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Pips October 4, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical placement of a few dominoes. The medium board adds more complexity with additional regions and dominoes. The hard board demands strategic thinking to satisfy multiple constraints with many dominoes.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 4 dominoes · 4 regions

4–22–25–63–5

  • two cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 9.
  • two cells: exactly 7.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

1–34–26–55–35–12–35–5

  • one cell: under 3.
  • three cells: all different.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • four cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 1.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: exactly 2.

More regions and dominoes increase the complexity.

Hard board · 14 dominoes · 18 regions

6–34–25–10–34–55–32–31–32–04–43–42–20–51–0

  • 3 ×two cells: exactly 3.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • 2 ×one cell: under 2.
  • 2 ×three cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×two cells: all different.
  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: more than 5.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • one cell: exactly 3.

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
    4 dominoes, 4 regions (3 sum, 1 equals)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 sum, 2 empty, 1 equals, 1 greater, 1 less, 1 unequal)
    Hard board
    14 dominoes, 18 regions (8 sum, 3 empty, 2 equals, 2 less, 2 unequal, 1 greater)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the most restrictive constraints and look for dominoes that can only fit in one place.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the region that has an equals constraint over 2 cells.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with single-cell constraints first, as they provide the most information.

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

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Look for dominoes that can be placed in multiple regions and try to satisfy several constraints at once.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with a region that has a greater than or less than constraint over a single 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 · 4 dominoes

    Easy board walkthrough

    Place the 4/2 domino in the equals region. Then, fit the 2/2 domino in the sum 9 region. Next, place the 5/6 domino in the sum 7 region is not possible, so try the 3/5 domino. The 3/5 domino goes in the remaining sum 9 region. Finally, adjust the dominoes to satisfy all constraints.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the 1/3 domino in the sum 1 region. Then, use the 5/5 domino in an equals region. Continue with the 4/2 and 2/3 dominoes in their respective regions. Adjust the remaining dominoes to fit the constraints.

  • Hard board · 14 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 0/5 and 1/0 dominoes in regions with sum or inequality constraints. Then, fit the 6/3 domino into a sum 3 region. Continue with the 4/2 and 5/1 dominoes. Use the 4/5 domino in an equals region. Place the 5/3 domino, then the 2/3 and 1/3 dominoes. Adjust to satisfy all constraints. The 2/0 domino fits in a specific region, and finally, place the 3/4 and 2/2 dominoes. Verify all regions meet their constraints.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
25 across the three boards
Easy board
4 dominoes · 4 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
14 dominoes · 18 regions

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