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Pips October 2, 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 5 regions. The medium board adds complexity with 7 dominoes and 9 regions. The hard board challenges with 15 dominoes and 18 regions, demanding careful planning and execution.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

1–11–26–36–15–5

  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 2.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • three cells: all matching.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

2–13–35–20–51–45–32–2

  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • one cell: more than 2.
  • three cells: exactly 11.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • one cell: more than 1.

More regions and dominoes add complexity.

Hard board · 15 dominoes · 18 regions

4–63–32–31–31–02–01–54–23–65–55–64–52–52–25–0

  • 2 ×four cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • three cells: exactly 15.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: under 3.
  • one cell: more than 5.
  • one cell: exactly 0.

Large number of dominoes and regions requires 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, 5 regions (3 equals, 1 less, 1 sum)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (4 sum, 2 empty, 2 greater, 1 equals)
    Hard board
    15 dominoes, 18 regions (14 sum, 2 equals, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start with regions that have the most constraints. Look for dominoes that can only fit in one place.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with the equals constraint over 3 cells.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with unique constraints. Use process of elimination for domino placement.

    The region with the sum 0 over 1 cell.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Begin with regions that have the most limited options. Use dominoes with 0 or high numbers strategically.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with the sum 1 over 1 cell.

    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 1/1 in the equals over 2 cells region. Then, place 5/5 in the sum 5 over 2 cells region. Next, place 6/1 and 1/2 in the equals over 2 cells and less 2 over 1 cell regions. Finally, place 6/3.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place 0/5 in the sum 0 region. Then, place 2/2 and 3/3. Next, focus on sum 8 over 2 cells and sum 11 over 3 cells regions. Continue with the rest.

  • Hard board · 15 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing 1/0 in the sum 1 region. Then, place 2/0 and 1/5. Focus on equals over 4 cells regions next. Continue with sum 9 over 2 cells and sum 15 over 3 cells regions. Place 5/5, 4/5, and 5/6. Then, 4/2, 3/6, and 2/5. Finish with the remaining dominoes in the correct regions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Friday, October 2, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
27 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
15 dominoes · 18 regions

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