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Past puzzleNovember 12, 2026Three levels

Pips hints: November 12, 2026

Revisit the Pips puzzle from November 12, 2026 (2026-11-12) with hints and answers for every level.

November 12, 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 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A5No rule
A2Sum = 9
A1Sum = 9
A2Sum = 9
A2Sum = 9
A2Sum = 9
A4Sum < 3
A1Sum = 9
A3Sum = 4
A3Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 9Area 2: Sum = 9Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: No rule

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

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 1

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

Piece 1 (0 | 6), horizontal: row 3, column 1 has 0, paired with row 3, column 2 containing 6.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Easy board

3 × 6

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A52No rule
A21Sum = 9
A13Sum = 9
A26Sum = 9
A21Sum = 9
A21Sum = 9
A40Sum < 3
A16Sum = 9
A32Sum = 4
A32Sum = 4
Area 1: Sum = 9Area 2: Sum = 9Area 3: Sum = 4Area 4: Sum < 3Area 5: 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 | 6): horizontal; row 3, column 1 = 0, paired with row 3, column 2 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (2 | 2): horizontal; row 3, column 5 = 2, paired with row 3, column 6 = 2.
  3. Piece 3 (1 | 1): horizontal; row 2, column 4 = 1, paired with row 2, column 5 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 1): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 2, paired with row 1, column 4 = 1.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 6): horizontal; row 2, column 2 = 3, paired with row 2, column 3 = 6.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum = 9. 6 + 3 = 9; target 9.
  2. Area 2: Sum = 9. 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9; target 9.
  3. Area 3: Sum = 4. 2 + 2 = 4; target 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum < 3. 0 = 0 < 3.
  5. Area 5: No rule. This area has no additional rule.

Medium · 7 pieces

Medium board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum < 3
A1Sum < 3
A1Sum < 3
A5Sum = 9
A5Sum = 9
A3All equal
A2All equal
A5Sum = 9
A4Sum = 9
A3All equal
A2All equal
A2All equal
A4Sum = 9
A6Sum > 5
Area 1: Sum < 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 9Area 5: Sum = 9Area 6: Sum > 5

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

Where to look

Area 6 has 1 cell: Sum > 5. Look at row 4, column 4.

A local clue for Area 4

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

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

Show one placement from the recorded answer

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

Show the complete solution and piece list

Medium board

4 × 4

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A10Sum < 3
A10Sum < 3
A10Sum < 3
A51Sum = 9
A53Sum = 9
A34All equal
A26All equal
A55Sum = 9
A44Sum = 9
A34All equal
A26All equal
A26All equal
A45Sum = 9
A66Sum > 5
Area 1: Sum < 3Area 2: All equalArea 3: All equalArea 4: Sum = 9Area 5: Sum = 9Area 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 (1 | 6): vertical; row 2, column 1 = 1, paired with row 3, column 1 = 6.
  2. Piece 2 (5 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 3 = 5, paired with row 4, column 4 = 6.
  3. Piece 3 (0 | 3): vertical; row 1, column 2 = 0, paired with row 2, column 2 = 3.
  4. Piece 4 (0 | 0): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 0, paired with row 1, column 4 = 0.
  5. Piece 5 (4 | 4): vertical; row 2, column 4 = 4, paired with row 3, column 4 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (6 | 6): horizontal; row 4, column 1 = 6, paired with row 4, column 2 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (5 | 4): horizontal; row 3, column 2 = 5, paired with row 3, column 3 = 4.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum < 3. 0 + 0 + 0 = 0 < 3.
  2. Area 2: All equal. 6 = 6 = 6: all cells have the same value.
  3. Area 3: All equal. 4 = 4: all cells have the same value.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 9. 4 + 5 = 9; target 9.
  5. Area 5: Sum = 9. 5 + 3 + 1 = 9; target 9.
  6. Area 6: Sum > 5. 6 = 6 > 5.

Hard · 16 pieces

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A1Sum > 6
A1Sum > 6
A2Sum > 8
A3Sum < 4
A4Sum = 0
A2Sum > 8
A5Sum < 4
A6Sum = 0
A7Sum = 3
A7Sum = 3
A8Sum > 7
A5Sum < 4
A9Sum < 5
A7Sum = 3
A8Sum > 7
A10All equal
A11Sum = 6
A11Sum = 6
A12All equal
A13Sum < 5
A10All equal
A14Sum > 7
A15No rule
A12All equal
A13Sum < 5
A10All equal
A14Sum > 7
A16Sum = 0
A17No rule
A18Sum = 6
A19No rule
A20Sum > 1
Area 1: Sum > 6Area 2: Sum > 8Area 3: Sum < 4Area 4: Sum = 0Area 5: Sum < 4Area 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 3Area 8: Sum > 7Area 9: Sum < 5Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum = 6Area 12: All equalArea 13: Sum < 5Area 14: Sum > 7Area 15: No ruleArea 16: Sum = 0Area 17: No ruleArea 18: Sum = 6Area 19: No ruleArea 20: Sum > 1

Available dominoes: Piece 1: 0-3; Piece 2: 1-1; Piece 3: 4-1; Piece 4: 2-2; Piece 5: 3-4; Piece 6: 5-6; Piece 7: 3-5; Piece 8: 2-3; Piece 9: 1-5; Piece 10: 1-2; Piece 11: 4-0; Piece 12: 3-1; Piece 13: 0-5; Piece 14: 1-6; Piece 15: 2-4; Piece 16: 5-5.

