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Past puzzleOctober 29, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: October 29, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from October 29, 2026 (2026-10-29) with hints and answers for every level.

October 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

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 1
A2No rule
A3Sum > 4
A4Sum < 3
A5No rule
A6Sum < 1
A7Sum = 10
A7Sum = 10
A8No rule
A9Sum > 5
Area 1: Sum < 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum < 1Area 7: Sum = 10Area 8: No ruleArea 9: Sum > 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 7

The two cells in Area 7 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 2 (0 | 5), horizontal: row 1, column 2 has 0, paired with row 1, column 3 containing 5.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum < 1
A25No rule
A35Sum > 4
A41Sum < 3
A54No rule
A60Sum < 1
A74Sum = 10
A76Sum = 10
A83No rule
A96Sum > 5
Area 1: Sum < 1Area 2: No ruleArea 3: Sum > 4Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: No ruleArea 6: Sum < 1Area 7: Sum = 10Area 8: No ruleArea 9: Sum > 5

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 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 0, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
  2. Piece 2 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 0, paired with row 1, column 3 = 5.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 4, paired with row 2, column 1 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 2 = 3, paired with row 4, column 3 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 1, paired with row 3, column 4 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.
  2. Area 2: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  3. Area 3: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 3. 1 = 1 < 3.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  6. Area 6: Sum < 1. 0 = 0 < 1.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 10. 4 + 6 = 10; target 10.
  8. Area 8: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

5 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1No rule
A2Sum = 3
A3Sum > 3
A4All equal
A5No rule
A2Sum = 3
A4All equal
A4All equal
A6No rule
A2Sum = 3
A7Sum < 5
A4All equal
A8Sum < 1
A7Sum < 5
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: Sum = 3Area 3: Sum > 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: No ruleArea 7: Sum < 5Area 8: Sum < 1

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

Where to look

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 7 (6 | 4), vertical: row 3, column 2 has 6, paired with row 2, column 2 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

5 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A16No rule
A21Sum = 3
A34Sum > 3
A46All equal
A53No rule
A20Sum = 3
A46All equal
A46All equal
A65No rule
A22Sum = 3
A72Sum < 5
A46All equal
A80Sum < 1
A71Sum < 5
Area 1: No ruleArea 2: Sum = 3Area 3: Sum > 3Area 4: All equalArea 5: No ruleArea 6: No ruleArea 7: Sum < 5Area 8: Sum < 1

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

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 8
A1Sum = 8
A2Sum < 3
A1Sum = 8
A1Sum = 8
A3Sum = 6
A4Sum > 5
A5Sum > 7
A5Sum > 7
A6All equal
A7Sum > 1
A4Sum > 5
A8All different
A9Sum = 7
A6All equal
A8All different
A9Sum = 7
A10All equal
A6All equal
A6All equal
A8All different
A11Sum = 2
A10All equal
A10All equal
A12Sum = 3
A12Sum = 3
A13No rule
A14No rule
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum < 3Area 3: Sum = 6Area 4: Sum > 5Area 5: Sum > 7Area 6: All equalArea 7: Sum > 1Area 8: All differentArea 9: Sum = 7Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum = 2Area 12: Sum = 3Area 13: No ruleArea 14: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 2 has 1 cell: Sum < 3. Look at row 2, column 6.

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 12 (2 | 4), horizontal: row 2, column 6 has 2, paired with row 2, column 7 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum = 8
A14Sum = 8
A22Sum < 3
A14Sum = 8
A10Sum = 8
A36Sum = 6
A41Sum > 5
A53Sum > 7
A55Sum > 7
A66All equal
A72Sum > 1
A45Sum > 5
A81All different
A93Sum = 7
A66All equal
A85All different
A94Sum = 7
A103All equal
A66All equal
A66All equal
A80All different
A112Sum = 2
A103All equal
A103All equal
A120Sum = 3
A123Sum = 3
A130No rule
A141No rule
Area 1: Sum = 8Area 2: Sum < 3Area 3: Sum = 6Area 4: Sum > 5Area 5: Sum > 7Area 6: All equalArea 7: Sum > 1Area 8: All differentArea 9: Sum = 7Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum = 2Area 12: Sum = 3Area 13: No ruleArea 14: 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 (0 | 3): vertical; row 7, column 4 = 0, paired with row 8, column 4 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 9 = 6, paired with row 2, column 8 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 2): horizontal; row 6, column 5 = 3, paired with row 6, column 4 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 4, paired with row 5, column 5 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 7 = 6, paired with row 5, column 7 = 6.
  6. Piece 6 (0 | 1): horizontal; row 9, column 4 = 0, paired with row 9, column 5 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (0 | 5): vertical; row 6, column 3 = 0, paired with row 5, column 3 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (1 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 1 = 1, paired with row 4, column 1 = 5.
  9. Piece 9 (2 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 8 = 2, paired with row 3, column 7 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (3 | 6): vertical; row 6, column 6 = 3, paired with row 5, column 6 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 3, paired with row 3, column 3 = 5.
  12. Piece 12 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 2, column 6 = 2, paired with row 2, column 7 = 4.
  13. Piece 13 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 1, paired with row 4, column 4 = 3.
  14. Piece 14 (4 | 0): horizontal; row 1, column 8 = 4, paired with row 1, column 7 = 0.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 8. 0 + 4 + 4 + 0 = 8; target 8.
  2. Area 2: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 5. 1 + 5 = 6 > 5.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 7. 3 + 5 = 8 > 7.
  6. Area 6: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 1. 2 = 2 > 1.
  8. Area 8: All different. 1, 5, 0: every value is different.
  9. Area 9: Sum = 7. 3 + 4 = 7; target 7.
  10. Area 10: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 3. 0 + 3 = 3; target 3.
  13. Area 13: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  14. Area 14: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

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