 1
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: Sum = 11Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 2Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 11Area 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum > 3Area 11: All equalArea 12: Sum > 3Area 13: Sum = 13Area 14: 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 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 6, paired with row 1, column 1 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 0): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 5, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 5 = 1, paired with row 1, column 6 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 0, paired with row 3, column 3 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 4): vertical; row 7, column 5 = 4, paired with row 8, column 5 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 9 = 3, paired with row 1, column 8 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 7 = 0, paired with row 4, column 7 = 6.
  8. Piece 8 (4 | 2): vertical; row 5, column 3 = 4, paired with row 4, column 3 = 2.
  9. Piece 9 (0 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 7 = 0, paired with row 1, column 7 = 1.
  10. Piece 10 (5 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 7 = 5, paired with row 6, column 7 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (2 | 2): vertical; row 5, column 5 = 2, paired with row 6, column 5 = 2.
  12. Piece 12 (3 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 3, paired with row 3, column 1 = 3.
  13. Piece 13 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 9, column 6 = 1, paired with row 9, column 5 = 5.
  14. Piece 14 (3 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 3, paired with row 5, column 1 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 2. 0 + 0 + 0 + 2 = 2; target 2.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  11. Area 11: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  12. Area 12: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 13. 4 + 4 + 5 = 13; target 13.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.

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