TodayHint

Pips August 28, 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. The medium board involves 7 dominoes and 9 regions with various constraints. The hard board features 13 dominoes and 15 regions, making it the most challenging.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

0–03–20–52–01–1

  • four cells: under 1.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • one cell: more than 2.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 2.

This board is relatively simple due to the small number of dominoes and straightforward constraints.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

1–30–43–36–43–56–15–4

  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 5.
  • one cell: more than 5.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • two cells: exactly 11.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • one cell: under 6.

This board has more complex constraints and dominoes, making it moderately challenging.

Hard board · 13 dominoes · 15 regions

3–56–10–24–10–63–15–24–01–20–05–61–05–0

  • two cells: exactly 0.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • two cells: more than 10.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 7.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • two cells: exactly 11.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • four cells: under 2.

This board is the most challenging due to the large number of dominoes and 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 (3 sum, 1 empty, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 less, 3 sum, 2 equals, 1 greater)
    Hard board
    13 dominoes, 15 regions (12 sum, 1 equals, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible domino placements, focusing on those with specific values.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with the empty constraint over 1 cell is a good starting point.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Begin by identifying regions with equality constraints, as these can help anchor the rest of the board.

    The region with the equals constraint over 2 cells is a good starting point.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Start by identifying regions with zero or single value constraints, as these provide the most information.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with the sum 0 over 2 cells is a good starting point.

    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 the 0/0 domino in the empty region. Then, use the sum 2 over 1 cell constraint to place the 1/1 domino. Next, focus on the greater 2 over 1 cell region, which can help place the 2/0 domino. The 0/5 domino can be placed in the region with the sum 2 over 2 cells. Finally, place the 3/2 domino in the remaining region.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the dominoes with matching values in the equals regions. Use the sum and less constraints to narrow down placements for the remaining dominoes. Focus on regions with specific values, like the sum 11 over 2 cells. The 6/4 and 5/4 dominoes can be placed using the greater and less constraints. Continue this process to fill the board.

  • Hard board · 13 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Begin by placing dominoes with 0 values in the sum 0 regions. Use the sum 1 over 1 cell and sum 10 over 2 cells constraints to place nearby dominoes. Continue filling in the board by focusing on regions with specific sums and using the process of elimination. The equals constraint over 2 cells can help anchor certain dominoes. As the board fills, use the greater and less constraints to finalize placements.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Friday, August 28, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
25 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
13 dominoes · 15 regions

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