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Past puzzleSeptember 18, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 18, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 18, 2026 (2026-09-18) with hints and answers for every level.

September 18, 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
A1All equal
A2Sum = 6
A3All equal
A4Sum = 0
A4Sum = 0
A3All equal
A5Sum = 4
A6All equal
A6All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 6Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 0Area 5: Sum = 4Area 6: All equal

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 1 cell: Sum = 6. Look at row 1, column 3.

A local clue for Area 4

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12All equal
A12All equal
A26Sum = 6
A35All equal
A40Sum = 0
A40Sum = 0
A35All equal
A54Sum = 4
A61All equal
A61All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 6Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 0Area 5: Sum = 4Area 6: 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 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 2, paired with row 1, column 2 = 2.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 5, paired with row 1, column 3 = 6.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 1, paired with row 3, column 2 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 1, paired with row 2, column 4 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.

Medium · 8 pieces

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 8
A2No rule
A3Sum = 8
A1Sum = 8
A1Sum = 8
A4Sum = 8
A4Sum = 8
A5Sum = 3
A3Sum = 8
A6Sum < 2
A7Sum = 8
A8Sum = 8
A9Sum = 8
A9Sum = 8
A7Sum = 8
A8Sum = 8
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum = 8Area 5: Sum = 3Area 6: Sum < 2Area 7: Sum = 8Area 8: Sum = 8Area 9: Sum = 8

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 0-4; Piece 2: 6-4; Piece 3: 3-4; Piece 4: 2-1; Piece 5: 5-2; Piece 6: 4-5; Piece 7: 3-6; Piece 8: 2-6.

Where to look

Area 5 has 1 cell: Sum = 3. Look at row 2, column 6.

A local clue for Area 3

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum = 8
A25No rule
A36Sum = 8
A14Sum = 8
A14Sum = 8
A46Sum = 8
A42Sum = 8
A53Sum = 3
A32Sum = 8
A61Sum < 2
A72Sum = 8
A85Sum = 8
A94Sum = 8
A94Sum = 8
A76Sum = 8
A83Sum = 8
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum = 8Area 5: Sum = 3Area 6: Sum < 2Area 7: Sum = 8Area 8: Sum = 8Area 9: Sum = 8

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 | 4): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 3, paired with row 3, column 6 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 3, column 2 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 5 = 5, paired with row 2, column 5 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 3, paired with row 4, column 3 = 6.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 8. 0 + 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 8. 6 + 2 = 8; target 8.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 8. 6 + 2 = 8; target 8.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 8. 2 + 6 = 8; target 8.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 8. 5 + 3 = 8; target 8.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.

Hard · 13 pieces

Hard board

9 × 7

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2Sum < 4
A3Sum < 3
A4Sum < 2
A1All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A1All equal
A6Sum < 6
A7Sum < 5
A8No rule
A9No rule
A10No rule
A11All equal
A11All equal
A12Sum > 10
A13Sum < 3
A11All equal
A11All equal
A12Sum > 10
A14Sum > 3
A15Sum > 3
A16Sum < 2
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum < 4Area 3: Sum < 3Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 6Area 7: Sum < 5Area 8: No ruleArea 9: No ruleArea 10: No ruleArea 11: All equalArea 12: Sum > 10Area 13: Sum < 3Area 14: Sum > 3Area 15: Sum > 3Area 16: Sum < 2

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 7 (0 | 3), vertical: row 3, column 1 has 0, paired with row 2, column 1 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 7

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11All equal
A23Sum < 4
A32Sum < 3
A41Sum < 2
A11All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A11All equal
A65Sum < 6
A74Sum < 5
A82No rule
A91No rule
A103No rule
A113All equal
A113All equal
A126Sum > 10
A132Sum < 3
A113All equal
A113All equal
A126Sum > 10
A146Sum > 3
A154Sum > 3
A160Sum < 2
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum < 4Area 3: Sum < 3Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum < 6Area 7: Sum < 5Area 8: No ruleArea 9: No ruleArea 10: No ruleArea 11: All equalArea 12: Sum > 10Area 13: Sum < 3Area 14: Sum > 3Area 15: Sum > 3Area 16: 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 (0 | 6): vertical; row 9, column 6 = 0, paired with row 8, column 6 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 3): vertical; row 9, column 5 = 4, paired with row 8, column 5 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 2): vertical; row 9, column 3 = 6, paired with row 8, column 3 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 5, paired with row 3, column 2 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 6): vertical; row 6, column 6 = 3, paired with row 7, column 6 = 6.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 1): vertical; row 4, column 7 = 2, paired with row 3, column 7 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 1): vertical; row 1, column 7 = 1, paired with row 2, column 7 = 1.
  9. Piece 9 (4 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 0.
  10. Piece 10 (3 | 1): vertical; row 7, column 3 = 3, paired with row 6, column 3 = 1.
  11. Piece 11 (0 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 0, paired with row 2, column 3 = 2.
  12. Piece 12 (3 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 4 = 3, paired with row 8, column 4 = 3.
  13. Piece 13 (0 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 0, paired with row 2, column 5 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 6. 5 = 5 < 6.
  7. Area 7: Sum < 5. 4 = 4 < 5.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  9. Area 9: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  10. Area 10: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  11. Area 11: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  12. Area 12: Sum > 10. 6 + 6 = 12 > 10.
  13. Area 13: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  14. Area 14: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  15. Area 15: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  16. Area 16: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.

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