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Past puzzleSeptember 16, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 16, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 16, 2026 (2026-09-16) with hints and answers for every level.

September 16, 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

6 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2No rule
A3Sum > 4
A4Sum < 4
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum < 1
A7All equal
A7All equal
A8Sum < 6
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum < 4Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 1Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum < 6

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

6 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11No rule
A21No rule
A36Sum > 4
A40Sum < 4
A54All equal
A54All equal
A60Sum < 1
A73All equal
A73All equal
A85Sum < 6
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum < 4Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 1Area 7: All equalArea 8: 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 (0 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 0, paired with row 1, column 4 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 4, paired with row 4, column 3 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 6, column 4 = 5, paired with row 6, column 3 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 0): horizontal; row 6, column 2 = 3, paired with row 6, column 1 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 6, paired with row 1, column 1 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 4. 6 = 6 > 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 4. 0 = 0 < 4.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: Sum < 6. 5 = 5 < 6.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 3
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3All equal
A4Sum = 3
A2All equal
A3All equal
A3All equal
A5Sum < 3
A6All equal
A6All equal
A6All equal
A7All equal
A7All equal
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum < 3Area 6: All equalArea 7: All equal

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum > 3
A21All equal
A21All equal
A35All equal
A43Sum = 3
A21All equal
A35All equal
A35All equal
A50Sum < 3
A64All equal
A64All equal
A64All equal
A71All equal
A71All equal
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 3Area 5: Sum < 3Area 6: All equalArea 7: 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 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 4, paired with row 4, column 4 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 1): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 3, paired with row 3, column 2 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 5, paired with row 3, column 4 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (6 | 1): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 6, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 3 = 1.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 1 = 4, paired with row 4, column 2 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 5 = 1, paired with row 3, column 5 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 3. 0 = 0 < 3.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.

Hard · 13 pieces

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All different
A2Sum = 7
A3Sum = 4
A4Sum = 10
A1All different
A2Sum = 7
A4Sum = 10
A1All different
A1All different
A2Sum = 7
A5Sum = 11
A5Sum = 11
A6Sum = 15
A6Sum = 15
A7Sum < 5
A8Sum = 2
A8Sum = 2
A8Sum = 2
A8Sum = 2
A6Sum = 15
A9Sum = 14
A10Sum = 4
A9Sum = 14
A11Sum = 4
A10Sum = 4
A9Sum = 14
Area 1: All differentArea 2: Sum = 7Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum = 10Area 5: Sum = 11Area 6: Sum = 15Area 7: Sum < 5Area 8: Sum = 2Area 9: Sum = 14Area 10: Sum = 4Area 11: Sum = 4

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

Where to look

Area 3 has 1 cell: Sum = 4. Look at row 1, column 7.

A local clue for Area 4

The two cells in Area 4 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 4 (5 | 4), horizontal: row 1, column 8 has 5, paired with row 1, column 7 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

8 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13All different
A22Sum = 7
A34Sum = 4
A45Sum = 10
A12All different
A22Sum = 7
A45Sum = 10
A11All different
A15All different
A23Sum = 7
A55Sum = 11
A56Sum = 11
A65Sum = 15
A65Sum = 15
A74Sum < 5
A81Sum = 2
A81Sum = 2
A80Sum = 2
A80Sum = 2
A65Sum = 15
A96Sum = 14
A102Sum = 4
A94Sum = 14
A114Sum = 4
A102Sum = 4
A94Sum = 14
Area 1: All differentArea 2: Sum = 7Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum = 10Area 5: Sum = 11Area 6: Sum = 15Area 7: Sum < 5Area 8: Sum = 2Area 9: Sum = 14Area 10: Sum = 4Area 11: 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 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 8, column 2 = 2, paired with row 8, column 1 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 8 = 5, paired with row 3, column 8 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 6 = 2, paired with row 2, column 6 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 8 = 5, paired with row 1, column 7 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 3 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 5, column 2 = 5, paired with row 5, column 3 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 5, column 5 = 4, paired with row 5, column 6 = 1.
  8. Piece 8 (5 | 2): vertical; row 6, column 2 = 5, paired with row 7, column 2 = 2.
  9. Piece 9 (4 | 4): vertical; row 7, column 7 = 4, paired with row 8, column 7 = 4.
  10. Piece 10 (1 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 7 = 1, paired with row 6, column 7 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 7 = 5, paired with row 3, column 6 = 3.
  12. Piece 12 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 5, column 8 = 0, paired with row 5, column 9 = 0.
  13. Piece 13 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All different. 3, 2, 1, 5: every value is different.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 7. 2 + 2 + 3 = 7; target 7.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 11. 5 + 6 = 11; target 11.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 15. 5 + 5 + 5 = 15; target 15.
  7. Area 7: Sum < 5. 4 = 4 < 5.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 = 2; target 2.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 14. 6 + 4 + 4 = 14; target 14.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 4. 2 + 2 = 4; target 4.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.

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