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Pips hints — Friday, May 15, 2026

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

Friday, May 15, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 5 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
Start with the blue region — its four cells must add up to exactly 1. Only 4 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
Place the 0–0 domino down column 4, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 1.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — May 15, 2026

00
45
64
31
10

blue (=1): 1 · 0 · 0 · 0 | purple (=): 4 · 4 | green: 5 | amber (=7): 6 · 1 | orange: 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue1 — Add up to exactly 14
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell2
GreenTake any value it likes1
Amber7 — Add up to exactly 72
OrangeTake any value it likes1

The Medium grid runs to 9 regions and 9 tiles, with no-repeats, 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

Medium
Start with the pink region — its one cell must be exactly 5. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
Place the 5–4 domino down column 1, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because pink must add up to exactly 5. The 5 half sits in the pink region, which must be exactly 5.

Hint 3

Medium
The 1–2 belongs down column 8, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because lime must add up to exactly 1. The 1 half sits in the lime region, which must be exactly 1.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — May 15, 2026

04
60
25
33
15
24
56
12
54

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
BlueTake any value it likes1
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number7
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange11 — Add up to exactly 112
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell2
Pink5 — Be exactly 51
Lime1 — Be exactly 11

The Hard grid runs to 10 regions and 12 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.

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 slate region — its one cell must be exactly 4. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
Place the 4–5 domino down column 4, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to exactly 4. The 4 half sits in the slate region, which must be exactly 4.

Hint 3

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

Hint 4

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 5–6: down column 1, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 10.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — May 15, 2026

56
11
44
53
21
45
13
46
33
10
66
51

blue (=10): 5 · 5 | purple (=5): 3 · 2 | green (=12): 6 · 0 · 6 | amber (=): 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 · 1 | orange (=10): 5 · 5 | slate (=4): 4 | teal (=6): 6 | pink (=9): 6 · 3 | lime (=): 4 · 4 · 4 | brown (=6): 3 · 3

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue10 — Add up to exactly 102
Purple5 — Add up to exactly 52
Green12 — Add up to exactly 123
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell6
Orange10 — Add up to exactly 102
Slate4 — Be exactly 41
Teal6 — Be exactly 61
Pink9 — Add up to exactly 92
Lime= — Show the same number on every cell3
Brown6 — Add up to exactly 62
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