TodayHint

Pips November 9, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement of 5 dominoes across 6 regions. The medium board adds complexity with 7 dominoes and 8 regions. The hard board challenges solvers with 15 dominoes and 17 regions.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

6–43–43–03–60–0

  • three cells: under 3.
  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

Small number of dominoes and simple constraints make it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions

1–33–05–30–00–52–41–2

  • four cells: all matching.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • three cells: more than 10.
  • two cells: more than 4.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • one cell: more than 2.
  • one cell: more than 1.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

More regions and dominoes add complexity.

Hard board · 15 dominoes · 17 regions

4–43–36–11–22–00–11–11–42–55–63–65–32–21–36–0

  • three cells: all different.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 5.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • two cells: all different.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • four cells: under 11.
  • three cells: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • two cells: more than 8.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 4.

Many dominoes and complex constraints require careful planning.

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 (3 sum, 1 empty, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 8 regions (5 greater, 1 empty, 1 equals, 1 less)
    Hard board
    15 dominoes, 17 regions (10 sum, 2 equals, 2 less, 2 unequal, 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 combinations.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with a sum of 4 over 1 cell.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with strict constraints to limit domino options.

    The region with a greater 4 over 1 cell.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with multiple constraints to limit domino options.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with a sum of 7 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 0/0 in the empty region. Use the sum 9 over 2 cells to place 6/4 and 3/6. Then, place 3/4 and 3/0 based on comparison constraints.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place 0/0 and 0/5 to satisfy the empty and greater 10 over 3 cells. Use equals over 4 cells to place 1/3 and 3/0. Continue with comparison constraints.

  • Hard board · 15 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Begin by placing 6/0 and 0/1 to satisfy the sum 7 over 2 cells and unequal over 3 cells. Place 4/4 and 3/3 based on sum and equals constraints. Continue with careful consideration of each region's constraints, using dominoes like 1/1, 1/2, and 2/0 to satisfy conditions such as sum 5 over 1 cell and greater 8 over 2 cells. Use the process of elimination and constraint satisfaction to place the remaining dominoes.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Monday, November 9, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
27 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 8 regions
Hard board
15 dominoes · 17 regions

More Pips

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

Try another puzzle