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Pips hints — Monday, February 16, 2026

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

Monday, February 16, 2026Archived board

Easy today: 5 dominoes, 6 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.

Hint 1 — where to start

Easy
Look at the green region first. Across two cells it has to add up to exactly 9. Only 4 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 4–4 belongs across row 4, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 9. The 4 half sits in the orange region, which must take any value it likes.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — February 16, 2026

61
00
44
65
11

blue (=): 1 · 1 · 1 | purple: 6 | green (=9): 5 · 4 | amber (=6): 6 · 0 | orange: 4 | slate: 0

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
Green9 — Add up to exactly 92
Amber6 — Add up to exactly 62
OrangeTake any value it likes1
SlateTake any value it likes1

Medium today: 7 dominoes, 7 regions and target-sum, less-than, no-repeats and greater-than 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
Look at the teal region first. Across one cell it has to be more than 5. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 6–4 belongs across row 5, columns 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to more than 5. The 6 half sits in the teal region, which must be more than 5.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 4–4: across row 1, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 8.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — February 16, 2026

23
44
03
66
42
00
64

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

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
Purple<3 — Add up to less than 33
Green8 — Add up to exactly 83
Amber<5 — Be less than 51
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number3
Teal>5 — Be more than 51

Hard today: 12 dominoes, 9 regions and all-equal, target-sum and no-repeats 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
Look at the amber region first. Across two cells it has to add up to exactly 1. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 5–0 belongs across row 4, columns 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 1. The 5 half sits in the orange region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 1–6: down column 4, rows 5–6. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 1.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 5–3 across row 6, columns 5–6 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 11.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — February 16, 2026

54
42
06
53
14
50
43
25
12
16
22
10

blue (=): 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 | purple (=): 4 · 4 | green (=2): 1 · 1 | amber (=1): 0 · 1 | orange (=): 5 · 5 | slate (=7): 4 · 3 | teal (=11): 6 · 5 | pink (≠): 4 · 3 · 2 · 0 · 5 · 6 · 1 | lime: 0

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 cell4
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
Green2 — Add up to exactly 22
Amber1 — Add up to exactly 12
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate7 — Add up to exactly 72
Teal11 — Add up to exactly 112
Pink≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number7
LimeTake any value it likes1
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