TodayHint

Pips September 4, 2026: Hints & Answers

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

Recap

The easy board requires logical deductions based on simple constraints. The medium board adds complexity with more dominoes and varied constraints. The hard board demands careful planning and systematic placement due to its numerous constraints and dominoes.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

3–12–26–40–02–4

  • 2 ×one cell: left uncovered.
  • two cells: exactly 7.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • three cells: all matching.

Small number of dominoes and simple constraints make this easy.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 6 regions

5–10–41–13–31–05–53–1

  • three cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • five cells: exactly 5.
  • one cell: more than 3.
  • one cell: under 4.

More dominoes and varied constraints increase difficulty.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 18 regions

2–41–15–51–65–30–62–51–30–42–35–62–03–36–25–06–3

  • one cell: more than 0.
  • 3 ×two cells: exactly 11.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 10.
  • one cell: exactly 6.
  • five cells: all matching.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 0.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 4.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 4.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • two cells: exactly 2.
  • one cell: exactly 5.

Large number of dominoes and complex constraints make this hard.

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 (2 empty, 2 sum, 1 equals, 1 greater)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 6 regions (3 equals, 1 greater, 1 less, 1 sum)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 18 regions (14 sum, 2 equals, 1 empty, 1 greater)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with the fewest possible domino placements, focusing on those with specific numerical constraints.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Begin with the region that requires a greater value over 1 cell.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with equalities or sums that can be satisfied by multiple dominoes, then focus on comparison constraints.

    Start with the equals over 3 cell region.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Identify regions with the most restrictive constraints first, such as specific sums or comparisons, and use these to limit domino placement options.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Begin with the region that requires a sum of 11 over 2 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 0/0 domino first. Then, focus on the greater 4 over 1 cell region. The equals over 3 cells helps to place the 2/2 domino. Next, use the sum 7 over 2 cells to place the 3/1 and 2/4 dominoes. Finally, place the 6/4 domino.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Begin by placing dominoes in the equals over 3 cell region. Then, focus on the sum 5 over 5 cells, which helps to place several dominoes. Use the equals over 2 cell regions to further constrain placements. The greater 3 over 1 cell and less 4 over 1 cell regions help finalize placements.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Start by placing dominoes in regions with the most restrictive constraints, such as the sum 11 over 2 cells and the equals over 5 cells. Use these placements to inform decisions in regions with sums of 10 over 2 cells and comparisons like greater 0 over 1 cell. Continue this process, focusing on regions with sums of 6 over 1 cell, 4 over 2 cells, and 3 over 1 cell. The regions with sums of 0 over 1 cell and 2 over 2 cells help finalize tricky placements. Lastly, ensure all dominoes fit within the given regions, satisfying all constraints.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Friday, September 4, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
28 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 6 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 6 regions
Hard board
16 dominoes · 18 regions

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