TodayHint

Pips August 30, 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 5 regions. The medium board involves 8 dominoes and 10 regions with a mix of constraints. The hard board features 14 dominoes and 16 regions, demanding careful consideration of multiple constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

6–21–26–63–45–1

  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 9.
  • two cells: exactly 12.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 8 dominoes · 10 regions

1–01–20–31–45–46–14–22–0

  • one cell: more than 2.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • two cells: more than 9.
  • one cell: under 2.

More regions and dominoes increase the complexity.

Hard board · 14 dominoes · 16 regions

1–23–02–45–56–34–42–24–51–40–05–61–04–36–2

  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 6.
  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 6.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • four cells: exactly 0.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • 4 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • one cell: under 2.

Large number of dominoes and regions, combined with varied constraints, makes it challenging.

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, 5 regions (3 sum, 2 equals)
    Medium board
    8 dominoes, 10 regions (3 equals, 2 empty, 2 greater, 2 sum, 1 less)
    Hard board
    14 dominoes, 16 regions (8 sum, 5 equals, 2 less, 1 greater)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with limited possibilities, such as those with sum constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    A region with a sum constraint over 2 cells.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with strict constraints like equals and sum to anchor the dominoes.

    A region with an equals constraint over 2 cells.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Look for regions with the most restrictive constraints to start with.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    A region with a sum constraint over 2 cells.

    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 6/2 and 1/2 in the equals over 2 cells region. Then, place 6/6. The sum 9 over 2 cells region can be filled with 3/4 and 5/1, and 6/2 and 6/6 are already placed.

  • Medium board · 8 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin with the equals over 2 cells region. Place 1/2 and 1/0 in the greater 2 over 1 cell and equals over 2 cells regions. Continue with sum and equals constraints.

  • Hard board · 14 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing 0/0 in the sum 0 over 4 cells region. Then, fill in the sum 4 over 2 cells and sum 6 over 2 cells regions. Continue with the equals and sum constraints, using the process of elimination to place the remaining dominoes. For example, place 1/2, 3/0, and 2/4 in their respective regions, and proceed with the rest.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
27 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
8 dominoes · 10 regions
Hard board
14 dominoes · 16 regions

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