TodayHint

Pips August 13, 2026: Hints & Answers

Constructed by Ian Livengood, Rodolfo Kurchan, Rodolfo Kurchan, edited by Ian Livengood.

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement of 5 dominoes across 6 regions with basic constraints. The medium board involves 7 dominoes and 8 regions with sum and equals constraints. The hard board challenges with 14 dominoes and 16 regions featuring complex constraints.

The three boards that day

The tray and each region's rule — board data, no solutions.

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

5–16–00–03–61–1

  • one cell: under 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: under 2.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • three cells: all matching.

This board is relatively simple due to its small size and straightforward constraints.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions

6–60–31–23–34–42–05–4

  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • three cells: exactly 10.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • two cells: exactly 7.

Medium difficulty due to more complex constraints and domino values.

Hard board · 14 dominoes · 16 regions

6–62–26–01–35–20–31–62–30–04–65–34–26–34–5

  • one cell: more than 3.
  • 3 ×three cells: exactly 15.
  • 3 ×one cell: under 3.
  • two cells: under 3.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 5.
  • three cells: exactly 5.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • one cell: exactly 3.

Hard due to its large size, complex constraints, and many possible domino placements.

Pips hints, one rung at a time

Six rungs, easy board first. The recap above already named the walkthroughs, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the boards fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

  1. How the three boards compared

    Sizes and constraint mixes, counted off the boards.

    Easy board
    5 dominoes, 6 regions (2 empty, 2 equals, 2 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 8 regions (3 empty, 3 sum, 2 equals)
    Hard board
    14 dominoes, 16 regions (8 sum, 4 less, 2 empty, 1 equals, 1 greater)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the most restrictive constraints to limit domino placement options.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Focus on the region that must be empty over 1 cell, as it has the most limited possibilities.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with sum constraints to deduce domino values, then use equals constraints to place remaining dominoes.

    Start with the region that requires a sum of 10 over 3 cells, as it has a limited set of domino combinations.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

    Where the hard board differed in kind, not just size.

    Begin with regions having the most restrictive or unique constraints, such as greater or less over 1 cell.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Focus on a region that requires a value greater than 3 over 1 cell to limit initial domino options.

    Open the full walkthroughs

Every Pips walkthrough from that day

All three walkthroughs, folded: each one places every domino on its board, one after another.

  • Easy board · 5 dominoes

    Easy board walkthrough

    Begin with the 0/0 domino in the empty over 1 cell region. Place 5/1 and 1/1 in the less 2 over 1 cell region. Use 6/0 in the equals over 2 cell region. Place 3/6 in the equals over 3 cell region. The final domino, 0/0, goes in the last empty over 1 cell region.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the 4/4 and 5/4 dominoes in the sum 10 over 2 and 3 cell regions. Use 6/6 in an equals over 2 cell region. Place 3/3 in another equals over 2 cell region. The 1/2 and 2/0 dominoes go in the sum 7 over 2 cell region and an empty over 1 cell region. The 0/3 domino fits in the last empty over 1 cell region.

  • Hard board · 14 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing dominoes in regions with unique constraints like greater 3 over 1 cell and less 3 over 1 and 2 cells. Use sum 15 over 3 cell regions to place high-value dominoes like 6/6 and 5/4. Continue with equals and sum constraints to systematically place remaining dominoes. For example, place 6/0 and 0/0 in empty over 1 cell regions. Use 4/6, 1/6, and 5/3 in regions requiring specific sums or comparisons. The 2/3 and 1/3 dominoes fit in less 3 over 1 cell and equals over 2 cell regions. Finish with 4/5, 4/2, and 6/3 in their respective regions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
26 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 8 regions
Hard board
14 dominoes · 16 regions

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