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Past puzzleNovember 5, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: November 5, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from November 5, 2026 (2026-11-05) with hints and answers for every level.

November 5, 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.

A2Sum = 11
A2Sum = 11
A4Sum < 2
A3Sum = 14
A3Sum = 14
A3Sum = 14
A3Sum = 14
A1Sum = 11
A1Sum = 11
A5Sum < 3
Area 1: Sum = 11Area 2: Sum = 11Area 3: Sum = 14Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: Sum < 3

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

The two cells in Area 1 must total 11. Using values from 0 to 6, the possible pairs are 5 + 6.

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

5 × 3

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A26Sum = 11
A25Sum = 11
A41Sum < 2
A30Sum = 14
A34Sum = 14
A34Sum = 14
A36Sum = 14
A16Sum = 11
A15Sum = 11
A52Sum < 3
Area 1: Sum = 11Area 2: Sum = 11Area 3: Sum = 14Area 4: Sum < 2Area 5: Sum < 3

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): vertical; row 1, column 1 = 6, paired with row 2, column 1 = 0.
  2. Piece 2 (6 | 6): vertical; row 4, column 1 = 6, paired with row 5, column 1 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 2): horizontal; row 5, column 2 = 5, paired with row 5, column 3 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (4 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 4, paired with row 3, column 2 = 4.
  5. Piece 5 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 5, paired with row 1, column 3 = 1.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 11. 6 + 5 = 11; target 11.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 14. 0 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 14; target 14.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 5

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A1Sum > 0
A2Sum = 6
A3All equal
A4Sum > 4
A4Sum > 4
A2Sum = 6
A3All equal
A5Sum = 2
A6All different
A6All different
A7Sum = 1
A8Sum = 8
A8Sum = 8
A8Sum = 8
Area 1: Sum > 0Area 2: Sum = 6Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum > 4Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: All differentArea 7: Sum = 1Area 8: Sum = 8

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

Where to look

Area 1 has 1 cell: Sum > 0. Look at row 1, 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 5 (1 | 2), horizontal: row 1, column 2 has 1, paired with row 1, column 3 containing 2.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 5

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A11Sum > 0
A22Sum = 6
A33All equal
A45Sum > 4
A43Sum > 4
A24Sum = 6
A33All equal
A52Sum = 2
A60All different
A65All different
A71Sum = 1
A83Sum = 8
A81Sum = 8
A84Sum = 8
Area 1: Sum > 0Area 2: Sum = 6Area 3: All equalArea 4: Sum > 4Area 5: Sum = 2Area 6: All differentArea 7: Sum = 1Area 8: Sum = 8

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): horizontal; row 2, column 1 = 5, paired with row 2, column 2 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 0): vertical; row 2, column 3 = 4, paired with row 3, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (5 | 1): horizontal; row 3, column 4 = 5, paired with row 3, column 5 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 3): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 2, paired with row 4, column 2 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (1 | 2): horizontal; row 1, column 2 = 1, paired with row 1, column 3 = 2.
  6. Piece 6 (4 | 1): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 4, paired with row 4, column 3 = 1.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 4 = 3, paired with row 2, column 4 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 0. 1 = 1 > 0.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 6. 2 + 4 = 6; target 6.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum > 4. 5 + 3 = 8 > 4.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  6. Area 6: All different. 0, 5: every value is different.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 1. 1 = 1; target 1.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 8. 3 + 1 + 4 = 8; target 8.

Hard · 15 pieces

Hard board

7 × 9

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A1Sum > 4
A2Sum > 17
A16No rule
A3Sum = 2
A3Sum = 2
A2Sum > 17
A2Sum > 17
A15No rule
A4Sum = 5
A4Sum = 5
A5Sum = 16
A6All different
A6All different
A14No rule
A7All equal
A7All equal
A8Sum = 3
A5Sum = 16
A5Sum = 16
A6All different
A9Sum < 3
A7All equal
A7All equal
A8Sum = 3
A10Sum = 10
A11Sum < 2
A10Sum = 10
A10Sum = 10
A12Sum = 2
A13Sum > 3
Area 1: Sum > 4Area 2: Sum > 17Area 3: Sum = 2Area 4: Sum = 5Area 5: Sum = 16Area 6: All differentArea 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 3Area 9: Sum < 3Area 10: Sum = 10Area 11: Sum < 2Area 12: Sum = 2Area 13: Sum > 3Area 14: No ruleArea 15: No ruleArea 16: No rule

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

Where to look

Area 1 has 1 cell: Sum > 4. Look at row 1, column 7.

