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Past puzzleSeptember 28, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 28, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 28, 2026 (2026-09-28) with hints and answers for every level.

September 28, 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

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 2
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum = 10
A3Sum = 10
A4All equal
A5Sum = 8
A5Sum = 8
A4All equal
A6Sum = 2
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 10Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 8Area 6: Sum = 2

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 3

The two cells in Area 3 must total 10. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 4 + 6; 5 + 5.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11Sum < 2
A24All equal
A24All equal
A34Sum = 10
A36Sum = 10
A40All equal
A53Sum = 8
A55Sum = 8
A40All equal
A62Sum = 2
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 10Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 8Area 6: 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 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 0, paired with row 4, column 5 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 4, paired with row 3, column 2 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 4): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 1 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 5): vertical; row 5, column 4 = 2, paired with row 4, column 4 = 5.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 6, paired with row 4, column 3 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 0 = 0: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 8. 3 + 5 = 8; target 8.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 1
A2No rule
A3Sum = 4
A4Sum > 10
A4Sum > 10
A5Sum = 0
A4Sum > 10
A6Sum > 18
A6Sum > 18
A6Sum > 18
A7Sum < 8
A7Sum < 8
A6Sum > 18
A7Sum < 8
Area 1: Sum > 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum > 10Area 5: Sum = 0Area 6: Sum > 18Area 7: Sum < 8

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 6 (4 | 1), horizontal: row 1, column 1 has 4, paired with row 1, column 2 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14Sum > 1
A21No rule
A34Sum = 4
A45Sum > 10
A43Sum > 10
A50Sum = 0
A43Sum > 10
A64Sum > 18
A64Sum > 18
A65Sum > 18
A73Sum < 8
A71Sum < 8
A66Sum > 18
A73Sum < 8
Area 1: Sum > 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum > 10Area 5: Sum = 0Area 6: Sum > 18Area 7: 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 (4 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 4, paired with row 4, column 3 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 4, paired with row 2, column 3 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 0, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 4, column 5 = 1, paired with row 4, column 4 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 3): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 5, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 1 = 4, paired with row 1, column 2 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 3, paired with row 5, column 3 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 1. 4 = 4 > 1.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 10. 5 + 3 + 3 = 11 > 10.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 18. 4 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 19 > 18.
  7. Area 7: Sum < 8. 3 + 1 + 3 = 7 < 8.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

7 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A1All equal
A1All equal
A1All equal
A2Sum = 7
A2Sum = 7
A3Sum = 8
A4Sum > 4
A2Sum = 7
A3Sum = 8
A3Sum = 8
A5Sum = 1
A6Sum = 7
A7Sum = 4
A5Sum = 1
A6Sum = 7
A8Sum = 4
A9All equal
A9All equal
A6Sum = 7
A10Sum = 2
A9All equal
A9All equal
A11Sum > 9
A11Sum > 9
A12Sum > 14
A12Sum > 14
A12Sum > 14
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 7Area 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum > 4Area 5: Sum = 1Area 6: Sum = 7Area 7: Sum = 4Area 8: Sum = 4Area 9: All equalArea 10: Sum = 2Area 11: Sum > 9Area 12: Sum > 14

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 5

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 3 (1 | 5), vertical: row 3, column 5 has 1, paired with row 2, column 5 containing 5.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

7 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11All equal
A11All equal
A11All equal
A11All equal
A24Sum = 7
A23Sum = 7
A32Sum = 8
A45Sum > 4
A20Sum = 7
A32Sum = 8
A34Sum = 8
A51Sum = 1
A65Sum = 7
A74Sum = 4
A50Sum = 1
A60Sum = 7
A84Sum = 4
A93All equal
A93All equal
A62Sum = 7
A102Sum = 2
A93All equal
A93All equal
A114Sum > 9
A116Sum > 9
A125Sum > 14
A124Sum > 14
A126Sum > 14
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 7Area 3: Sum = 8Area 4: Sum > 4Area 5: Sum = 1Area 6: Sum = 7Area 7: Sum = 4Area 8: Sum = 4Area 9: All equalArea 10: Sum = 2Area 11: Sum > 9Area 12: Sum > 14

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 (3 | 0): vertical; row 5, column 5 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 1, paired with row 1, column 5 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 1, paired with row 2, column 5 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 3): vertical; row 5, column 4 = 3, paired with row 6, column 4 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 7, column 4 = 4, paired with row 7, column 3 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (0 | 4): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 2, column 1 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 2, column 3 = 2.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 6, column 1 = 2, paired with row 6, column 2 = 2.
  9. Piece 9 (6 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 5 = 6, paired with row 6, column 5 = 3.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 7, column 1 = 4, paired with row 7, column 2 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (0 | 5): vertical; row 5, column 1 = 0, paired with row 4, column 1 = 5.
  12. Piece 12 (1 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 1, paired with row 2, column 2 = 3.
  13. Piece 13 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (4 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 4, paired with row 5, column 2 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 7. 4 + 3 + 0 = 7; target 7.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 8. 2 + 2 + 4 = 8; target 8.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 1. 1 + 0 = 1; target 1.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 7. 5 + 0 + 2 = 7; target 7.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  9. Area 9: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  11. Area 11: Sum > 9. 4 + 6 = 10 > 9.
  12. Area 12: Sum > 14. 5 + 4 + 6 = 15 > 14.

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