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Past puzzleSeptember 15, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 15, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 15, 2026 (2026-09-15) with hints and answers for every level.

September 15, 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

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 4
A2Sum = 12
A2Sum = 12
A3Sum = 11
A4No rule
A5Sum < 3
A6Sum = 11
A3Sum = 11
A6Sum = 11
A7Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum < 4Area 2: Sum = 12Area 3: Sum = 11Area 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum < 3Area 6: Sum = 11Area 7: Sum = 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 2

The two cells in Area 2 must total 12. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 6 + 6.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum < 4
A26Sum = 12
A26Sum = 12
A35Sum = 11
A44No rule
A50Sum < 3
A66Sum = 11
A36Sum = 11
A65Sum = 11
A75Sum = 5
Area 1: Sum < 4Area 2: Sum = 12Area 3: Sum = 11Area 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum < 3Area 6: Sum = 11Area 7: 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): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 6, paired with row 3, column 3 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 3, paired with row 2, column 2 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 3 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 5, paired with row 4, column 3 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 1 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 12. 6 + 6 = 12; target 12.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 11. 5 + 6 = 11; target 11.
  4. Area 4: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 3. 0 = 0 < 3.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A1Sum = 6
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3All equal
A3All equal
A2All equal
A4All equal
A3All equal
A2All equal
A4All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6No rule
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 1 has 2 cells: Sum = 6. Look at row 1, column 1; row 1, column 2.

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 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 2 (0 | 3), horizontal: row 1, column 3 has 0, paired with row 1, column 2 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum = 6
A13Sum = 6
A20All equal
A20All equal
A35All equal
A35All equal
A20All equal
A46All equal
A35All equal
A20All equal
A46All equal
A51All equal
A51All equal
A61No rule
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: 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 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 0, paired with row 4, column 3 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 0, paired with row 1, column 2 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 0, paired with row 2, column 4 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 5): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 1, paired with row 3, column 2 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (1 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 1, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 3, paired with row 2, column 1 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 3 + 3 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

7 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum = 4
A1All equal
A4Sum = 3
A2All equal
A5Sum = 2
A6Sum = 6
A7All equal
A5Sum = 2
A8Sum = 3
A9All equal
A7All equal
A7All equal
A9All equal
A10All equal
A10All equal
A11All equal
A11All equal
A12All equal
A13Sum = 3
A14Sum = 2
A15Sum = 1
A11All equal
A12All equal
A16Sum = 5
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: Sum = 6Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 3Area 9: All equalArea 10: All equalArea 11: All equalArea 12: All equalArea 13: Sum = 3Area 14: Sum = 2Area 15: Sum = 1Area 16: Sum = 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 5

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

7 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12All equal
A12All equal
A25All equal
A25All equal
A34Sum = 4
A12All equal
A43Sum = 3
A25All equal
A51Sum = 2
A66Sum = 6
A74All equal
A51Sum = 2
A83Sum = 3
A96All equal
A74All equal
A74All equal
A96All equal
A105All equal
A105All equal
A116All equal
A116All equal
A124All equal
A133Sum = 3
A142Sum = 2
A151Sum = 1
A116All equal
A124All equal
A165Sum = 5
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: Sum = 6Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 3Area 9: All equalArea 10: All equalArea 11: All equalArea 12: All equalArea 13: Sum = 3Area 14: Sum = 2Area 15: Sum = 1Area 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 (3 | 2): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 2 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 4 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 6 = 3, paired with row 4, column 7 = 6.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 2, paired with row 1, column 3 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 1, paired with row 4, column 2 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 5): vertical; row 7, column 1 = 3, paired with row 6, column 1 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (6 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 7 = 6, paired with row 6, column 7 = 4.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 7, column 2 = 2, paired with row 7, column 3 = 1.
  9. Piece 9 (6 | 5): horizontal; row 6, column 3 = 6, paired with row 6, column 2 = 5.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 1, column 1 = 2.
  11. Piece 11 (6 | 6): vertical; row 6, column 4 = 6, paired with row 7, column 4 = 6.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 5, column 1 = 4, paired with row 5, column 2 = 4.
  13. Piece 13 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 1, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  14. Piece 14 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 7, column 8 = 5, paired with row 7, column 7 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  10. Area 10: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  11. Area 11: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  12. Area 12: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.

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