A local clue for Area 3

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 12 (4 | 5), vertical: row 2, column 7 has 4, paired with row 1, column 7 containing 5.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

7 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A15Sum > 4
A26Sum > 17
A164No rule
A31Sum = 2
A31Sum = 2
A26Sum > 17
A26Sum > 17
A154No rule
A45Sum = 5
A40Sum = 5
A54Sum = 16
A65All different
A64All different
A145No rule
A73All equal
A73All equal
A81Sum = 3
A56Sum = 16
A56Sum = 16
A60All different
A92Sum < 3
A73All equal
A73All equal
A82Sum = 3
A103Sum = 10
A111Sum < 2
A103Sum = 10
A104Sum = 10
A122Sum = 2
A136Sum > 3
Area 1: Sum > 4Area 2: Sum > 17Area 3: Sum = 2Area 4: Sum = 5Area 5: Sum = 16Area 6: All differentArea 7: All equalArea 8: Sum = 3Area 9: Sum < 3Area 10: Sum = 10Area 11: Sum < 2Area 12: Sum = 2Area 13: Sum > 3Area 14: No ruleArea 15: No ruleArea 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 (2 | 1): vertical; row 5, column 7 = 2, paired with row 6, column 7 = 1.
  2. Piece 2 (4 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 3 = 4, paired with row 5, column 3 = 0.
  3. Piece 3 (6 | 2): horizontal; row 7, column 8 = 6, paired with row 7, column 7 = 2.
  4. Piece 4 (5 | 3): horizontal; row 4, column 4 = 5, paired with row 4, column 5 = 3.
  5. Piece 5 (6 | 4): vertical; row 5, column 1 = 6, paired with row 4, column 1 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (6 | 5): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 6, paired with row 4, column 2 = 5.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 6): vertical; row 6, column 2 = 3, paired with row 5, column 2 = 6.
  8. Piece 8 (3 | 3): vertical; row 4, column 6 = 3, paired with row 5, column 6 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (0 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 9 = 0, paired with row 3, column 8 = 5.
  10. Piece 10 (1 | 4): vertical; row 4, column 7 = 1, paired with row 3, column 7 = 4.
  11. Piece 11 (6 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 6, paired with row 3, column 1 = 6.
  12. Piece 12 (4 | 5): vertical; row 2, column 7 = 4, paired with row 1, column 7 = 5.
  13. Piece 13 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 7, column 2 = 3, paired with row 7, column 3 = 4.
  14. Piece 14 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 8 = 1, paired with row 2, column 9 = 1.
  15. Piece 15 (2 | 3): horizontal; row 5, column 4 = 2, paired with row 5, column 5 = 3.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 4. 5 = 5 > 4.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 17. 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 > 17.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 2. 1 + 1 = 2; target 2.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 5. 5 + 0 = 5; target 5.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 16. 4 + 6 + 6 = 16; target 16.
  6. Area 6: All different. 5, 4, 0: every value is different.
  7. Area 7: All equal. 3 = 3 = 3 = 3: all cells have the same value.
  8. Area 8: Sum = 3. 1 + 2 = 3; target 3.
  9. Area 9: Sum < 3. 2 = 2 < 3.
  10. Area 10: Sum = 10. 3 + 3 + 4 = 10; target 10.
  11. Area 11: Sum < 2. 1 = 1 < 2.
  12. Area 12: Sum = 2. 2 = 2; target 2.
  13. Area 13: Sum > 3. 6 = 6 > 3.
  14. Area 14: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  15. Area 15: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  16. Area 16: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

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