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Pips hints — Friday, March 20, 2026

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

Friday, March 20, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 6 regions and 5 tiles, with target-sum, all-equal and greater-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

Easy
Start with the slate region — its one cell must be more than 5. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 6–0 belongs down column 1, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to more than 5. The 6 half sits in the slate region, which must be more than 5.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — March 20, 2026

55
35
00
33
60

blue (=10): 5 · 5 · 0 | purple (=): 3 · 3 · 3 | green: 0 | amber: 5 | orange: 0 | slate (>5): 6

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue10 — Add up to exactly 103
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell3
GreenTake any value it likes1
AmberTake any value it likes1
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate>5 — Be more than 51

The Medium grid runs to 8 regions and 8 tiles, with all-equal and 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

Medium
Start with the green region — its one cell must be exactly 6. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 0–6 belongs down column 4, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 6. The 0 half sits in the orange region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 3–4: across row 6, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 4. The 3 half sits in the slate region, which must add up to exactly 3.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — March 20, 2026

34
01
22
06
55
66
02
25

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

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
Purple3 — Add up to exactly 32
Green6 — Be exactly 61
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate3 — Add up to exactly 32
Teal4 — Be exactly 41
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell2

The Hard grid runs to 12 regions and 12 tiles, with all-equal and 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.

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
Start with the purple region — its one cell must be exactly 6. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 0–6 belongs down column 2, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 6. The 0 half sits in the blue region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 2–6: across row 7, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because lime must add up to exactly 6. The 2 half sits in the pink region, which must add up to exactly 6.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 6–1 across row 7, columns 5–6 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 6. The 6 half sits in the blue region, which must be exactly 6.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — March 20, 2026

25
51
06
26
22
00
54
31
61
56
33
11

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

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
Purple6 — Be exactly 61
Green6 — Add up to exactly 62
Amber6 — Add up to exactly 62
Orange6 — Add up to exactly 62
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal6 — Add up to exactly 64
Pink6 — Add up to exactly 63
Lime6 — Be exactly 61
Brown6 — Add up to exactly 62
Blue6 — Be exactly 61
Purple6 — Be exactly 61
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