TodayHint

Pips July 24, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical deduction from equals and sum constraints. The medium board demands attention to greater than constraints. The hard board necessitates systematic placement, prioritizing stricter constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 7 regions

0–06–25–04–23–2

  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: more than 5.
  • one cell: exactly 2.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 10 regions

3–16–62–30–04–10–11–6

  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: more than 0.
  • one cell: more than 1.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • two cells: more than 7.
  • two cells: exactly 3.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • one cell: more than 4.

More dominoes and regions add complexity.

Hard board · 13 dominoes · 19 regions

2–05–32–10–54–30–04–54–01–30–64–10–32–3

  • 2 ×three cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 4.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 2.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 6.
  • one cell: exactly 0.

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
    5 dominoes, 7 regions (3 empty, 2 sum, 1 equals, 1 greater)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 10 regions (5 greater, 3 empty, 1 equals, 1 sum)
    Hard board
    13 dominoes, 19 regions (9 sum, 5 greater, 3 equals, 2 empty)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible 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 have a value equal to another cell.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with strict constraints like greater than or equal to, and start placing dominoes that satisfy these conditions.

    Start with a region that has a greater than constraint over one cell.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Identify and prioritize regions with multiple constraints or those that limit domino placement significantly.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Focus on a region with an equals constraint over three 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 the 0/0 domino first. The equals over 3 cells constraint is key. Place 6/2 in the sum 9 over 2 cells region. Then, fit 5/0 and 4/2 around the equals region. The 3/2 domino goes last, fitting neatly.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin with the 0/0 domino in an empty region. Place 6/6 in the equals over 2 cells region. Then, fit 3/1 and 4/1 around greater constraints. Continue with 2/3, 0/1, and 1/6, satisfying all constraints.

  • Hard board · 13 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 0/0 domino. Use the equals over 3 cells constraint to guide the 2/0 and 4/0 placements. Then, fit 5/3 and 4/3 in sum and greater regions. Continue systematically: place 2/1, 0/5, and 4/5 around these, satisfying equals and sum constraints. The 1/3, 0/6, 4/1, 0/3, and 2/3 dominoes fit into stricter regions like greater than and sum. Finish with 2/3 and ensure all constraints are met.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Friday, July 24, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
25 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 7 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 10 regions
Hard board
13 dominoes · 19 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