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Past puzzleSeptember 20, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 20, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 20, 2026 (2026-09-20) with hints and answers for every level.

September 20, 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 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2Sum = 1
A1All equal
A1All equal
A3Sum = 8
A3Sum = 8
A4Sum = 9
A4Sum = 9
A5No rule
A6Sum = 1
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 1Area 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum = 9Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum = 1

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

Where to look

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

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 4 (4 | 1), vertical: row 3, column 2 has 4, paired with row 2, column 2 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10All equal
A21Sum = 1
A10All equal
A10All equal
A34Sum = 8
A34Sum = 8
A46Sum = 9
A43Sum = 9
A52No rule
A61Sum = 1
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 1Area 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum = 9Area 5: No ruleArea 6: 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 (0 | 0): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 0, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 6, paired with row 2, column 4 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 4, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 2, paired with row 3, column 1 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 9. 6 + 3 = 9; target 9.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 3
A2Sum > 3
A3All equal
A3All equal
A4Sum = 9
A5Sum = 9
A3All equal
A6Sum < 3
A4Sum = 9
A5Sum = 9
A7Sum = 9
A7Sum = 9
A8Sum = 9
A8Sum = 9
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: Sum > 3Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 9Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum < 3Area 7: Sum = 9Area 8: Sum = 9

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

Where to look

Area 1 has 1 cell: Sum > 3. Look at row 1, column 5.

A local clue for Area 4

The two cells in Area 4 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 5 (5 | 6), vertical: row 2, column 5 has 5, paired with row 1, column 5 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum > 3
A24Sum > 3
A32All equal
A32All equal
A43Sum = 9
A55Sum = 9
A32All equal
A61Sum < 3
A46Sum = 9
A54Sum = 9
A75Sum = 9
A74Sum = 9
A85Sum = 9
A84Sum = 9
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: Sum > 3Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 9Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum < 3Area 7: Sum = 9Area 8: Sum = 9

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): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 5, paired with row 4, column 3 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 1, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 2, column 2 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 2 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 5, paired with row 1, column 5 = 6.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 4): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 4, paired with row 4, column 5 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 3): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 2, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 9. 3 + 6 = 9; target 9.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 9. 5 + 4 = 9; target 9.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 9. 5 + 4 = 9; target 9.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 9. 5 + 4 = 9; target 9.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

9 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 3
A2Sum > 3
A3Sum < 2
A4All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 8
A7Sum > 4
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 8
A8Sum > 3
A9Sum > 3
A10Sum = 10
A10Sum = 10
A11Sum = 5
A11Sum = 5
A12Sum > 4
A13Sum = 9
A13Sum = 9
A13Sum = 9
A14Sum < 2
A15All equal
A15All equal
A15All equal
Area 1: Sum < 3Area 2: Sum > 3Area 3: Sum < 2Area 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 8Area 7: Sum > 4Area 8: Sum > 3Area 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum = 10Area 11: Sum = 5Area 12: Sum > 4Area 13: Sum = 9Area 14: Sum < 2Area 15: All equal

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 6

The two cells in Area 6 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 (1 | 0), vertical: row 1, column 1 has 1, paired with row 2, column 1 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11Sum < 3
A25Sum > 3
A30Sum < 2
A41All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A62Sum = 8
A75Sum > 4
A41All equal
A41All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A50All equal
A66Sum = 8
A84Sum > 3
A94Sum > 3
A105Sum = 10
A105Sum = 10
A113Sum = 5
A112Sum = 5
A125Sum > 4
A131Sum = 9
A136Sum = 9
A132Sum = 9
A140Sum < 2
A152All equal
A152All equal
A152All equal
Area 1: Sum < 3Area 2: Sum > 3Area 3: Sum < 2Area 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 8Area 7: Sum > 4Area 8: Sum > 3Area 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum = 10Area 11: Sum = 5Area 12: Sum > 4Area 13: Sum = 9Area 14: Sum < 2Area 15: 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 (5 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 5, paired with row 1, column 6 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 2): vertical; row 8, column 4 = 2, paired with row 9, column 4 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 0): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 1 = 0.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 4 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 0): horizontal; row 6, column 5 = 2, paired with row 6, column 6 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 6, column 2 = 5, paired with row 6, column 3 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 6): vertical; row 7, column 4 = 2, paired with row 6, column 4 = 6.
  8. Piece 8 (4 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 7 = 4, paired with row 2, column 7 = 1.
  9. Piece 9 (5 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 4 = 2.
  10. Piece 10 (0 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 0, paired with row 3, column 2 = 0.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 2): vertical; row 4, column 7 = 3, paired with row 5, column 7 = 2.
  12. Piece 12 (0 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 0, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
  13. Piece 13 (1 | 1): vertical; row 1, column 8 = 1, paired with row 2, column 8 = 1.
  14. Piece 14 (0 | 4): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 4, column 1 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 3. 5 = 5 > 3.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 0 = 0 = 0 = 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 8. 2 + 6 = 8; target 8.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  8. Area 8: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 5. 3 + 2 = 5; target 5.
  12. Area 12: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 9. 1 + 6 + 2 = 9; target 9.
  14. Area 14: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  15. Area 15: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.

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