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Past puzzleSeptember 13, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 13, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 13, 2026 (2026-09-13) with hints and answers for every level.

September 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

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 8
A2Sum = 3
A3Sum = 2
A1Sum = 8
A4Sum = 8
A3Sum = 2
A5All equal
A4Sum = 8
A6Sum = 3
A5All equal
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum = 3Area 3: Sum = 2Area 4: Sum = 8Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 3

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 1 cell: Sum = 3. Look at row 1, 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 2 (3 | 3), horizontal: row 1, column 5 has 3, paired with row 1, column 6 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

5 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 8
A23Sum = 3
A30Sum = 2
A15Sum = 8
A44Sum = 8
A32Sum = 2
A51All equal
A44Sum = 8
A63Sum = 3
A51All equal
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum = 3Area 3: Sum = 2Area 4: Sum = 8Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 3

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 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 2 = 1, paired with row 5, column 1 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 5 = 3, paired with row 1, column 6 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 0, paired with row 2, column 5 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 4, paired with row 4, column 2 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 8. 3 + 5 = 8; target 8.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 2. 0 + 2 = 2; target 2.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 2
A2Sum < 4
A3All equal
A4No rule
A5Sum < 4
A6Sum > 10
A7Sum = 10
A3All equal
A8Sum = 10
A9No rule
A6Sum > 10
A7Sum = 10
A3All equal
A8Sum = 10
Area 1: Sum > 2Area 2: Sum < 4Area 3: All equalArea 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum < 4Area 6: Sum > 10Area 7: Sum = 10Area 8: Sum = 10Area 9: No rule

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 7

The two cells in Area 7 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 1 (2 | 3), vertical: row 2, column 5 has 2, paired with row 1, column 5 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum > 2
A23Sum < 4
A35All equal
A42No rule
A52Sum < 4
A66Sum > 10
A74Sum = 10
A35All equal
A84Sum = 10
A96No rule
A66Sum > 10
A76Sum = 10
A35All equal
A86Sum = 10
Area 1: Sum > 2Area 2: Sum < 4Area 3: All equalArea 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum < 4Area 6: Sum > 10Area 7: Sum = 10Area 8: Sum = 10Area 9: 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 (2 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 2, paired with row 1, column 5 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 2, paired with row 3, column 2 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 3, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 4, paired with row 3, column 6 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 4 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 5, paired with row 4, column 5 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 6, paired with row 4, column 3 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 2. 3 = 3 > 2.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 4. 2 = 2 < 4.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 10. 6 + 6 = 12 > 10.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  9. Area 9: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

10 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 3
A1Sum = 3
A2No rule
A1Sum = 3
A1Sum = 3
A3All equal
A3All equal
A4All equal
A4All equal
A3All equal
A5All equal
A4All equal
A4All equal
A6Sum = 5
A7Sum = 1
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A8All equal
A8All equal
A9All equal
A5All equal
A10All equal
A9All equal
A10All equal
A9All equal
A11All equal
A12Sum = 3
A9All equal
A13Sum = 2
A11All equal
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: No ruleArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 5Area 7: Sum = 1Area 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: All equalArea 11: All equalArea 12: Sum = 3Area 13: Sum = 2

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

Where to look

Area 6 has 1 cell: Sum = 5. Look at row 5, column 7.

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 14 (5 | 0), horizontal: row 5, column 7 has 5, paired with row 5, column 6 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

10 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11Sum = 3
A11Sum = 3
A26No rule
A11Sum = 3
A10Sum = 3
A34All equal
A34All equal
A40All equal
A40All equal
A34All equal
A56All equal
A40All equal
A40All equal
A65Sum = 5
A71Sum = 1
A56All equal
A56All equal
A56All equal
A56All equal
A83All equal
A83All equal
A95All equal
A56All equal
A104All equal
A95All equal
A104All equal
A95All equal
A115All equal
A123Sum = 3
A95All equal
A132Sum = 2
A115All equal
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: No ruleArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 5Area 7: Sum = 1Area 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: All equalArea 11: All equalArea 12: Sum = 3Area 13: 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 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 10, column 3 = 3, paired with row 10, column 4 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 0, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 6, column 5 = 6, paired with row 6, column 6 = 6.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 5): vertical; row 8, column 4 = 5, paired with row 9, column 4 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 3): vertical; row 5, column 9 = 1, paired with row 6, column 9 = 3.
  6. Piece 6 (6 | 0): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 6, paired with row 5, column 5 = 0.
  7. Piece 7 (5 | 4): vertical; row 9, column 7 = 5, paired with row 8, column 7 = 4.
  8. Piece 8 (6 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 6, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  9. Piece 9 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 10, column 6 = 2, paired with row 10, column 7 = 5.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 4, paired with row 5, column 3 = 4.
  11. Piece 11 (6 | 5): vertical; row 6, column 4 = 6, paired with row 7, column 4 = 5.
  12. Piece 12 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 1, paired with row 1, column 3 = 1.
  13. Piece 13 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 7, column 7 = 4, paired with row 7, column 6 = 6.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 0): horizontal; row 5, column 7 = 5, paired with row 5, column 6 = 0.
  15. Piece 15 (6 | 3): horizontal; row 6, column 7 = 6, paired with row 6, column 8 = 3.
  16. Piece 16 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 4, column 5 = 0, paired with row 4, column 6 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 3. 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 = 3; target 3.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6 = 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  10. Area 10: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  11. Area 11: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.

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