TodayHint

Pips October 26, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical placement based on unique constraints. The medium board adds complexity with more regions and dominoes. The hard board demands strategic thinking with multiple constraints and overlapping regions.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

5–56–41–62–11–1

  • three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 7.
  • two cells: exactly 11.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes this easy.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 10 regions

0–51–36–42–51–14–52–1

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

More regions and dominoes than easy board, but still manageable.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 22 regions

5–35–26–10–61–04–01–12–32–60–03–65–10–52–43–34–4

  • 4 ×one cell: exactly 5.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×four cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 6.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • two cells: more than 8.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • two cells: exactly 8.

Large number of dominoes and regions, with complex constraints.

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 sum, 1 empty, 1 equals)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 10 regions (2 empty, 2 greater, 2 less, 2 sum, 1 equals, 1 unequal)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 22 regions (17 sum, 2 empty, 2 equals, 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. Look for regions with unique constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with the equals constraint over 3 cells is a good starting point.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with strict constraints like greater 2 or less 1. These limit domino options significantly.

    Begin with the region that has the greater 2 constraint over 1 cell.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Look for regions with multiple constraints or those that overlap with several dominoes. These can be solved first.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Start with a region that has a sum constraint over a small number of 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 the 1/1 domino in the equals over 3 cells region. Then, place the 2/1 domino. The 1/6 domino goes in the sum 7 region. Next, place the 6/4 domino. Finally, place the 5/5 domino.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the 2/1 domino in the greater 2 region. The 1/1 domino fits in the equals over 3 cells region. Next, place the 0/5 and 4/5 dominoes. Then, place the 1/3 domino. The 6/4 domino goes in the sum 5 region. Place the 2/5 domino last.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Begin by placing dominoes in regions with the sum 5 over 1 cell constraint. The 5/3, 5/2, and 5/1 dominoes fit here. Next, focus on the equals over 4 cells regions, using dominoes like 4/4 and 3/3. Then, place the 6/1 domino. Continue with the sum 4 and sum 2 constraints. Use the 0/0 domino in an empty region. Place the remaining dominoes according to their constraints, ensuring all regions are filled.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Monday, October 26, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 10 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 22 regions

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