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Past puzzleSeptember 14, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 14, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 14, 2026 (2026-09-14) with hints and answers for every level.

September 14, 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
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum > 1
A1All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A4No rule
A5No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 1Area 4: No ruleArea 5: No rule

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 5 (6 | 2), horizontal: row 1, column 3 has 6, paired with row 1, column 4 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14All equal
A26All equal
A26All equal
A32Sum > 1
A14All equal
A26All equal
A26All equal
A26All equal
A45No rule
A51No rule
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 1Area 4: No ruleArea 5: 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 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 6, paired with row 1, column 1 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 3, column 1 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 6.
  4. Piece 4 (6 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 6, paired with row 3, column 4 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 6, paired with row 1, column 4 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 1. 2 = 2 > 1.
  4. Area 4: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

6 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A2Sum = 5
A3Sum = 7
A1Sum = 6
A4Sum < 2
A2Sum = 5
A3Sum = 7
A1Sum = 6
A5Sum = 2
A6Sum = 8
A3Sum = 7
A6Sum = 8
A7Sum = 2
A8No rule
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: Sum = 7Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: Sum = 8Area 7: Sum = 2Area 8: No rule

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 2

The two cells in Area 2 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 6 (2 | 1), vertical: row 4, column 1 has 2, paired with row 3, column 1 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

6 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum = 6
A24Sum = 5
A30Sum = 7
A10Sum = 6
A41Sum < 2
A21Sum = 5
A33Sum = 7
A16Sum = 6
A52Sum = 2
A64Sum = 8
A34Sum = 7
A64Sum = 8
A72Sum = 2
A84No rule
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: Sum = 7Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: Sum = 8Area 7: Sum = 2Area 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 (4 | 2): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 4, paired with row 5, column 3 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 0): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 0, paired with row 2, column 4 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 4, paired with row 3, column 2 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 3, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 2, paired with row 3, column 1 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (4 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 2 = 4, paired with row 6, column 2 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 0 + 0 + 6 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 5. 4 + 1 = 5; target 5.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 7. 0 + 3 + 4 = 7; target 7.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

7 × 9

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A1Sum = 3
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3All equal
A2All equal
A4Sum = 3
A5Sum = 15
A6Sum = 1
A3All equal
A7All equal
A7All equal
A4Sum = 3
A5Sum = 15
A5Sum = 15
A8All equal
A3All equal
A7All equal
A9All equal
A8All equal
A10Sum = 5
A11Sum = 3
A9All equal
A12Sum = 10
A13Sum = 5
A13Sum = 5
A13Sum = 5
A12Sum = 10
A14Sum = 4
A15Sum > 4
A16Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum = 15Area 6: Sum = 1Area 7: All equalArea 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: Sum = 5Area 11: Sum = 3Area 12: Sum = 10Area 13: Sum = 5Area 14: Sum = 4Area 15: Sum > 4Area 16: Sum = 4

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 4

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

7 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 3
A20All equal
A20All equal
A32All equal
A20All equal
A41Sum = 3
A56Sum = 15
A61Sum = 1
A32All equal
A74All equal
A74All equal
A42Sum = 3
A55Sum = 15
A54Sum = 15
A83All equal
A32All equal
A74All equal
A90All equal
A83All equal
A105Sum = 5
A113Sum = 3
A90All equal
A125Sum = 10
A131Sum = 5
A133Sum = 5
A131Sum = 5
A125Sum = 10
A144Sum = 4
A156Sum > 4
A164Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum = 15Area 6: Sum = 1Area 7: All equalArea 8: All equalArea 9: All equalArea 10: Sum = 5Area 11: Sum = 3Area 12: Sum = 10Area 13: Sum = 5Area 14: Sum = 4Area 15: Sum > 4Area 16: 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 (5 | 3): vertical; row 6, column 1 = 5, paired with row 5, column 1 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 0, paired with row 1, column 5 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 3, paired with row 3, column 1 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 5): vertical; row 4, column 8 = 0, paired with row 3, column 8 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 3 = 2.
  7. Piece 7 (4 | 1): vertical; row 7, column 9 = 4, paired with row 6, column 9 = 1.
  8. Piece 8 (5 | 2): vertical; row 5, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 3 = 2.
  9. Piece 9 (4 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 4, paired with row 2, column 5 = 0.
  10. Piece 10 (6 | 1): vertical; row 7, column 7 = 6, paired with row 6, column 7 = 1.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 5 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 4.
  12. Piece 12 (2 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 7 = 2, paired with row 2, column 7 = 1.
  13. Piece 13 (6 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 9 = 6, paired with row 3, column 9 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (3 | 0): vertical; row 6, column 8 = 3, paired with row 5, column 8 = 0.
  15. Piece 15 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 7, column 2 = 4, paired with row 7, column 1 = 5.
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: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 3. 1 + 2 = 3; target 3.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 15. 6 + 5 + 4 = 15; target 15.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 5. 1 + 3 + 1 = 5; target 5.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  15. Area 15: Sum > 4. 6 = 6 > 4.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.

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