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Pips hints — Friday, September 12, 2025

An archived puzzle. Pick your difficulty for a spoiler-safe nudge, then reveal the full board if you want it.

Friday, September 12, 2025Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 5 regions and 4 tiles, with target-sum rules in play. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hint 1 — where to start

Easy
Your way in today is the green region: two cells that must add up to exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 0–5 belongs across row 2, columns 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 0.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — September 12, 2025

56
03
05
62

blue (=8): 2 · 6 | purple (=11): 6 · 5 | green (=0): 0 · 0 | amber: 5 | orange: 3

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue8 — Add up to exactly 82
Purple11 — Add up to exactly 112
Green0 — Add up to exactly 02
AmberTake any value it likes1
OrangeTake any value it likes1

The Medium grid runs to 9 regions and 7 tiles, with less-than, target-sum and all-equal rules in play. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hint 1 — where to start

Medium
Your way in today is the teal region: one cell that must be exactly 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 1–1 belongs down column 2, rows 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 1. The 1 half sits in the teal region, which must be exactly 1.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 5–0: down column 4, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 0. The 5 half sits in the slate region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — September 12, 2025

53
50
24
11
02
21
60

blue (<3): 2 | purple (<3): 2 | green (=1): 1 · 0 | amber (=0): 0 · 0 | orange: 6 | slate (=): 5 · 5 | teal (=1): 1 | pink (=8): 1 · 4 · 3 | lime (<3): 2

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue<3 — Be less than 31
Purple<3 — Be less than 31
Green1 — Add up to exactly 12
Amber0 — Add up to exactly 02
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal1 — Be exactly 11
Pink8 — Add up to exactly 83
Lime<3 — Be less than 31

The Hard grid runs to 13 regions and 12 tiles, with target-sum, no-repeats, all-equal and less-than rules in play. We give you a light nudge first — enough to get unstuck without spoiling the fun — and the full answer only when you ask for it.

Hard is where most players get stuck.We break it into small, spoiler-safe nudges so you can stop the moment you’re unstuck.

Hint 1 — where to start

Hard
Your way in today is the blue region: one cell that must be exactly 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 4–1 belongs down column 5, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 1. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must have no two cells showing the same number.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 3–0: across row 3, columns 5–6. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 0. The 3 half sits in the purple region, which must have no two cells showing the same number.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 0–4 down column 1, rows 6–7 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because pink must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the pink region, which must be exactly 0.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — September 12, 2025

66
52
32
30
54
04
05
65
64
36
55
41

blue (=1): 1 | purple (≠): 4 · 5 · 2 · 3 | green (=4): 4 | amber (=0): 0 | orange (=20): 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 | slate (=30): 6 · 6 · 6 · 6 · 6 | teal (=): 4 · 4 | pink (=0): 0 | lime: 3 | brown: 5 | blue: 3 | purple (=0): 0 | green (<3): 2

Prefer to watch it worked out step by step? Try the Pips Solver.

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue1 — Be exactly 11
Purple≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number4
Green4 — Be exactly 41
Amber0 — Be exactly 01
Orange20 — Add up to exactly 204
Slate30 — Add up to exactly 305
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink0 — Be exactly 01
LimeTake any value it likes1
BrownTake any value it likes1
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple0 — Be exactly 01
Green<3 — Be less than 31
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →