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Past puzzleSeptember 29, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 29, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 29, 2026 (2026-09-29) with hints and answers for every level.

September 29, 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 × 3

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 2
A2Sum < 2
A3Sum > 4
A4Sum < 2
A5All equal
A6All equal
A5All equal
A7Sum > 4
A6All equal
A8No rule
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: Sum < 2Area 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: All equalArea 6: All equalArea 7: Sum > 4Area 8: No rule

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 1 (5 | 0), vertical: row 2, column 3 has 5, paired with row 1, column 3 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

5 × 3

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum < 2
A20Sum < 2
A35Sum > 4
A40Sum < 2
A52All equal
A63All equal
A52All equal
A75Sum > 4
A63All equal
A84No rule
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: Sum < 2Area 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: All equalArea 6: All equalArea 7: Sum > 4Area 8: 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 (5 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 5, paired with row 1, column 3 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 3 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 2 = 4, paired with row 5, column 1 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 0, paired with row 3, column 2 = 2.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 3, paired with row 3, column 1 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2Sum < 7
A2Sum < 7
A1All equal
A1All equal
A3All different
A4Sum < 12
A5Sum > 8
A6Sum = 1
A7No rule
A3All different
A4Sum < 12
A5Sum > 8
A4Sum < 12
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum < 7Area 3: All differentArea 4: Sum < 12Area 5: Sum > 8Area 6: Sum = 1Area 7: No rule

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14All equal
A25Sum < 7
A20Sum < 7
A14All equal
A14All equal
A36All different
A45Sum < 12
A56Sum > 8
A61Sum = 1
A72No rule
A32All different
A43Sum < 12
A56Sum > 8
A43Sum < 12
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum < 7Area 3: All differentArea 4: Sum < 12Area 5: Sum > 8Area 6: Sum = 1Area 7: 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 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 4, paired with row 1, column 3 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 2, column 3 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 1, paired with row 3, column 2 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 2, column 2 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 6, paired with row 3, column 5 = 6.
  6. Piece 6 (3 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 3, paired with row 4, column 4 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 5): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 0, paired with row 2, column 4 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 7. 5 + 0 = 5 < 7.
  3. Area 3: All different. 6, 2: every value is different.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 12. 5 + 3 + 3 = 11 < 12.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 8. 6 + 6 = 12 > 8.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  7. Area 7: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

7 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2All equal
A2All equal
A3Sum = 4
A4Sum < 1
A5Sum = 3
A5Sum = 3
A2All equal
A2All equal
A6Sum > 5
A7Sum > 1
A8All equal
A8All equal
A9Sum > 3
A8All equal
A10Sum < 2
A11Sum = 9
A12Sum = 7
A12Sum = 7
A13Sum = 3
A11Sum = 9
A11Sum = 9
A14All equal
A15No rule
A16Sum = 4
A11Sum = 9
A17Sum = 2
A14All equal
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum < 1Area 5: Sum = 3Area 6: Sum > 5Area 7: Sum > 1Area 8: All equalArea 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum < 2Area 11: Sum = 9Area 12: Sum = 7Area 13: Sum = 3Area 14: All equalArea 15: No ruleArea 16: Sum = 4Area 17: Sum = 2

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 5

The two cells in Area 5 must total 3. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 0 + 3; 1 + 2.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 11 (3 | 4), vertical: row 2, column 5 has 3, paired with row 1, column 5 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

7 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A12No rule
A23All equal
A23All equal
A34Sum = 4
A40Sum < 1
A50Sum = 3
A53Sum = 3
A23All equal
A23All equal
A66Sum > 5
A73Sum > 1
A85All equal
A85All equal
A94Sum > 3
A85All equal
A101Sum < 2
A111Sum = 9
A121Sum = 7
A126Sum = 7
A133Sum = 3
A111Sum = 9
A115Sum = 9
A144All equal
A152No rule
A164Sum = 4
A112Sum = 9
A172Sum = 2
A144All equal
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum < 1Area 5: Sum = 3Area 6: Sum > 5Area 7: Sum > 1Area 8: All equalArea 9: Sum > 3Area 10: Sum < 2Area 11: Sum = 9Area 12: Sum = 7Area 13: Sum = 3Area 14: All equalArea 15: No ruleArea 16: Sum = 4Area 17: 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 (6 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 1, column 4 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 2): vertical; row 6, column 1 = 3, paired with row 7, column 1 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 1): vertical; row 5, column 3 = 1, paired with row 6, column 3 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 5, paired with row 4, column 5 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 5): vertical; row 7, column 4 = 2, paired with row 6, column 4 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 1, paired with row 5, column 5 = 6.
  9. Piece 9 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 3 = 3.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 4): vertical; row 6, column 5 = 4, paired with row 7, column 5 = 4.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 3, paired with row 1, column 5 = 4.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 2): horizontal; row 7, column 2 = 4, paired with row 7, column 3 = 2.
  13. Piece 13 (1 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 1 = 1, paired with row 4, column 1 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (2 | 0): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 3. 0 + 3 = 3; target 3.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 1. 3 = 3 > 1.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 5 = 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 9. 1 + 1 + 5 + 2 = 9; target 9.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 7. 1 + 6 = 7; target 7.
  13. Area 13: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  14. Area 14: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  15. Area 15: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  17. Area 17: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.

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