TodayHint

Pips October 28, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The three Pips boards for 2026-10-28 offer increasing levels of difficulty, from a straightforward 5-domino easy board to a complex 16-domino hard board. Solvers must use logical reasoning and strategic placement to satisfy the various regional constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

0–01–46–42–51–1

  • two cells: under 3.
  • two cells: under 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 3.

This board is relatively simple due to the small number of dominoes and regions.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

2–36–05–50–41–45–32–1

  • three cells: exactly 8.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: under 1.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • one cell: more than 0.
  • one cell: exactly 3.

This board offers a moderate challenge with more dominoes and varied constraints.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 32 regions

0–10–20–30–40–51–21–31–41–52–32–42–53–43–54–53–6

  • 6 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 5.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • 5 ×one cell: exactly 0.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

This board is the most challenging due to the large number of dominoes and regions, requiring careful planning and strategy.

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, 6 regions (2 empty, 2 less, 1 equals, 1 sum)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 empty, 3 sum, 1 equals, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 32 regions (31 sum, 1 empty)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible domino placements, focusing on those with specific numerical constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the region that must contain an empty space over 1 cell, as it has the most limited options.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with unique constraints that can be satisfied by only one or two dominoes, helping to build momentum.

    Start with the region that requires a sum of 8 over 3 cells, as it has a distinctive constraint.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with the most restrictive sum constraints and try to satisfy them first, working your way up to less constrained areas.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with a region that has a sum constraint of 0 or 1, as these have the most limited possibilities.

    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 2 cells region. Then, fit the 0/0 domino into the empty space. Use the less 3 over 2 cells region to place the 1/4 domino. The 6/4 domino goes in the sum 3 over 2 cells region. Finally, place the 2/5 domino in the remaining space.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing the 5/3 domino in the sum 8 over 3 cells region. Then, use the equals over 3 cells region to place the 2/3 and 6/0 dominoes. Fit the 0/4 domino into the empty space over 1 cell. Continue with the less 1 over 1 cell region and the 1/4 domino. Place the 5/5 domino in the sum 5 over 2 cells region. The 2/1 domino goes in the greater 0 over 1 cell region. Finally, adjust the remaining dominoes to satisfy all constraints.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing dominoes in regions with sum constraints of 0 and 1, using dominoes like 0/0, 0/1, and 1/0. Then, move on to regions with sums of 2 and 3, fitting in dominoes like 1/1, 1/2, and 2/1. Continue this process, working up to the higher sum constraints and using the process of elimination to place the remaining dominoes. Be mindful of the interconnecting constraints and adjust placements accordingly.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 32 regions

More Pips

See the live Pips hints and answers page for the current boards, or browse every archived Pips date by month.

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