TodayHint

Pips September 1, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The three Pips boards for 2026-09-01 offer increasing difficulty through more dominoes and complex region constraints. Strategic placement and careful consideration of region constraints are key to solving each board.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 6 dominoes · 8 regions

6–42–53–12–36–30–1

  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 11.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • one cell: under 2.
  • one cell: exactly 3.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

5–22–20–52–61–12–03–4

  • three cells: exactly 6.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 4.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 4.

More regions and dominoes add complexity.

Hard board · 14 dominoes · 14 regions

4–01–34–23–60–03–54–45–21–12–05–13–24–62–1

  • five cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • two cells: exactly 12.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • four cells: all matching.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • 3 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • two cells: all different.
  • two cells: exactly 7.

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
    6 dominoes, 8 regions (4 sum, 2 equals, 1 empty, 1 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (5 sum, 2 empty, 2 greater)
    Hard board
    14 dominoes, 14 regions (5 equals, 3 empty, 3 sum, 2 greater, 1 unequal)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with unique constraints to limit domino placement options.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Focus on the region that must sum to 3 over a single cell.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with strict constraints like greater than or equal to a certain value.

    Start with the region that must sum to 2 over 1 cell.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Identify and prioritize regions with the most restrictive or unique constraints.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Focus on a region with an equals constraint over multiple 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 · 6 dominoes

    Easy board walkthrough

    Begin with the sum 3 region, which can only be formed by 0/1 or 1/2 but 1/2 is not available, so 0/1 goes there. The equals over 2 cells and sum 4 over 1 cell are next. Considering the available dominoes, 6/4 must go in the sum 4 region. The equals over 2 cells can be satisfied with 2/3 and 2/3 or 6/3 and 0/1 but 0/1 is taken. So 6/3 and 2/3 are placed. The remaining dominoes 3/1 and 5/2 are placed in the remaining regions satisfying all conditions.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    The sum 2 region can only be a 0/2 or 1/1 but only 1/1 and 0/5 are available, so 1/1 goes there. The greater 4 region can only be satisfied by 5/2 or greater. The sum 6 over 3 cells helps to place 2/2, 2/2, and 2/2 but only two 2/2 are available. So, 0/5 and 2/0 are placed. Continue this process to satisfy all regions.

  • Hard board · 14 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Begin with the equals over 5 cells region. This region can only be satisfied by dominoes that have the same number on both ends. Given the available dominoes, 4/4 and 0/0 can be placed here. Next, focus on the sum 12 over 2 cells region, which can be satisfied by 5/2 and 5/1 or 6/6 but 6/6 is not available. Continue placing dominoes in regions with strict constraints like greater 4, sum 7, and equals over multiple cells. For example, 4/0 and 3/5 can be placed in regions requiring these specific numbers. As the puzzle progresses, the equals over 4 cells and 3 cells regions help to place dominoes like 1/1, 2/0, and 3/2. The remaining dominoes are placed in the remaining regions, satisfying all conditions.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
27 across the three boards
Easy board
6 dominoes · 8 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
14 dominoes · 14 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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