TodayHint

Pips July 18, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical placement based on equals and sum constraints. The medium board demands strategic thinking with sum and comparison constraints. The hard board is complex, requiring meticulous placement to satisfy numerous sum and comparison constraints over single cells.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 7 regions

5–33–24–42–24–6

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

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

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 7 regions

1–13–32–26–42–16–65–5

  • two cells: all different.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • three cells: exactly 7.
  • one cell: under 4.
  • three cells: exactly 10.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 6.

This board requires more careful planning due to the mix of sum and comparison constraints.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 32 regions

0–10–20–30–40–51–21–31–41–52–32–42–53–43–54–53–6

  • 4 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 5.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 0.
  • one cell: more than 3.

This board is significantly more challenging due to the large number of dominoes and the detailed constraints over single cells.

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, 7 regions (3 greater, 2 equals, 1 empty, 1 sum)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 7 regions (3 sum, 2 less, 1 equals, 1 unequal)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 32 regions (29 sum, 2 empty, 1 greater)
    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 equals and sum constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the region that must contain equal values over 2 cells, as it has the most restrictions.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with sum constraints and try to place dominoes that satisfy multiple conditions at once.

    Start with the region that requires a sum of 10 over 2 cells, as it has a limited set of options.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with the most restrictive constraints, such as sum 0 or 1 over single cells, to build a foundation.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with a region that has a sum constraint of 0 or 1 over a single cell, as these have the most limited 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

    Place the 4/4 domino in the equals over 3 cells region. Then, use the 2/2 domino in the equals over 2 cells region. Next, place the 5/3 domino, ensuring it fits the greater 4 over 1 cell constraint. The 3/2 domino goes in the sum 2 over 1 cell region. Finally, place the 4/6 domino, fitting it into the remaining spaces.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing the 6/4 domino in the sum 10 over 2 cells region. Then, use the 5/5 domino in the equals over 2 cells region. Place the 3/3 domino in the sum 7 over 3 cells region. Next, the 2/1 domino fits in the less 4 over 1 cell region. The 6/6 domino goes in the sum 10 over 3 cells region. Finally, place the 1/1 and 2/2 dominoes, ensuring all constraints are met.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 0/0 domino (if available) or the 0/1 domino in a sum 0 or 1 region. Continue placing dominoes in a way that satisfies the sum constraints for each region, working from the most restrictive to the least. Use process of elimination and ensure each domino fits the constraints of its region. Due to the complexity and the need for a step-by-step solution without revealing too much, focus on satisfying one constraint at a time, often backtracking as needed.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 7 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 7 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 32 regions

More Pips

See the live Pips hints and answers page for the current boards, or browse every archived Pips date by month.

Try the other two puzzles