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Past puzzleSeptember 30, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: September 30, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from September 30, 2026 (2026-09-30) with hints and answers for every level.

September 30, 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 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 1
A2No rule
A3All equal
A4Sum = 1
A4Sum = 1
A5Sum = 10
A3All equal
A3All equal
A6No rule
A5Sum = 10
Area 1: Sum = 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 1Area 5: Sum = 10Area 6: No rule

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 4

The two cells in Area 4 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 2 (1 | 3), horizontal: row 1, column 4 has 1, paired with row 1, column 5 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11Sum = 1
A23No rule
A36All equal
A40Sum = 1
A41Sum = 1
A55Sum = 10
A36All equal
A36All equal
A64No rule
A55Sum = 10
Area 1: Sum = 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 1Area 5: Sum = 10Area 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 (6 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 1, paired with row 1, column 5 = 3.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 5, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 5 = 5, paired with row 2, column 4 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 6, paired with row 3, column 2 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 1. 0 + 1 = 1; target 1.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 10. 5 + 5 = 10; target 10.
  6. Area 6: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 11
A2Sum < 2
A3All different
A4Sum < 8
A1Sum = 11
A3All different
A3All different
A4Sum < 8
A4Sum < 8
A1Sum = 11
A5Sum = 2
A6All equal
A6All equal
A6All equal
Area 1: Sum = 11Area 2: Sum < 2Area 3: All differentArea 4: Sum < 8Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: All equal

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

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A15Sum = 11
A21Sum < 2
A36All different
A44Sum < 8
A13Sum = 11
A34All different
A35All different
A42Sum < 8
A41Sum < 8
A13Sum = 11
A52Sum = 2
A62All equal
A62All equal
A62All equal
Area 1: Sum = 11Area 2: Sum < 2Area 3: All differentArea 4: Sum < 8Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: 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 | 4): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 1, paired with row 2, column 2 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 2, paired with row 2, column 3 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 3 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 5, paired with row 2, column 1 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 6, paired with row 1, column 4 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 3, column 1 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 2, paired with row 2, column 5 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 11. 5 + 3 + 3 = 11; target 11.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  3. Area 3: All different. 6, 4, 5: every value is different.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 8. 4 + 2 + 1 = 7 < 8.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

6 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All equal
A2Sum = 6
A2Sum = 6
A3Sum = 3
A3Sum = 3
A3Sum = 3
A1All equal
A1All equal
A4Sum = 2
A5Sum = 22
A5Sum = 22
A6Sum = 9
A6Sum = 9
A4Sum = 2
A5Sum = 22
A5Sum = 22
A7Sum = 9
A8Sum < 1
A9Sum > 4
A10All equal
A7Sum = 9
A11Sum > 4
A10All equal
A10All equal
A12No rule
A13No rule
A14All different
A14All different
A15Sum = 2
A10All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 6Area 3: Sum = 3Area 4: Sum = 2Area 5: Sum = 22Area 6: Sum = 9Area 7: Sum = 9Area 8: Sum < 1Area 9: Sum > 4Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum > 4Area 12: No ruleArea 13: No ruleArea 14: All differentArea 15: Sum = 2

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

Where to look

Area 8 has 1 cell: Sum < 1. Look at row 4, column 2.

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 6 (4 | 0), horizontal: row 4, column 1 has 4, paired with row 4, column 2 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

6 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A14All equal
A22Sum = 6
A24Sum = 6
A33Sum = 3
A30Sum = 3
A30Sum = 3
A14All equal
A14All equal
A41Sum = 2
A54Sum = 22
A56Sum = 22
A64Sum = 9
A65Sum = 9
A41Sum = 2
A56Sum = 22
A56Sum = 22
A74Sum = 9
A80Sum < 1
A95Sum > 4
A102All equal
A75Sum = 9
A115Sum > 4
A102All equal
A102All equal
A124No rule
A133No rule
A141All different
A143All different
A152Sum = 2
A102All equal
Area 1: All equalArea 2: Sum = 6Area 3: Sum = 3Area 4: Sum = 2Area 5: Sum = 22Area 6: Sum = 9Area 7: Sum = 9Area 8: Sum < 1Area 9: Sum > 4Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum > 4Area 12: No ruleArea 13: No ruleArea 14: All differentArea 15: 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): horizontal; row 1, column 5 = 0, paired with row 1, column 6 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 4, paired with row 2, column 3 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 2): horizontal; row 6, column 4 = 3, paired with row 6, column 5 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 6 = 2, paired with row 3, column 6 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 5): vertical; row 6, column 1 = 4, paired with row 5, column 1 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 0): horizontal; row 4, column 1 = 4, paired with row 4, column 2 = 0.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 3 = 1, paired with row 3, column 2 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 2, paired with row 1, column 1 = 4.
  9. Piece 9 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 4 = 3, paired with row 1, column 3 = 4.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 5 = 4, paired with row 2, column 6 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 1): horizontal; row 6, column 2 = 3, paired with row 6, column 3 = 1.
  12. Piece 12 (2 | 2): vertical; row 5, column 6 = 2, paired with row 6, column 6 = 2.
  13. Piece 13 (2 | 5): horizontal; row 5, column 5 = 2, paired with row 5, column 4 = 5.
  14. Piece 14 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 4, paired with row 3, column 1 = 4.
  15. Piece 15 (5 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 5 = 5, paired with row 3, column 5 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 6. 2 + 4 = 6; target 6.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 3. 3 + 0 + 0 = 3; target 3.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 22. 4 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 22; target 22.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  8. Area 8: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  10. Area 10: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  11. Area 11: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  12. Area 12: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  13. Area 13: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  14. Area 14: All different. 1, 3: every value is different.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.

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