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Past puzzleOctober 31, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: October 31, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from October 31, 2026 (2026-10-31) with hints and answers for every level.

October 31, 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

2 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A3Sum = 2
A2All equal
A2All equal
A5Sum > 5
A5Sum > 5
A1Sum = 12
A1Sum = 12
A2All equal
A4Sum < 3
A6Sum > 5
Area 1: Sum = 12Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 2Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: Sum > 5Area 6: Sum > 5

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 must total 12. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 6 + 6.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

2 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A32Sum = 2
A23All equal
A23All equal
A55Sum > 5
A51Sum > 5
A16Sum = 12
A16Sum = 12
A23All equal
A42Sum < 3
A66Sum > 5
Area 1: Sum = 12Area 2: All equalArea 3: Sum = 2Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: Sum > 5Area 6: 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 (2 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 1 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (3 | 2): horizontal; row 2, column 3 = 3, paired with row 2, column 4 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (3 | 5): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 1, column 4 = 5.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 5 = 1, paired with row 2, column 5 = 6.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 3, paired with row 2, column 2 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 12. 6 + 6 = 12; target 12.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  5. Area 5: Sum > 5. 1 + 5 = 6 > 5.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1All different
A2Sum > 3
A1All different
A1All different
A2Sum > 3
A3All equal
A3All equal
A4Sum > 4
A5Sum = 5
A5Sum = 5
A6Sum = 6
A3All equal
A7Sum > 5
A7Sum > 5
Area 1: All differentArea 2: Sum > 3Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum > 4Area 5: Sum = 5Area 6: Sum = 6Area 7: Sum > 5

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

Where to look

Area 4 has 1 cell: Sum > 4. Look at row 2, column 6.

A local clue for Area 5

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 3 (5 | 4), vertical: row 2, column 6 has 5, paired with row 3, column 6 containing 4.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13All different
A24Sum > 3
A11All different
A10All different
A20Sum > 3
A32All equal
A32All equal
A45Sum > 4
A52Sum = 5
A53Sum = 5
A66Sum = 6
A32All equal
A72Sum > 5
A74Sum > 5
Area 1: All differentArea 2: Sum > 3Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum > 4Area 5: Sum = 5Area 6: Sum = 6Area 7: 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 (2 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 2, paired with row 3, column 3 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 2, paired with row 2, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 6 = 5, paired with row 3, column 6 = 4.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 3): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 2, paired with row 3, column 2 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 0): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 1, paired with row 2, column 2 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 4, paired with row 1, column 2 = 3.
  7. Piece 7 (2 | 2): vertical; row 2, column 5 = 2, paired with row 3, column 5 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: All different. 3, 1, 0: every value is different.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 3. 4 + 0 = 4 > 3.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  7. Area 7: Sum > 5. 2 + 4 = 6 > 5.

Hard · 14 pieces

Hard board

8 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum = 3
A2Sum = 5
A2Sum = 5
A1Sum = 3
A3No rule
A4Sum = 0
A5All different
A6Sum = 3
A4Sum = 0
A7Sum = 3
A8All equal
A8All equal
A9Sum > 8
A5All different
A10Sum > 4
A11Sum = 7
A8All equal
A12Sum = 1
A9Sum > 8
A13No rule
A11Sum = 7
A8All equal
A14All equal
A14All equal
A15Sum = 3
A15Sum = 3
A16No rule
A15Sum = 3
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: No ruleArea 4: Sum = 0Area 5: All differentArea 6: Sum = 3Area 7: Sum = 3Area 8: All equalArea 9: Sum > 8Area 10: Sum > 4Area 11: Sum = 7Area 12: Sum = 1Area 13: No ruleArea 14: All equalArea 15: Sum = 3Area 16: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 6 has 1 cell: Sum = 3. Look at row 4, column 2.

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 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 9 (3 | 6), vertical: row 4, column 2 has 3, paired with row 3, column 2 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

8 × 8

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11Sum = 3
A22Sum = 5
A23Sum = 5
A12Sum = 3
A36No rule
A40Sum = 0
A56All different
A63Sum = 3
A40Sum = 0
A73Sum = 3
A84All equal
A84All equal
A94Sum > 8
A54All different
A105Sum > 4
A112Sum = 7
A84All equal
A121Sum = 1
A95Sum > 8
A135No rule
A115Sum = 7
A84All equal
A142All equal
A142All equal
A152Sum = 3
A150Sum = 3
A163No rule
A151Sum = 3
Area 1: Sum = 3Area 2: Sum = 5Area 3: No ruleArea 4: Sum = 0Area 5: All differentArea 6: Sum = 3Area 7: Sum = 3Area 8: All equalArea 9: Sum > 8Area 10: Sum > 4Area 11: Sum = 7Area 12: Sum = 1Area 13: No ruleArea 14: All equalArea 15: Sum = 3Area 16: 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 | 5): horizontal; row 5, column 7 = 5, paired with row 5, column 8 = 5.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 6 = 4, paired with row 4, column 7 = 4.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 3 = 5, paired with row 5, column 4 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (1 | 4): horizontal; row 5, column 6 = 1, paired with row 5, column 5 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (2 | 0): horizontal; row 7, column 5 = 2, paired with row 7, column 6 = 0.
  6. Piece 6 (0 | 0): vertical; row 3, column 3 = 0, paired with row 4, column 3 = 0.
  7. Piece 7 (1 | 3): horizontal; row 8, column 5 = 1, paired with row 8, column 4 = 3.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 3): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 2, paired with row 2, column 2 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (3 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 2 = 3, paired with row 3, column 2 = 6.
  10. Piece 10 (4 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 8 = 4, paired with row 3, column 8 = 6.
  11. Piece 11 (1 | 2): vertical; row 1, column 3 = 1, paired with row 2, column 3 = 2.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 5): horizontal; row 6, column 5 = 4, paired with row 6, column 4 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 3, paired with row 4, column 5 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 6, column 6 = 2, paired with row 6, column 7 = 2.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 3. 1 + 2 = 3; target 3.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 5. 2 + 3 = 5; target 5.
  3. Area 3: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 0. 0 + 0 = 0; target 0.
  5. Area 5: All different. 6, 4: every value is different.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 3. 3 = 3; target 3.
  8. Area 8: All equal. 4 = 4 = 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  9. Area 9: Sum > 8. 4 + 5 = 9 > 8.
  10. Area 10: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 7. 2 + 5 = 7; target 7.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  13. Area 13: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  14. Area 14: All equal. 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  15. Area 15: Sum = 3. 2 + 0 + 1 = 3; target 3.
  16. Area 16: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

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