TodayHint

Pips September 9, 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 5 regions. The medium board involves 7 dominoes and 9 regions, with a focus on satisfying multiple constraints. The hard board features 14 dominoes and 14 regions, demanding careful analysis and elimination techniques.

The three boards that day

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

Easy board · 5 dominoes · 5 regions

1–13–21–00–61–5

  • two cells: exactly 9.
  • one cell: more than 1.
  • four cells: exactly 4.
  • one cell: more than 4.
  • two cells: all matching.

This board is relatively simple due to the small number of dominoes and regions.

Medium board · 7 dominoes · 9 regions

3–15–52–35–60–35–35–4

  • one cell: more than 1.
  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 6.
  • one cell: exactly 0.
  • 3 ×two cells: all matching.
  • one cell: under 6.

This board has more regions and dominoes than the easy board, making it moderately challenging.

Hard board · 14 dominoes · 14 regions

6–25–01–10–04–43–10–64–20–15–62–23–31–53–4

  • one cell: left uncovered.
  • 2 ×two cells: exactly 11.
  • four cells: all matching.
  • one cell: exactly 3.
  • three cells: all matching.
  • four cells: exactly 2.
  • 2 ×two cells: all matching.
  • 3 ×one cell: more than 3.
  • three cells: exactly 13.
  • one cell: exactly 1.

This board has the most dominoes and regions, making it the most challenging due to the high number of possible combinations.

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 greater, 2 sum, 1 equals)
    Medium board
    7 dominoes, 9 regions (3 equals, 3 sum, 1 empty, 1 greater, 1 less)
    Hard board
    14 dominoes, 14 regions (6 sum, 4 equals, 3 greater, 1 empty)
    Back to the board inventories
  2. Easy board: how to approach it

    Method only.

    Start by identifying regions with unique constraints, then 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 4 over 4 cells is a good starting point.

  4. Medium board: approach and first region

    The same two steps, one difficulty up.

    Look for regions with limited possibilities, such as the empty cell or the sum 0 over 1 cell, and try to place dominoes that satisfy multiple constraints at once.

    The region with the empty over 1 cell constraint is a good starting point.

  5. Hard board: how to approach it

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

    Focus on regions with strict constraints, such as the sum 1 over 1 cell or the empty over 1 cell, and use process of elimination to narrow down possibilities.

  6. Hard board: where to start

    The last rung before the full walkthroughs.

    The region with the sum 1 over 1 cell constraint is a good starting point.

    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 0/6 domino in the greater 4 over 1 cell region. Then, place the 1/0 domino in the greater 1 over 1 cell region. Next, place the 1/1 domino in the equals over 2 cells region. After that, place the 3/2 domino in the sum 9 over 2 cells region. Finally, place the 1/5 domino in the remaining region.

  • Medium board · 7 dominoes

    Medium board walkthrough

    Place the 0/3 domino in the empty over 1 cell region. Then, place the 5/5 domino in one of the sum 6 over 2 cells regions. Next, place the 5/3 domino in another sum 6 over 2 cells region. After that, place the 3/1 domino in the greater 1 over 1 cell region. Continue with the 5/6 domino in the less 6 over 1 cell region is not possible, so place the 2/3 domino in one of the equals over 2 cells regions. Then, place the 5/4 domino in another equals over 2 cells region. Finally, place the 3/1 domino does not fit, so swap it with 5/3 and adjust.

  • Hard board · 14 dominoes

    Hard board walkthrough

    Place the 0/0 domino in the empty over 1 cell region. Then, place the 1/1 domino in the sum 1 over 1 cell region. Next, place the 6/2 domino in one of the sum 11 over 2 cells regions. After that, place the 5/0 domino in the sum 3 over 1 cell is not possible, adjust. Continue with the 4/4 domino in the equals over 4 cells region. Then, place the 3/1 domino in one of the greater 3 over 1 cell regions. Next, place the 0/6 domino in the sum 13 over 3 cells region is not possible, adjust. Place the 4/2 domino in one of the equals over 2 cells regions. Continue until all dominoes are placed.

Those boards by the numbers

Date
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Boards
3 — easy, medium, hard
Dominoes in play
26 across the three boards
Easy board
5 dominoes · 5 regions
Medium board
7 dominoes · 9 regions
Hard board
14 dominoes · 14 regions

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