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Pips hints — Thursday, April 9, 2026

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

Thursday, April 9, 2026Archived board

Today's Easy board has 5 dominoes across 6 regions, mixing all-equal, less-than and target-sum 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
The orange region is the anchor: three cells, and they must add up to exactly 1. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 0–0: down column 5, rows 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 1.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — April 9, 2026

23
00
55
15
24

blue (=): 2 · 2 | purple (<4): 3 | green: 4 | amber (=): 5 · 5 | orange (=1): 0 · 0 · 1 | slate: 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 cell2
Purple<4 — Be less than 41
GreenTake any value it likes1
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange1 — Add up to exactly 13
SlateTake any value it likes1

Today's Medium board has 8 dominoes across 10 regions, mixing target-sum, greater-than 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.

Hint 1 — where to start

Medium
The orange 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

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 3–2: across row 3, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 3. The 3 half sits in the orange region, which must be exactly 3.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 4–0 across row 4, columns 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because lime must add up to exactly 4. The 4 half sits in the lime region, which must be exactly 4.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — April 9, 2026

40
54
00
11
55
62
32
56

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue5 — Add up to exactly 52
Purple>4 — Be more than 41
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange3 — Be exactly 31
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal10 — Add up to exactly 102
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell3
Lime4 — Be exactly 41
Brown>4 — Be more than 41

Today's Hard board has 12 dominoes across 15 regions, mixing all-equal, greater-than, 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.

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 3–6: across row 1, columns 4–5. 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 1–5 across row 5, columns 3–4 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because lime must add up to more than 3. The 1 half sits in the brown region, which must add up to exactly 3.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 4–4 domino across row 7, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to more than 3. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must be more than 3.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — April 9, 2026

01
52
31
60
34
50
33
26
15
32
44
36

blue (=): 2 · 2 | purple (>3): 6 | green (=3): 3 | amber (=): 6 · 6 | orange (=): 5 · 5 | slate (=): 3 · 3 | teal (=3): 0 · 3 | pink (=3): 0 · 3 | lime (>3): 5 | brown (=3): 1 · 1 · 1 | blue (>3): 4 | purple (>3): 4 | green (>3): 4 | amber (<3): 2 | orange (=3): 3 · 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 cell2
Purple>3 — Be more than 31
Green3 — Be exactly 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal3 — Add up to exactly 32
Pink3 — Add up to exactly 32
Lime>3 — Be more than 31
Brown3 — Add up to exactly 33
Blue>3 — Be more than 31
Purple>3 — Be more than 31
Green>3 — Be more than 31
Amber<3 — Be less than 31
Orange3 — Add up to exactly 32
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