TodayHint

Pips September 24, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires strategic placement of 5 dominoes to satisfy 7 regions. The medium board involves 8 dominoes and 9 regions with more complex constraints. The hard board features 15 dominoes and 18 regions, demanding careful consideration of interacting constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 7 regions

2–51–00–22–63–2

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

This board is relatively straightforward with simple constraints.

Medium board · 8 dominoes · 9 regions

0–00–11–53–36–26–35–04–1

  • 3 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • one cell: under 2.
  • two cells: exactly 8.

This board has more complex constraints and dominoes with larger values.

Hard board · 15 dominoes · 18 regions

2–34–40–14–62–24–35–26–05–30–05–52–10–56–66–1

  • two cells: more than 10.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 4.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • two cells: exactly 3.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • 2 ×three cells: all matching.
  • three cells: exactly 4.
  • two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 6.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • three cells: exactly 15.
  • two cells: exactly 1.
  • one cell: more than 4.

This board has many complex constraints and dominoes with large values, making 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, 7 regions (2 empty, 2 equals, 2 greater, 1 sum)
    Medium board
    8 dominoes, 9 regions (4 equals, 2 sum, 1 empty, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Hard board
    15 dominoes, 18 regions (11 sum, 3 equals, 3 greater, 1 less)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with limited possibilities, such as those with a single constraint or few dominoes.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the equals region spanning 3 cells, as it has the most restrictive constraint.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with dominoes that have a large difference in values, as these can help restrict possibilities.

    Start with the sum 8 over 2 cell region, as it has a large target sum.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with multiple constraints or those that interact with several dominoes.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with the sum 1 over 1 cell region, as it has a very restrictive constraint.

    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 2/6 domino to satisfy the greater 4 over 1 cell. Then, position the 3/2 domino to meet the equals over 2 cell requirement. Next, use the 0/2 domino in the empty over 1 cell region. The 2/5 domino fits in the greater 5 over 1 cell region. Finally, place the 1/0 domino to satisfy the sum 2 over 1 cell.

  • Medium board · 8 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing the 6/2 domino to satisfy the sum 8 over 2 cell region. Then, position the 0/1 domino in the empty over 1 cell region. Use the 1/5 domino to meet the greater 4 over 1 cell requirement. Next, place the 3/3 domino to satisfy the equals over 2 cell region. Continue with the 6/3 domino in the equals over 3 cell region, and the 5/0 domino in the less 2 over 1 cell region. Place the 4/1 domino to meet the equals over 2 cell requirement. The 0/0 domino fits in the remaining empty region.

  • Hard board · 15 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 0/0 domino to satisfy the sum 1 over 1 cell and sum 0 over 1 cell regions. Then, position the 2/3 domino to meet the greater 10 over 2 cell requirement. Use the 6/0 domino in the sum 6 over 1 cell region. Continue with the 5/2 domino in the sum 3 over 1 cell region, and the 4/4 domino to satisfy the equals over 3 cell region. Next, place the 2/2 domino to meet the sum 4 over 1 cell requirement. The 4/6 domino fits in the greater 3 over 1 cell region. Place the 5/3 domino to satisfy the sum 4 over 3 cell region. Continue with the 6/6 domino in the sum 15 over 3 cell region, and the 6/1 domino to meet the greater 4 over 1 cell requirement. The remaining dominoes can be placed similarly, using their values to satisfy the constraints.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 7 regions
Medium board
8 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
15 dominoes · 18 regions

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