TodayHint

Pips November 8, 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 in 6 regions with simple constraints. The medium board involves 8 dominoes in 10 regions with varied constraints. The hard board features 15 dominoes in 16 regions with complex constraints, requiring careful planning and execution.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

6–62–36–22–23–5

  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 8.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 4.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

Small number of dominoes and simple constraints make this easy.

Medium board · 8 dominoes · 10 regions

5–24–06–36–12–11–16–61–4

  • two cells: exactly 11.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: under 3.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

More dominoes and varied constraints increase the challenge.

Hard board · 15 dominoes · 16 regions

4–52–21–20–41–05–21–50–60–30–00–24–10–56–42–3

  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 3.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 6.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • four cells: exactly 0.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • three cells: exactly 8.
  • four cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 4.
  • two cells: under 6.

Large number of dominoes and complex constraints make this 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, 6 regions (2 greater, 2 sum, 1 empty, 1 equals)
    Medium board
    8 dominoes, 10 regions (5 sum, 2 equals, 1 empty, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Hard board
    15 dominoes, 16 regions (11 sum, 3 less, 2 equals)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible domino combinations, focusing on the equals and sum constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The equals over 3 cells region, as it has the most restrictions.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Begin by focusing on the sum 11 over 2 cells regions, as they have high target values. Look for domino combinations that can satisfy these constraints.

    One of the sum 11 over 2 cells regions, as it has a high target value and limited options.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Begin by identifying regions with the most restrictions, such as the sum 0 over 4 cells and less 3 over 1 cell regions. Look for domino combinations that can satisfy these constraints.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The sum 0 over 4 cells region, as it has a unique constraint and 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 2/2 domino in the equals over 3 cells region. Then, use the greater 4 over 1 cell regions to place the 6/2 and 6/6 dominoes. Next, place the 3/5 domino in the sum 8 over 2 cells region. Finally, place the 2/3 domino in the remaining sum 8 over 2 cells region.

  • Medium board · 8 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the 6/6 domino in one sum 11 over 2 cells region. Then, use the 5/2 and 6/3 dominoes to fill the other sum 11 over 2 cells region. Next, place the 2/1 and 1/1 dominoes in the sum 2 over 2 cells regions. Continue with the equals over 2 cells regions, using the 4/0 and 1/4 dominoes. Finally, place the remaining dominoes in the less 3 over 2 cells and greater 3 over 1 cell regions.

  • Hard board · 15 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Place the 0/0 domino in the sum 0 over 4 cells region. Then, use the 0/2, 0/3, 0/4, and 0/5 dominoes to fill regions with similar constraints. Next, place the 1/0 and 1/1 dominoes in regions with low target values. Continue with the sum 4 over 1 cell and sum 6 over 1 cell regions, using the 4/1, 5/2, and 6/3 dominoes. Then, place the 2/2 and 2/3 dominoes in regions with moderate target values. Finally, use the remaining dominoes to fill the equals over 3 cells and sum 8 over 3 cells regions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
8 dominoes · 10 regions
Hard board
15 dominoes · 16 regions

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