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Pips hints — Thursday, September 18, 2025

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

Thursday, September 18, 2025Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 4 regions and 4 tiles, with 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

Easy
Ignore the open areas for now and go straight to the green region, where two cells must add up to exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
Lay the 3–0 down column 4, rows 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 0. The 3 half sits in the purple region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — September 18, 2025

30
60
36
00

blue (=6): 0 · 0 · 6 | purple (=): 3 · 3 | green (=0): 0 · 0 | amber: 6

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue6 — Add up to exactly 63
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green0 — Add up to exactly 02
AmberTake any value it likes1

The Medium grid runs to 5 regions and 6 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.

Hint 1 — where to start

Medium
Ignore the open areas for now and go straight to the orange region, where one cell must be less than 3. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
Lay the 0–2 across row 4, columns 3–4 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to less than 3. The 0 half sits in the orange region, which must be less than 3.

Hint 3

Medium
Place the 5–4 domino down column 2, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 4. The 5 half sits in the green region, which must add up to exactly 20.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — September 18, 2025

42
05
62
54
02
30

blue (=4): 0 · 4 | purple (≠): 3 · 0 | green (=20): 5 · 4 · 5 · 6 | amber (=): 2 · 2 · 2 | orange (<3): 0

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue4 — Add up to exactly 42
Purple≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number2
Green20 — Add up to exactly 204
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
Orange<3 — Be less than 31

The Hard grid runs to 11 regions and 10 tiles, with target-sum, greater-than 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.

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
Ignore the open areas for now and go straight to the brown region, where one cell must be exactly 0. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
Lay the 0–5 down column 1, rows 5–6 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because brown must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the brown region, which must be exactly 0.

Hint 3

Hard
Place the 1–5 domino across row 1, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to more than 4. The 1 half sits in the blue region, which must add up to exactly 2.

Hint 4

Hard
The 2–1 belongs across row 2, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 2. The 2 half sits in the green region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — September 18, 2025

21
36
42
15
25
05
11
22
04
35

blue (=2): 1 · 1 | purple (>4): 5 | green (=): 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 | amber (>3): 4 | orange (=10): 5 · 5 | slate (=2): 1 · 1 | teal: 5 | pink: 0 | lime (=10): 4 · 6 | brown (=0): 0 | blue (=): 3 · 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue2 — Add up to exactly 22
Purple>4 — Be more than 41
Green= — Show the same number on every cell5
Amber>3 — Be more than 31
Orange10 — Add up to exactly 102
Slate2 — Add up to exactly 22
TealTake any value it likes1
PinkTake any value it likes1
Lime10 — Add up to exactly 102
Brown0 — Be exactly 01
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell2
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