TodayHint

Pips September 27, 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 across 5 regions. The medium board adds more complexity with 8 dominoes and 8 regions. The hard board is the most challenging with 12 dominoes and 9 regions, requiring careful consideration of multiple constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

1–14–36–50–23–3

  • three cells: all matching.
  • three cells: exactly 2.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • one cell: left uncovered.

Small number of dominoes and regions makes it manageable.

Medium board · 8 dominoes · 8 regions

6–64–05–64–43–00–01–60–5

  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • 3 ×three cells: all matching.
  • 3 ×one cell: more than 4.
  • three cells: exactly 1.

More dominoes and regions add complexity, but still solvable with strategy.

Hard board · 12 dominoes · 9 regions

5–04–36–23–14–43–32–20–04–25–62–31–0

  • three cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 3.
  • two cells: exactly 8.
  • four cells: all different.
  • three cells: exactly 3.
  • three cells: exactly 8.
  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • three cells: exactly 1.

Many dominoes and complex constraints make this 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 (2 sum, 1 empty, 1 equals, 1 greater)
    Medium board
    8 dominoes, 8 regions (3 equals, 3 greater, 1 empty, 1 sum)
    Hard board
    12 dominoes, 9 regions (7 sum, 1 equals, 1 unequal)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the most restrictive constraints. 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 the 'sum 10 over 2' constraint, as it has the most limited options.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Focus on the regions with 'equals over 3' constraints. Try to find dominoes that can satisfy these conditions.

    One of the regions with the 'equals over 3' constraint, as there are multiple ways to satisfy it.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Look for regions with the most specific constraints, like 'sum 1 over 3' or 'unequal over 4'. These will be key to solving the puzzle.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with the 'sum 1 over 3' constraint, as it's highly restrictive.

    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 4/3 domino in the equals over 3 region. Then, put the 6/5 domino in the greater 4 over 1 region. Next, place the 0/2 domino in the empty over 1 region. The 1/1 domino goes in the sum 2 over 3 region. Finally, place the 3/3 domino in the remaining equals over 3 region.

  • Medium board · 8 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing the 0/0 domino in the empty over 1 region. Then, put the 6/6 domino in one equals over 3 region. The 4/4 domino goes in another equals over 3 region. Next, place the 4/0 and 0/5 dominoes in the greater 4 over 1 regions. The 5/6 domino can go in one of the remaining regions. Continue with the 3/0, 1/6 dominoes, and finally the 0/5 domino.

  • Hard board · 12 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing the 0/0 domino in the empty region if there is one, or the sum 1 over 3 region if it can fit. Then, put the 1/0 domino in the sum 1 over 3 region. Next, place the 5/0 domino in a region that requires a high number. The 4/3 and 3/4 dominoes can go in regions with equals constraints. Continue with the 6/2 domino in a sum 8 or 9 region. Place the 4/4 domino in an equals region. Then, the 3/3 and 2/2 dominoes can go in their respective sum regions. The 5/6 domino will fit in a sum 8 or 9 region. Finally, place the 2/3 and 3/1 dominoes in the remaining regions, making sure to satisfy the unequal over 4 constraint.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
25 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
8 dominoes · 8 regions
Hard board
12 dominoes · 9 regions

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