TodayHint

Pips October 6, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical placement of 5 dominoes across 6 regions. The medium board adds complexity with 7 dominoes and 8 regions. The hard board is the most challenging with 13 dominoes and 14 regions, requiring careful consideration of all constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

0–06–65–34–23–2

  • three cells: exactly 2.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • one cell: more than 2.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 8 regions

4–46–15–01–35–56–22–5

  • 3 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 2.
  • one cell: under 4.
  • two cells: exactly 12.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • two cells: exactly 5.

More regions and dominoes add complexity.

Hard board · 13 dominoes · 14 regions

2–44–06–63–34–41–22–53–44–54–63–62–62–2

  • four cells: exactly 11.
  • one cell: under 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • four cells: exactly 24.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: more than 2.
  • one cell: exactly 5.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • two cells: under 7.
  • two cells: under 5.

Large number of dominoes and complex constraints make it challenging.

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 (3 sum, 2 empty, 1 greater)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 8 regions (3 equals, 3 sum, 2 less)
    Hard board
    13 dominoes, 14 regions (5 sum, 3 less, 2 empty, 2 equals, 2 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.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with a sum of 2 over 3 cells is a good starting point.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with equality constraints to limit domino options.

    The region with an equals constraint over 2 cells is a good start.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with specific numerical targets like sum 11 over 4 cells.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region requiring a sum of 11 over 4 cells is highly constrained.

    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 0/0 domino. The sum 2 over 3 cells region is solved. Place the 6/6 domino. The sum 10 over 2 cells region is a good next target. Place the 5/3 domino. Continue with the remaining dominoes and regions.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin with the equals over 2 cells region. Place the 4/4 domino. The less 2 over 1 cell region helps next. Place the 6/1 domino. Continue logically.

  • Hard board · 13 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start with the sum 11 over 4 cells region. This will likely involve the 2/4 and 4/0 dominoes. Next, address the sum 24 over 4 cells region, which is very restrictive. Place the 6/6 domino. The equals over 2 cells and less 2 over 1 cell regions provide additional clues. Continue systematically, using each region's constraint to narrow down domino placements. The empty over 1 cell regions will help finalize positions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
25 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 8 regions
Hard board
13 dominoes · 14 regions

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