TodayHint

Pips September 17, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement of 5 dominoes in 6 regions with sum constraints. The medium board involves 7 dominoes in 7 regions with various constraints, including equality and emptiness. The hard board features 16 dominoes in 16 regions with complex constraints, including sums, equality, and inequality.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

0–54–33–24–01–1

  • three cells: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 7.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • one cell: more than 2.
  • one cell: under 5.

This board is relatively easy due to the limited number of dominoes and regions with straightforward constraints.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 7 regions

5–41–12–51–30–23–32–2

  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • two cells: under 4.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • two cells: exactly 1.

This board has more complex constraints and a larger number of dominoes, making it moderately challenging.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 16 regions

0–20–30–40–61–11–21–41–51–62–53–53–64–54–65–56–6

  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: more than 1.
  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • five cells: exactly 5.
  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • two cells: exactly 0.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • six cells: all different.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 11.
  • one cell: exactly 3.

This board is the most challenging due to the large number of dominoes and regions, as well as the complexity of the 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
    5 dominoes, 6 regions (4 sum, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 7 regions (3 equals, 2 sum, 1 empty, 1 less)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 16 regions (9 sum, 2 empty, 2 equals, 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, such as the sum 0 over 1 cell or the greater 2 over 1 cell. Look for dominoes that can only fit in one place.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    The region with sum 0 over 1 cell is a good starting point, as it has a very limited set of possible dominoes that can fit.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with equality constraints and try to match dominoes with the same numbers. Identify regions with limited possibilities, such as the empty cell.

    The region with an empty cell is a good starting point, as it must contain a domino with a blank side.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with sum constraints and try to find dominoes that add up to the target values. Look for regions with equality constraints to help narrow down domino placements.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with a sum 5 over 5 cells constraint is a good starting point, as it has a specific target value.

    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 sum 0 over 1 cell region. The 0/5 and 5/0 dominoes are not available, but the 4/0 and 0/4 dominoes could work in the sum 7 over 2 cell region. Try the 4/0 domino. The 3/2 domino can go in the greater 2 over 1 cell region. The 4/3 domino can go in the sum 7 over 2 cell region. The remaining domino, 0/5 is not available but 1/1 is already placed and 4/3 and 3/2 are placed, so 4/0 was correct.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the 0/2 domino in the empty cell region. The equals over 2 cell region likely contains the 1/1 domino. Try to match the dominoes with the same numbers in the equals regions. The less 4 over 2 cell region has limited options, consider the 1/3 and 0/2 dominoes already placed. Continue matching dominoes to regions with equality constraints.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Begin by placing dominoes in regions with sum constraints, such as the sum 5 over 5 cells and sum 9 over 2 cells. Use the equals constraints to match dominoes with the same numbers. The unequal over 6 cells region will likely be filled last, as it has the most flexibility. Continue working through the regions, using the constraints to guide the domino placements. For example, the sum 11 over 2 cells regions could contain the 5/6 or 6/5 domino. The greater 3 over 1 cell region has limited options.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 7 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 16 regions

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