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Past puzzleSeptember 21, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 21, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 21, 2026 (2026-09-21) with hints and answers for every level.

September 21, 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 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A2Sum = 1
A3All equal
A4All equal
A5Sum > 5
A3All equal
A3All equal
A6No rule
A4All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 1Area 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 5Area 6: No rule

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11All equal
A11All equal
A21Sum = 1
A35All equal
A41All equal
A56Sum > 5
A35All equal
A35All equal
A60No rule
A41All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 1Area 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 5Area 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 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 2 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 6 = 6, paired with row 2, column 5 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 0): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 1, paired with row 3, column 4 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2All equal
A3Sum > 4
A4Sum = 6
A2All equal
A5All equal
A4Sum = 6
A6Sum > 3
A7All equal
A5All equal
A8Sum > 3
A9Sum > 7
A7All equal
A9Sum > 7
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum > 3Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum > 3Area 9: Sum > 7

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 4

The two cells in Area 4 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 3 (6 | 2), horizontal: row 1, column 3 has 6, paired with row 1, column 4 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10No rule
A20All equal
A36Sum > 4
A42Sum = 6
A20All equal
A51All equal
A44Sum = 6
A64Sum > 3
A72All equal
A51All equal
A84Sum > 3
A95Sum > 7
A72All equal
A95Sum > 7
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum = 6Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum > 3Area 7: All equalArea 8: Sum > 3Area 9: Sum > 7

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 3, column 4 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 0, paired with row 1, column 2 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 6, paired with row 1, column 4 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 5 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 1, paired with row 2, column 2 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 5, paired with row 4, column 5 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 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. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 4. 6 = 6 > 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 6. 2 + 4 = 6; target 6.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 7. 5 + 5 = 10 > 7.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

4 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A2Sum = 1
A3All equal
A4Sum = 4
A5Sum = 0
A6Sum = 0
A7Sum = 6
A7Sum = 6
A8Sum = 10
A9Sum = 9
A3All equal
A10All equal
A11Sum = 6
A12Sum = 12
A8Sum = 10
A13Sum < 3
A9Sum = 9
A3All equal
A10All equal
A14Sum = 1
A12Sum = 12
A9Sum = 9
A15All equal
A15All equal
A15All equal
A16All equal
A16All equal
A16All equal
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: Sum = 1Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 4Area 5: Sum = 0Area 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 6Area 8: Sum = 10Area 9: Sum = 9Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum = 6Area 12: Sum = 12Area 13: Sum < 3Area 14: Sum = 1Area 15: All equalArea 16: All equal

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 7

The two cells in Area 7 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 13 (5 | 6), vertical: row 2, column 1 has 5, paired with row 1, column 1 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

4 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum = 6
A21Sum = 1
A35All equal
A44Sum = 4
A50Sum = 0
A60Sum = 0
A75Sum = 6
A71Sum = 6
A85Sum = 10
A93Sum = 9
A35All equal
A100All equal
A116Sum = 6
A126Sum = 12
A85Sum = 10
A132Sum < 3
A93Sum = 9
A35All equal
A100All equal
A141Sum = 1
A126Sum = 12
A93Sum = 9
A156All equal
A156All equal
A156All equal
A164All equal
A164All equal
A164All equal
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: Sum = 1Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 4Area 5: Sum = 0Area 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 6Area 8: Sum = 10Area 9: Sum = 9Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum = 6Area 12: Sum = 12Area 13: Sum < 3Area 14: Sum = 1Area 15: All equalArea 16: 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 (0 | 1): horizontal; row 3, column 6 = 0, paired with row 3, column 7 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 6 = 0, paired with row 1, column 5 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 7 = 0, paired with row 1, column 8 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 6 = 0, paired with row 2, column 7 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (1 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 9 = 1, paired with row 2, column 9 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 3, column 1 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (3 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 3, paired with row 3, column 3 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 3, paired with row 4, column 4 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 7 = 4, paired with row 4, column 8 = 4.
  11. Piece 11 (4 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 9 = 4, paired with row 3, column 9 = 6.
  12. Piece 12 (5 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 4 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (5 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 5, paired with row 1, column 1 = 6.
  14. Piece 14 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 5 = 6, paired with row 4, column 6 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 6. 5 + 1 = 6; target 6.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 9. 3 + 3 + 3 = 9; target 9.
  10. Area 10: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 12. 6 + 6 = 12; target 12.
  13. Area 13: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  15. Area 15: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  16. Area 16: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.

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