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Past puzzleSeptember 22, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 22, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 22, 2026 (2026-09-22) with hints and answers for every level.

September 22, 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 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 1
A1Sum = 1
A1Sum = 1
A2No rule
A3Sum < 3
A4All equal
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5Sum > 5
A6Sum > 4
Area 1: Sum = 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 5Area 6: Sum > 4

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum = 1
A10Sum = 1
A11Sum = 1
A23No rule
A32Sum < 3
A45All equal
A45All equal
A45All equal
A56Sum > 5
A65Sum > 4
Area 1: Sum = 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum < 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum > 5Area 6: 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 (5 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 5, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 5, paired with row 4, column 3 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 1 = 5, paired with row 4, column 2 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 1): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 2, paired with row 1, column 3 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 0, paired with row 1, column 2 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 1. 0 + 0 + 1 = 1; target 1.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 3
A2Sum = 6
A2Sum = 6
A3Sum = 11
A3Sum = 11
A4Sum = 7
A5All equal
A6Sum = 2
A7No rule
A4Sum = 7
A5All equal
A6Sum = 2
A8All equal
A8All equal
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: Sum = 6Area 3: Sum = 11Area 4: Sum = 7Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 2Area 7: No ruleArea 8: All equal

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 2

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14Sum > 3
A20Sum = 6
A26Sum = 6
A36Sum = 11
A35Sum = 11
A41Sum = 7
A51All equal
A62Sum = 2
A73No rule
A46Sum = 7
A51All equal
A60Sum = 2
A85All equal
A85All equal
Area 1: Sum > 3Area 2: Sum = 6Area 3: Sum = 11Area 4: Sum = 7Area 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 2Area 7: No ruleArea 8: 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 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 1, paired with row 4, column 1 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 1, paired with row 3, column 3 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 0, paired with row 4, column 4 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 4 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 1 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 6. 0 + 6 = 6; target 6.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 7. 1 + 6 = 7; target 7.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 2. 2 + 0 = 2; target 2.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

10 × 7

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A2No rule
A1Sum = 6
A3All equal
A4All equal
A3All equal
A5Sum < 3
A4All equal
A6Sum = 2
A6Sum = 2
A7Sum = 2
A8All equal
A8All equal
A9No rule
A10Sum = 7
A8All equal
A10Sum = 7
A11Sum = 11
A11Sum = 11
A8All equal
A12Sum > 4
A13Sum = 10
A8All equal
A13Sum = 10
A14Sum = 1
A14Sum = 1
A15Sum = 6
A16Sum = 6
A17Sum = 8
A17Sum = 8
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: No ruleArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: Sum < 3Area 6: Sum = 2Area 7: Sum = 2Area 8: All equalArea 9: No ruleArea 10: Sum = 7Area 11: Sum = 11Area 12: Sum > 4Area 13: Sum = 10Area 14: Sum = 1Area 15: Sum = 6Area 16: Sum = 6Area 17: Sum = 8

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

Where to look

Area 5 has 1 cell: Sum < 3. Look at row 4, column 2.

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 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 15 (4 | 2), horizontal: row 4, column 1 has 4, paired with row 4, column 2 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

10 × 7

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A15Sum = 6
A23No rule
A11Sum = 6
A34All equal
A41All equal
A34All equal
A52Sum < 3
A41All equal
A61Sum = 2
A61Sum = 2
A72Sum = 2
A83All equal
A83All equal
A92No rule
A104Sum = 7
A83All equal
A103Sum = 7
A115Sum = 11
A116Sum = 11
A83All equal
A126Sum > 4
A135Sum = 10
A83All equal
A135Sum = 10
A141Sum = 1
A140Sum = 1
A156Sum = 6
A166Sum = 6
A174Sum = 8
A174Sum = 8
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: No ruleArea 3: All equalArea 4: All equalArea 5: Sum < 3Area 6: Sum = 2Area 7: Sum = 2Area 8: All equalArea 9: No ruleArea 10: Sum = 7Area 11: Sum = 11Area 12: Sum > 4Area 13: Sum = 10Area 14: Sum = 1Area 15: Sum = 6Area 16: Sum = 6Area 17: 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 (1 | 3): vertical; row 10, column 1 = 1, paired with row 9, column 1 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 5): vertical; row 10, column 7 = 4, paired with row 9, column 7 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 2): horizontal; row 6, column 2 = 3, paired with row 6, column 3 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (6 | 5): vertical; row 7, column 7 = 6, paired with row 8, column 7 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 6 = 1, paired with row 5, column 7 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 3, paired with row 3, column 1 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 3): vertical; row 6, column 1 = 3, paired with row 7, column 1 = 3.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 5 = 1, paired with row 6, column 5 = 4.
  9. Piece 9 (0 | 6): horizontal; row 10, column 2 = 0, paired with row 10, column 3 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (1 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 1, paired with row 4, column 4 = 1.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 8, column 1 = 3, paired with row 8, column 2 = 6.
  12. Piece 12 (1 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 1, paired with row 1, column 4 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (6 | 4): horizontal; row 10, column 5 = 6, paired with row 10, column 6 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 7, column 5 = 3, paired with row 7, column 6 = 5.
  15. Piece 15 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 4, column 1 = 4, paired with row 4, column 2 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 5 + 1 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 7. 4 + 3 = 7; target 7.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 11. 5 + 6 = 11; target 11.
  12. Area 12: Sum > 4. 6 = 6 > 4.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  14. Area 14: Sum = 1. 1 + 0 = 1; target 1.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  17. Area 17: Sum = 8. 4 + 4 = 8; target 8.

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