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Pips hints — Monday, January 12, 2026

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

Monday, January 12, 2026Archived board

Today's Easy board has 5 dominoes across 7 regions, mixing greater-than, all-equal, target-sum and less-than rules. 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 blue region: one cell that must be more than 5. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 6–4 belongs across row 1, columns 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to more than 5. The 6 half sits in the blue region, which must be more than 5.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — January 12, 2026

55
64
52
45
01

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>5 — Be more than 51
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber2 — Be exactly 21
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate5 — Add up to exactly 52
Teal<3 — Be less than 31

Today's Medium board has 7 dominoes across 8 regions, mixing target-sum, all-equal and less-than rules. 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 blue region: two cells that must add up to exactly 2. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 0–5 belongs down column 3, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because pink must add up to exactly 2.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 1–5: down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because green must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — January 12, 2026

53
60
05
11
52
15
20

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

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
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green= — Show the same number on every cell3
Amber<6 — Be less than 61
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal<5 — Be less than 51
Pink2 — Add up to exactly 23

Today's Hard board has 12 dominoes across 12 regions, mixing target-sum and all-equal rules. 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 purple region: two cells that must add up to exactly 12. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 5–6 belongs down column 5, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 12. The 5 half sits in the amber region, which must add up to exactly 10.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 3–6: across row 4, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 12. The 3 half sits in the green region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 2–6 down column 4, rows 5–6 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 12. The 2 half sits in the brown region, which must add up to exactly 4.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — January 12, 2026

53
64
02
36
25
44
23
05
43
56
11
26

blue (=4): 2 · 2 | purple (=12): 6 · 6 | green (=): 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 | amber (=10): 5 · 5 | orange: 4 | slate: 4 | teal (=12): 6 · 6 | pink (=10): 5 · 5 | lime (=2): 0 · 1 · 1 · 0 | brown (=4): 2 · 2 | blue: 4 | purple: 4

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
Purple12 — Add up to exactly 122
Green= — Show the same number on every cell4
Amber10 — Add up to exactly 102
OrangeTake any value it likes1
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal12 — Add up to exactly 122
Pink10 — Add up to exactly 102
Lime2 — Add up to exactly 24
Brown4 — Add up to exactly 42
BlueTake any value it likes1
PurpleTake any value it likes1
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →