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Pips hints — Thursday, April 16, 2026

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

Thursday, April 16, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 7 regions and 5 tiles, with target-sum and all-equal 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
Look at the green region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 4. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 3–4 belongs across row 3, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 4. The 3 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — April 16, 2026

24
41
35
34
01

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue6 — Add up to exactly 62
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green4 — Be exactly 41
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate1 — Be exactly 11
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2

The Medium grid runs to 8 regions and 7 tiles, with target-sum, greater-than and all-equal 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
Look at the orange region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 6. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 4–6 belongs down column 1, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 6. The 4 half sits in the slate region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 3–5: down column 4, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 10. The 3 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — April 16, 2026

46
35
04
56
32
54
34

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue6 — Add up to exactly 62
Purple6 — Add up to exactly 62
Green>0 — Be more than 01
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange6 — Be exactly 61
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell3
Teal10 — Add up to exactly 102
PinkTake any value it likes1

The Hard grid runs to 10 regions and 14 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
Look at the green region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 4. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 4–5 belongs down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because green must add up to exactly 4. The 4 half sits in the green region, which must be exactly 4.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 3–1: down column 1, rows 5–6. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 8.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 0–5 down column 1, rows 7–8 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 8. The 0 half sits in the lime region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — April 16, 2026

11
56
41
55
10
45
31
05
44
35
00
34
20
46

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

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
Green4 — Be exactly 41
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
Orange8 — Add up to exactly 82
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell5
Teal8 — Add up to exactly 82
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell2
Lime= — Show the same number on every cell5
Brown5 — Add up to exactly 52
All hintsFull answers for this dayJun 28 →