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Past puzzleSeptember 17, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 17, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 17, 2026 (2026-09-17) with hints and answers for every level.

September 17, 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 = 2
A1Sum = 2
A1Sum = 2
A2Sum = 7
A2Sum = 7
A3Sum = 0
A4Sum = 7
A4Sum = 7
A5Sum > 2
A6Sum < 5
Area 1: Sum = 2Area 2: Sum = 7Area 3: Sum = 0Area 4: Sum = 7Area 5: Sum > 2Area 6: Sum < 5

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

Where to look

Area 3 has 1 cell: Sum = 0. Look at row 2, column 4.

A local clue for Area 2

The two cells in Area 2 must total 7. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 1 + 6; 2 + 5; 3 + 4.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 4 (4 | 0), vertical: row 3, column 4 has 4, paired with row 2, column 4 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum = 2
A11Sum = 2
A11Sum = 2
A22Sum = 7
A25Sum = 7
A30Sum = 0
A43Sum = 7
A44Sum = 7
A53Sum > 2
A64Sum < 5
Area 1: Sum = 2Area 2: Sum = 7Area 3: Sum = 0Area 4: Sum = 7Area 5: Sum > 2Area 6: 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 (0 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 3, paired with row 2, column 1 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 4 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 2. 0 + 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 7. 2 + 5 = 7; target 7.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 7. 3 + 4 = 7; target 7.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 2. 3 = 3 > 2.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 5. 4 = 4 < 5.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 6

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A1No rule
A2All equal
A3Sum < 4
A4All equal
A4All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum < 4
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 4
A6Sum = 4
A7Sum = 1
A7Sum = 1
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum < 4Area 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 4Area 7: Sum = 1

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 2 cells: All equal. Look at row 2, column 2; row 3, column 2.

A local clue for Area 6

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 6

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A14No rule
A23All equal
A32Sum < 4
A45All equal
A45All equal
A23All equal
A31Sum < 4
A52All equal
A52All equal
A52All equal
A61Sum = 4
A63Sum = 4
A71Sum = 1
A70Sum = 1
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum < 4Area 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 4Area 7: 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 (5 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 5, paired with row 1, column 5 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 1, paired with row 4, column 3 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 2, paired with row 2, column 4 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 4, column 1 = 1, paired with row 4, column 2 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 2): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 4 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 3, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 2, paired with row 3, column 6 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 4. 2 + 1 = 3 < 4.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 4. 1 + 3 = 4; target 4.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 1. 1 + 0 = 1; target 1.

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

8 × 8

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A1All equal
A1All equal
A1All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum > 1
A4No rule
A5Sum = 5
A6Sum = 9
A2All equal
A7No rule
A5Sum = 5
A6Sum = 9
A8Sum = 0
A8Sum = 0
A9Sum > 3
A5Sum = 5
A5Sum = 5
A10Sum = 4
A5Sum = 5
A11Sum = 0
A12All different
A12All different
A13Sum = 11
A14Sum = 11
A12All different
A13Sum = 11
A15Sum = 3
A16Sum = 4
A14Sum = 11
A12All different
A12All different
A12All different
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 1Area 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum = 5Area 6: Sum = 9Area 7: No ruleArea 8: Sum = 0Area 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum = 4Area 11: Sum = 0Area 12: All differentArea 13: Sum = 11Area 14: Sum = 11Area 15: Sum = 3Area 16: Sum = 4

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 6

The two cells in Area 6 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 10 (2 | 5), horizontal: row 1, column 6 has 2, paired with row 1, column 7 containing 5.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

8 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A15All equal
A15All equal
A15All equal
A22All equal
A35Sum > 1
A46No rule
A51Sum = 5
A63Sum = 9
A22All equal
A76No rule
A51Sum = 5
A66Sum = 9
A80Sum = 0
A80Sum = 0
A94Sum > 3
A51Sum = 5
A51Sum = 5
A104Sum = 4
A51Sum = 5
A110Sum = 0
A121All different
A122All different
A136Sum = 11
A146Sum = 11
A120All different
A135Sum = 11
A153Sum = 3
A164Sum = 4
A145Sum = 11
A123All different
A124All different
A126All different
Area 1: All equalArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 1Area 4: No ruleArea 5: Sum = 5Area 6: Sum = 9Area 7: No ruleArea 8: Sum = 0Area 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum = 4Area 11: Sum = 0Area 12: All differentArea 13: Sum = 11Area 14: Sum = 11Area 15: Sum = 3Area 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 (0 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 6 = 0, paired with row 2, column 6 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 3): vertical; row 6, column 7 = 0, paired with row 7, column 7 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 7 = 0, paired with row 3, column 8 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 4 = 0, paired with row 6, column 4 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 1, paired with row 4, column 1 = 1.
  6. Piece 6 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 7 = 1, paired with row 5, column 8 = 2.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 1, paired with row 4, column 3 = 4.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 1, paired with row 1, column 1 = 5.
  9. Piece 9 (1 | 6): vertical; row 5, column 1 = 1, paired with row 6, column 1 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 6 = 2, paired with row 1, column 7 = 5.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 7, column 2 = 3, paired with row 7, column 1 = 5.
  12. Piece 12 (3 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 3, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  13. Piece 13 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 7, column 3 = 4, paired with row 7, column 4 = 5.
  14. Piece 14 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 8, column 6 = 4, paired with row 8, column 7 = 6.
  15. Piece 15 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 5, paired with row 1, column 3 = 5.
  16. Piece 16 (6 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 8 = 6, paired with row 2, column 8 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 1. 5 = 5 > 1.
  4. Area 4: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 5. 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5; target 5.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 9. 3 + 6 = 9; target 9.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  12. Area 12: All different. 1, 2, 0, 3, 4, 6: every value is different.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.

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