TodayHint

Pips September 6, 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 across 6 regions with basic sum constraints. The medium board adds complexity with 7 dominoes and varied constraints. The hard board challenges with 16 dominoes and 19 regions featuring complex constraints.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 6 regions

3–10–04–62–26–6

  • 3 ×one cell: exactly 6.
  • three cells: exactly 1.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • two cells: exactly 6.

Small number of dominoes and simple constraints make this easy.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 7 regions

6–50–03–62–25–32–64–3

  • 2 ×three cells: exactly 10.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 2.
  • two cells: exactly 10.
  • one cell: more than 2.

More dominoes and varied constraints increase difficulty.

Hard board · 16 dominoes · 19 regions

2–56–31–13–46–62–24–65–31–46–53–34–26–12–34–06–2

  • one cell: under 2.
  • 2 ×one cell: more than 3.
  • three cells: exactly 12.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • two cells: exactly 5.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 11.
  • 2 ×one cell: exactly 3.
  • one cell: more than 5.
  • one cell: exactly 1.
  • 2 ×three cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 3.
  • two cells: exactly 6.
  • two cells: exactly 4.
  • 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 (6 sum)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 7 regions (4 sum, 2 equals, 1 greater)
    Hard board
    16 dominoes, 19 regions (10 sum, 4 equals, 3 greater, 2 less)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Focus on regions with unique sum constraints to limit domino placement options.

  3. Easy board: where to start

    One region named by its constraint.

    Start with the region that requires a sum of 1 over 3 cells.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Identify regions with equals constraints to anchor domino placements.

    Begin with the region that requires a sum of 2 over 1 cell.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Prioritize regions with strict constraints like less and greater to narrow down domino options.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    Start with the region that has a less 2 over 1 cell 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 0/0 domino first. Then, fit the 2/2 and 6/6 dominoes into the sum 6 regions. Use the 3/1 domino to satisfy the sum 6 over 1 cell constraint. The 4/6 domino goes in the sum 5 over 2 cells region, leaving the last region for the 6/6 domino.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Start by placing dominoes that satisfy equals constraints. Use the 2/2 domino in one equals region. Then, place the 0/0 domino. Fit the 6/5 and 5/3 dominoes into sum 10 regions. The 3/6 domino helps with another sum 10 region. Place the 2/6 domino to satisfy the greater 2 constraint. Lastly, fit in the 4/3 domino.

  • Hard board · 16 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Begin by addressing regions with unique constraints. Place the 6/6 domino where it satisfies a sum or equals constraint. Use the 2/2 and 1/1 dominoes in sum or equals regions. The 6/3 domino fits into a sum 12 over 3 cells region. Continue by satisfying greater and less constraints with dominoes like 4/6 and 5/3. Fit in dominoes with high numbers like 6/5 and 6/2 into sum and equals regions. Lastly, use dominoes like 1/4 and 4/0 to fill in the remaining regions, ensuring all constraints are met.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Sunday, September 6, 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 · 19 regions

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