Pips October 17, 2026: Hints & Answers
Recap
The easy board requires strategic placement of 5 dominoes across 6 regions. The medium board involves 7 dominoes and 9 regions with various sum and comparison constraints. The hard board features 14 dominoes and 17 regions, demanding careful analysis of regional constraints and domino values.
The three boards that day
The tray and each region's rule — board data, no solutions.
Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions
Dominoes: 0–06–05–00–12–2
- 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
- 2 ×two cells: all matching.
- three cells: under 1.
- one cell: more than 5.
Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.
Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions
Dominoes: 2–03–65–55–03–36–24–6
- two cells: under 5.
- two cells: more than 8.
- one cell: left uncovered.
- 2 ×one cell: exactly 2.
- 2 ×two cells: all matching.
- two cells: exactly 8.
- one cell: under 4.
More regions and dominoes increase complexity.
Hard board · 14 dominoes · 17 regions
Dominoes: 6–63–53–21–42–06–32–61–60–30–00–54–32–26–5
- two cells: exactly 8.
- two cells: exactly 4.
- three cells: all different.
- two cells: exactly 2.
- 3 ×one cell: exactly 5.
- 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
- one cell: exactly 3.
- 2 ×one cell: exactly 0.
- one cell: more than 1.
- two cells: exactly 5.
- three cells: all matching.
- three cells: exactly 10.
- two cells: all matching.
Large number of dominoes and complex regional 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.
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Hint 1: How the three boards compared
Sizes and constraint mixes, counted off the boards.
- Easy board
- 5 dominoes, 6 regions (2 empty, 2 equals, 1 greater, 1 less)
- Medium board
- 7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 sum, 2 equals, 2 less, 1 empty, 1 greater)
- Hard board
- 14 dominoes, 17 regions (11 sum, 2 empty, 2 equals, 1 greater, 1 unequal)
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Hint 2: Easy board: how to approach it
Method only.
Start by identifying regions with the most restrictive constraints and try to place dominoes accordingly.
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Hint 3: Easy board: where to start
One region named by its constraint.
Focus on the region that must be empty over 1 cell.
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Hint 4: Medium board: approach and first region
The same two steps, one difficulty up.
Look for regions with specific sum constraints and try to match domino values to these requirements.
Start with the region that requires a sum of 2 over 1 cell.
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Hint 5: Hard board: how to approach it
Where the hard board differed in kind, not just size.
Identify and prioritize regions with the most limited options due to their constraints.
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Hint 6: Hard board: where to start
The last rung before the full walkthroughs.
Focus on the region that must have a sum of 0 over 1 cell.
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 in the empty over 1 cell region. Then, use the 6/0 domino to satisfy the greater 5 over 1 cell constraint. Next, place the 5/0 domino. The 0/1 domino goes in the less 1 over 3 cells region, and finally, the 2/2 domino fits in the remaining equals over 2 cells region.
Medium board · 7 dominoes
Medium board walkthrough
Begin with the sum 2 over 1 cell region using the 2/0 or 0/2 domino if available, but neither is. Use the 3/3 domino in the equals over 2 cells region. The 6/2 domino can go in the less 5 over 2 cells region. Continue this process, using domino values to satisfy regional constraints.
Hard board · 14 dominoes
Hard board walkthrough
The sum 0 over 1 cell region must contain the 0/0 domino. Use the 6/6 domino in the sum 10 over 3 cells region. Place the 0/5 and 5/0 dominoes in sum 5 over 1 cell regions. Continue with other dominoes: 3/5 in sum 8 over 2 cells, 2/6 and 6/2 in greater and less constrained regions. The 1/4 and 4/3 dominoes can be placed based on their values matching regional constraints. This process continues with careful consideration of each domino's potential placements.
Those boards by the numbers
- Date
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Boards
- 3 — easy, medium, hard
- Dominoes in play
- 26 across the three boards
- Easy board
- 5 dominoes · 6 regions
- Medium board
- 7 dominoes · 9 regions
- Hard board
- 14 dominoes · 17 regions
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