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Pips hints — Thursday, January 29, 2026

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

Thursday, January 29, 2026Archived board

Easy today: 5 dominoes, 6 regions and greater-than and target-sum constraints. 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
The amber region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be more than 5. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 0–6: across row 1, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to more than 5. The 0 half sits in the green region, which must add up to exactly 8.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — January 29, 2026

42
11
33
06
05

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>3 — Be more than 31
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green8 — Add up to exactly 83
Amber>5 — Be more than 51
Orange2 — Add up to exactly 23
SlateTake any value it likes1

Medium today: 7 dominoes, 7 regions and target-sum and all-equal constraints. 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
The blue region is the anchor: two cells, and they must add up to exactly 8. Only 5 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 4–5: down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 8. The 4 half sits in the amber region, which must take any value it likes.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 3–6 across row 1, columns 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 8.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — January 29, 2026

14
02
61
45
26
40
36

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

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
Purple8 — Add up to exactly 82
Green8 — Add up to exactly 82
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange8 — Add up to exactly 83
Slate8 — Add up to exactly 82
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2

Hard today: 16 dominoes, 16 regions and all-equal and target-sum constraints. 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
The green region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be exactly 3. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 3–4: down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 3. The 3 half sits in the green region, which must be exactly 3.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 5–3 down column 1, rows 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because brown must add up to exactly 3. The 5 half sits in the slate region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 4

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

Hard solution — January 29, 2026

14
22
44
55
26
10
34
65
23
11
04
53
45
00
12
50

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell3
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green3 — Be exactly 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell4
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell4
Teal10 — Add up to exactly 102
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell4
Lime3 — Be exactly 31
Brown3 — Be exactly 31
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple1 — Be exactly 11
Green5 — Be exactly 51
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell4
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate5 — Be exactly 51
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →