TodayHint

Pips October 11, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement to satisfy multiple constraints with few dominoes. The medium board adds more complexity with additional regions and dominoes. The hard board demands careful planning to fit 14 dominoes into 20 regions with varied constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

6–42–24–02–43–4

  • 2 ×three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • one cell: under 2.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

1–04–22–25–10–53–42–0

  • 2 ×one cell: under 2.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: more than 7.

More regions and dominoes increase the complexity.

Hard board · 14 dominoes · 20 regions

0–46–14–26–35–54–42–50–62–20–03–13–24–52–6

  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • one cell: more than 1.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 4.
  • 4 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • one cell: under 5.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • two cells: all matching.

Large number of dominoes and regions, combined with complex constraints, makes 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, 5 regions (2 equals, 1 greater, 1 less, 1 sum)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 sum, 2 empty, 2 less, 1 equals, 1 greater)
    Hard board
    14 dominoes, 20 regions (10 sum, 4 empty, 3 greater, 2 equals, 1 less)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the most restrictive constraints and look for dominoes that can satisfy multiple conditions at once.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with the equals over 3 cell constraint, as it has the most limited possibilities.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with specific sum constraints and try to combine dominoes to meet these conditions.

    The region with the sum 6 over 2 cell constraint, as it has a clear target.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Begin with regions that have the most constraints or the highest number of possible domino combinations.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with the sum 5 over 1 cell constraint, due to its simplicity.

    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 6/4 domino to satisfy the equals over 3 cell constraint. Then, use the 2/2 domino in the sum 7 over 2 cell region. Next, place the 4/0 domino in the greater 4 over 1 cell region. The 2/4 domino goes in the equals over 3 cell region. Finally, place the 3/4 domino in the less 2 over 1 cell region.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Start with the sum 6 over 2 cell region using the 3/4 and 2/2 dominoes. Then, place the 1/0 domino in the less 2 over 1 cell region. Use the 4/2 domino in the sum 4 over 2 cell region. The 5/1 domino goes in the greater 7 over 2 cell region. Next, place the 0/5 domino in the empty over 1 cell region. The 2/0 domino fits in the remaining empty region. Finally, adjust the dominoes to satisfy the equals over 2 cell and other constraints.

  • Hard board · 14 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 0/4 domino to satisfy the sum 5 over 1 cell constraint in one of the regions. Then, use the 6/1 domino in a region that requires a high value. The 4/2 domino can go in a sum 6 over 2 cell region. Continue by placing the 6/3 domino to meet a greater constraint. Use the 5/5 domino where it fits best. Place the 4/4 domino in a suitable region. The 2/5 and 0/6 dominoes can be used to satisfy comparison constraints. The 2/2 domino fits well in a sum 4 over 2 cell region. The 0/0 domino goes in an empty region. Adjust dominoes to fit the remaining regions, ensuring all constraints are met, including the equals over 3 cell and sum 10 over 2 cell regions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
26 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
14 dominoes · 20 regions

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