TodayHint

Pips July 19, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement of 6 dominoes across 8 regions. The medium board adds more dominoes and varied constraints. The hard board features 16 dominoes and 22 regions with complex constraints, requiring careful planning.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 6 dominoes · 8 regions

6–31–10–01–06–55–4

  • two cells: all matching.
  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • three cells: exactly 0.
  • two cells: exactly 12.
  • one cell: under 4.
  • one cell: under 5.

Small number of dominoes and simple constraints make it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions

3–14–43–01–63–41–56–3

  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: more than 10.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 7.
  • two cells: exactly 1.
  • two cells: under 6.
  • two cells: more than 8.
  • one cell: more than 3.

More dominoes and varied constraints increase the challenge.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 22 regions

4–41–12–21–56–64–13–05–43–31–04–31–24–64–01–64–2

  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • 8 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 4.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 6.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • five cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: under 4.
  • two cells: exactly 0.
  • three cells: all matching.

Large number of dominoes and complex constraints make 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
    6 dominoes, 8 regions (3 empty, 2 less, 2 sum, 1 equals)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 8 regions (3 greater, 3 sum, 1 empty, 1 less)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 22 regions (16 sum, 2 equals, 2 greater, 2 less)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the most constraints and try to place dominoes that satisfy multiple conditions.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the region that has an equals constraint over 2 cells.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with sum or greater constraints to place dominoes with high numbers.

    Start with the region that has a sum 7 constraint over 2 cells.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with multiple constraints and try to place dominoes that satisfy several conditions at once.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with a region that has 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 · 6 dominoes

    Easy board walkthrough

    Place 6/3 in top left, 1/1 in top center, 0/0 in top right. Next, place 1/0 below 1/1, 6/5 below 6/3, and 5/4 at the bottom. Adjust as needed to satisfy all constraints.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place 3/4 and 6/3 in top regions. Then, fit 3/1, 1/6, and 1/5 around them. Use the remaining dominoes to satisfy the constraints.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing 4/4 and 6/6 in top regions with sum constraints. Then, place 1/1, 2/2, and 4/1 around them. Continue with 3/0, 5/4, and 3/3 in adjacent regions. Use the remaining dominoes to satisfy all constraints, making sure to adjust placements as needed to fit the greater, less, and equals conditions. For example, place 1/5 and 4/3 in regions with specific sum requirements. Finally, fit in the remaining dominoes like 4/6, 1/6, and 4/2, ensuring all regions meet their constraints.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
29 across the three boards
Easy board
6 dominoes · 8 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 8 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 22 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