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Past puzzleOctober 27, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: October 27, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from October 27, 2026 (2026-10-27) with hints and answers for every level.

October 27, 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 < 2
A2No rule
A3No rule
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5All equal
A5All equal
A6Sum = 2
A7Sum > 2
A8Sum = 2
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: No ruleArea 3: No ruleArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 2Area 7: Sum > 2Area 8: Sum = 2

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum < 2
A24No rule
A36No rule
A41All equal
A41All equal
A53All equal
A53All equal
A62Sum = 2
A75Sum > 2
A82Sum = 2
Area 1: Sum < 2Area 2: No ruleArea 3: No ruleArea 4: All equalArea 5: All equalArea 6: Sum = 2Area 7: Sum > 2Area 8: 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 (1 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 2 = 1, paired with row 1, column 2 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 5, paired with row 2, column 3 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (2 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 5 = 2, paired with row 2, column 5 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 4, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 6): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 2. 0 = 0 < 2.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 2. 5 = 5 > 2.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 4
A2Sum > 7
A1Sum < 4
A1Sum < 4
A3Sum < 1
A2Sum > 7
A4No rule
A5No rule
A6Sum < 3
A7Sum = 4
A8No rule
A9Sum = 7
A10Sum > 2
A9Sum = 7
Area 1: Sum < 4Area 2: Sum > 7Area 3: Sum < 1Area 4: No ruleArea 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum < 3Area 7: Sum = 4Area 8: No ruleArea 9: Sum = 7Area 10: Sum > 2

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 9

The two cells in Area 9 must total 7. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 1 + 6; 2 + 5; 3 + 4.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 1 (2 | 0), vertical: row 3, column 4 has 2, paired with row 2, column 4 containing 0.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum < 4
A22Sum > 7
A13Sum < 4
A10Sum < 4
A30Sum < 1
A26Sum > 7
A44No rule
A56No rule
A62Sum < 3
A74Sum = 4
A82No rule
A91Sum = 7
A103Sum > 2
A96Sum = 7
Area 1: Sum < 4Area 2: Sum > 7Area 3: Sum < 1Area 4: No ruleArea 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum < 3Area 7: Sum = 4Area 8: No ruleArea 9: Sum = 7Area 10: 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 (2 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 4 = 2, paired with row 2, column 4 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 4 = 1, paired with row 5, column 4 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 4): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 4, paired with row 4, column 2 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 3): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 2, paired with row 5, column 3 = 3.
  6. Piece 6 (2 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 2, paired with row 3, column 1 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (6 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 4. 0 + 3 + 0 = 3 < 4.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 7. 2 + 6 = 8 > 7.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.
  4. Area 4: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 4. 4 = 4; target 4.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 7. 1 + 6 = 7; target 7.
  10. Area 10: Sum > 2. 3 = 3 > 2.

Hard · 13 pieces

Hard board

10 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 6
A12All equal
A12All equal
A12All equal
A12All equal
A3Sum > 3
A2Sum = 15
A2Sum = 15
A2Sum = 15
A4All equal
A4All equal
A5Sum = 7
A5Sum = 7
A6All different
A2Sum = 15
A4All equal
A7Sum = 4
A7Sum = 4
A6All different
A8Sum > 4
A7Sum = 4
A6All different
A9Sum < 4
A10Sum < 2
A11Sum = 5
A10Sum < 2
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: Sum = 15Area 3: Sum > 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 7Area 6: All differentArea 7: Sum = 4Area 8: Sum > 4Area 9: Sum < 4Area 10: Sum < 2Area 11: Sum = 5Area 12: All equal

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 5

The two cells in Area 5 must total 7. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 1 + 6; 2 + 5; 3 + 4.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 13 (6 | 1), vertical: row 1, column 3 has 6, paired with row 2, column 3 containing 1.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

10 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16Sum = 6
A121All equal
A121All equal
A121All equal
A121All equal
A34Sum > 3
A22Sum = 15
A26Sum = 15
A22Sum = 15
A44All equal
A44All equal
A54Sum = 7
A53Sum = 7
A60All different
A25Sum = 15
A44All equal
A70Sum = 4
A71Sum = 4
A61All different
A85Sum > 4
A73Sum = 4
A62All different
A93Sum < 4
A100Sum < 2
A115Sum = 5
A101Sum < 2
Area 1: Sum = 6Area 2: Sum = 15Area 3: Sum > 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: Sum = 7Area 6: All differentArea 7: Sum = 4Area 8: Sum > 4Area 9: Sum < 4Area 10: Sum < 2Area 11: Sum = 5Area 12: 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 (5 | 3): vertical; row 10, column 3 = 5, paired with row 9, column 3 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 2): vertical; row 7, column 8 = 1, paired with row 8, column 8 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 6, column 8 = 0, paired with row 6, column 7 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 2, paired with row 5, column 3 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 5): vertical; row 7, column 3 = 5, paired with row 8, column 3 = 5.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 6, column 5 = 4, paired with row 6, column 6 = 4.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 6, column 3 = 2, paired with row 6, column 4 = 4.
  8. Piece 8 (4 | 0): horizontal; row 7, column 4 = 4, paired with row 7, column 5 = 0.
  9. Piece 9 (1 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 6 = 1, paired with row 8, column 6 = 3.
  10. Piece 10 (0 | 1): vertical; row 9, column 6 = 0, paired with row 10, column 6 = 1.
  11. Piece 11 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 2 = 1.
  12. Piece 12 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 1, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
  13. Piece 13 (6 | 1): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 6, paired with row 2, column 3 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 15. 2 + 6 + 2 + 5 = 15; target 15.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 3. 4 = 4 > 3.
  4. Area 4: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 7. 4 + 3 = 7; target 7.
  6. Area 6: All different. 0, 1, 2: every value is different.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 4. 0 + 1 + 3 = 4; target 4.
  8. Area 8: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  9. Area 9: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  10. Area 10: Sum < 2. 0 + 1 = 1 < 2.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 5. 5 = 5; target 5.
  12. Area 12: All equal. 1 = 1 = 1 = 1: all cells have the same value.

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