TodayHint

Pips August 18, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement of 5 dominoes across 6 regions. The medium board adds complexity with 8 dominoes and 11 regions. The hard board challenges with 16 dominoes and 20 regions.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

6–10–21–10–10–0

  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • 2 ×three cells: exactly 1.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 6.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 8 dominoes · 11 regions

4–51–15–50–43–61–36–11–4

  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 5.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: under 2.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 6.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 5.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: all matching.

More regions and dominoes add complexity.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 20 regions

6–10–05–50–65–31–02–64–01–10–56–61–43–02–25–12–0

  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • 3 ×two cells: all matching.
  • 4 ×one cell: more than 1.
  • 2 ×three cells: exactly 11.
  • 2 ×two cells: more than 11.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • three cells: exactly 1.
  • two cells: exactly 11.

Large number of dominoes and regions, complex constraints.

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 (6 sum)
    Medium board
    8 dominoes, 11 regions (4 sum, 2 empty, 2 equals, 2 greater, 1 less)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 20 regions (9 sum, 6 greater, 3 equals, 2 empty)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with unique constraints, then look for dominoes that can only fit in one place.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with a sum of 6 over 1 cell.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with strict constraints like 'empty' or 'equals', then work on sums.

    The region that must be empty.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Begin with regions having unique or strict constraints. Use process of elimination for domino placements.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    A region with a sum of 1 over 1 cell.

    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

    Place 0/0 in the sum 6 region. Place 0/1 and 1/1 in the sum 1 regions. Place 6/1 in the sum 6 region. Place 0/2 in the sum 1 over 3 cells region.

  • Medium board · 8 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place dominoes to satisfy 'empty' and 'equals' regions first. Then, fill in sums and comparisons.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing dominoes in regions with strict constraints. For example, place 0/0 and 1/1 in their respective sum 1 regions. Continue with other strict constraints like equals and greater. Use the process of elimination to place remaining dominoes, ensuring all regions meet their constraints. Focus on one area at a time to keep track of possibilities.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
29 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
8 dominoes · 11 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 20 regions

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