Where to look

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

A local clue for Area 11

The two cells in Area 11 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 1 (0 | 3), horizontal: row 1, column 7 has 0, paired with row 1, column 6 containing 3.

Show the complete solution and piece list

Hard board

9 × 9

Scroll sideways if you cannot see every column.

A13Sum > 6
A14Sum > 6
A25Sum > 8
A33Sum < 4
A40Sum = 0
A26Sum > 8
A51Sum < 4
A60Sum = 0
A71Sum = 3
A71Sum = 3
A85Sum > 7
A52Sum < 4
A94Sum < 5
A71Sum = 3
A83Sum > 7
A102All equal
A114Sum = 6
A112Sum = 6
A125All equal
A131Sum < 5
A102All equal
A143Sum > 7
A155No rule
A125All equal
A133Sum < 5
A102All equal
A145Sum > 7
A160Sum = 0
A171No rule
A186Sum = 6
A191No rule
A204Sum > 1
Area 1: Sum > 6Area 2: Sum > 8Area 3: Sum < 4Area 4: Sum = 0Area 5: Sum < 4Area 6: Sum = 0Area 7: Sum = 3Area 8: Sum > 7Area 9: Sum < 5Area 10: All equalArea 11: Sum = 6Area 12: All equalArea 13: Sum < 5Area 14: Sum > 7Area 15: No ruleArea 16: Sum = 0Area 17: No ruleArea 18: Sum = 6Area 19: No ruleArea 20: 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 (0 | 3): horizontal; row 1, column 7 = 0, paired with row 1, column 6 = 3.
  2. Piece 2 (1 | 1): vertical; row 3, column 7 = 1, paired with row 4, column 7 = 1.
  3. Piece 3 (4 | 1): vertical; row 9, column 4 = 4, paired with row 8, column 4 = 1.
  4. Piece 4 (2 | 2): vertical; row 6, column 7 = 2, paired with row 7, column 7 = 2.
  5. Piece 5 (3 | 4): horizontal; row 1, column 3 = 3, paired with row 1, column 4 = 4.
  6. Piece 6 (5 | 6): vertical; row 1, column 5 = 5, paired with row 2, column 5 = 6.
  7. Piece 7 (3 | 5): vertical; row 6, column 9 = 3, paired with row 7, column 9 = 5.
  8. Piece 8 (2 | 3): vertical; row 5, column 9 = 2, paired with row 4, column 9 = 3.
  9. Piece 9 (1 | 5): horizontal; row 3, column 8 = 1, paired with row 3, column 9 = 5.
  10. Piece 10 (1 | 2): vertical; row 3, column 2 = 1, paired with row 4, column 2 = 2.
  11. Piece 11 (4 | 0): vertical; row 4, column 5 = 4, paired with row 3, column 5 = 0.
  12. Piece 12 (3 | 1): vertical; row 7, column 5 = 3, paired with row 6, column 5 = 1.
  13. Piece 13 (0 | 5): vertical; row 8, column 1 = 0, paired with row 7, column 1 = 5.
  14. Piece 14 (1 | 6): horizontal; row 9, column 2 = 1, paired with row 9, column 1 = 6.
  15. Piece 15 (2 | 4): horizontal; row 5, column 7 = 2, paired with row 5, column 8 = 4.
  16. Piece 16 (5 | 5): vertical; row 6, column 3 = 5, paired with row 7, column 3 = 5.
Why these area rules are satisfied
  1. Area 1: Sum > 6. 3 + 4 = 7 > 6.
  2. Area 2: Sum > 8. 5 + 6 = 11 > 8.
  3. Area 3: Sum < 4. 3 = 3 < 4.
  4. Area 4: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  5. Area 5: Sum < 4. 1 + 2 = 3 < 4.
  6. Area 6: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  7. Area 7: Sum = 3. 1 + 1 + 1 = 3; target 3.
  8. Area 8: Sum > 7. 5 + 3 = 8 > 7.
  9. Area 9: Sum < 5. 4 = 4 < 5.
  10. Area 10: All equal. 2 = 2 = 2: all cells have the same value.
  11. Area 11: Sum = 6. 4 + 2 = 6; target 6.
  12. Area 12: All equal. 5 = 5: all cells have the same value.
  13. Area 13: Sum < 5. 1 + 3 = 4 < 5.
  14. Area 14: Sum > 7. 3 + 5 = 8 > 7.
  15. Area 15: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  16. Area 16: Sum = 0. 0 = 0; target 0.
  17. Area 17: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  18. Area 18: Sum = 6. 6 = 6; target 6.
  19. Area 19: No rule. This area has no additional rule.
  20. Area 20: Sum > 1. 4 = 4 > 1.

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