TodayHint

Pips October 9, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical placement based on region constraints. The medium board needs strategic focus on target values. The hard board demands careful consideration of all constraints and domino values.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

1–12–21–36–26–3

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

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 6 regions

5–50–03–12–60–35–36–0

  • four cells: under 3.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: more than 10.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • two cells: exactly 6.

More dominoes and regions add complexity.

Hard board · 12 dominoes · 14 regions

4–34–26–10–36–65–22–20–43–32–30–23–1

  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: more than 7.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • three cells: exactly 5.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • three cells: all different.
  • two cells: under 3.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • three cells: all matching.

Many dominoes, regions, and varied 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, 5 regions (3 equals, 1 empty, 1 sum)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 6 regions (2 sum, 1 empty, 1 equals, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Hard board
    12 dominoes, 14 regions (9 sum, 2 less, 1 equals, 1 greater, 1 unequal)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible values 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 must be empty.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on regions with specific target values and work backwards from there.

    Start with the region that must have a value greater than 10 over 2 cells.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Look for regions with the most constraints and dominoes with unique values that can help propagate values.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin 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. The equals region with 3 cells must contain 1/1. Place 2/2. The sum 3 region over 1 cell must be 2/2 or 1/3, but 1/1 is taken, so it's 1/3. Place 6/2 and 6/3. The remaining equals region must contain these.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place 5/5 and 6/0. The greater 10 region over 2 cells can be 5/5. Place 0/0 in the empty region. The sum 6 region over 2 cells could be 0/6 or 3/3, but 6/0 is placed, so look for other options. Place 3/1 and 2/6. The less 3 region over 4 cells helps limit options.

  • Hard board · 12 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing 6/6. The sum 3 region over 1 cell must be 0/3 or 3/0, but 0/3 is part of 0/3 and 3/1 dominoes. Place 4/3 and 4/2. The sum 4 regions help constrain values. Place 6/1 and 5/2. Continue with 2/2, 0/4, 3/3, 2/3, 0/2, and 3/1, using constraints to limit options. The unequal region over 3 cells and greater 7 region over 2 cells are key.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Friday, October 9, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
24 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 6 regions
Hard board
12 dominoes · 14 regions

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