TodayHint

Pips October 27, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement to satisfy simple constraints. The medium board adds complexity with more dominoes and constraints. The hard board demands careful planning to satisfy multiple conditions across many regions.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 8 regions

1–05–12–34–32–6

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

This board is relatively straightforward with simple constraints.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 10 regions

2–01–64–40–32–32–66–0

  • three cells: under 4.
  • two cells: more than 7.
  • one cell: under 1.
  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • one cell: more than 2.

This board has more complex constraints, making it moderately challenging.

Hard board · 13 dominoes · 12 regions

5–31–20–32–65–54–42–44–01–30–11–11–46–1

  • one cell: exactly 6.
  • four cells: exactly 15.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • three cells: all different.
  • three cells: exactly 4.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • one cell: under 4.
  • two cells: under 2.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • four cells: all matching.

This board is the most challenging due to its many complex constraints and dominoes.

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, 8 regions (2 empty, 2 equals, 2 sum, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 10 regions (3 empty, 3 less, 2 greater, 2 sum)
    Hard board
    13 dominoes, 12 regions (5 sum, 2 equals, 2 greater, 2 less, 1 unequal)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the most constraints and try to place dominoes that satisfy multiple conditions at once.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Focus on the region with the equals constraint over 2 cells.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with a single constraint and try to eliminate possibilities by finding dominoes that fit multiple regions.

    Start with the region that has an empty cell constraint.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with multiple constraints and try to find dominoes that satisfy several conditions at once.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with the region that has a sum 6 over 1 cell constraint.

    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

    Begin with the equals over 2 cells, which likely has limited options. Place the 2/6 domino to satisfy the sum 2 over 1 cell and greater 2 over 1 cell constraints. Then, use the 4/3 domino in a region with a sum or equals constraint. Continue filling in dominoes, focusing on regions with fewer possible placements.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing the 2/0 domino to satisfy the less 4 over 3 cells constraint. Then, use the 1/6 domino in a region with a sum or greater constraint. Continue placing dominoes, focusing on regions with limited options. Use the process of elimination to narrow down possibilities for each region.

  • Hard board · 13 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 5/3 domino to satisfy the sum 6 over 1 cell constraint. Then, use the 4/4 domino in a region with an equals or sum constraint. Continue filling in dominoes, focusing on regions with limited options. Use the process of elimination to narrow down possibilities for each region. Place the 2/6 domino to satisfy the greater 4 over 1 cell constraint. Next, place the 1/2 domino in a region with a less or greater constraint. Continue this process, working through the regions with the most constraints first. As you place more dominoes, revisit regions with previously limited options to see if new placements have opened up.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
25 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 8 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 10 regions
Hard board
13 dominoes · 12 regions

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