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Pips hints — Thursday, May 21, 2026

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

Thursday, May 21, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 6 regions and 5 tiles, with greater-than 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

Easy
Look at the blue 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

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 6–5: down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to more than 5. The 6 half sits in the blue region, which must be more than 5.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — May 21, 2026

42
65
66
22
33

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>5 — Be more than 51
Purple>5 — Be more than 51
Green8 — Add up to exactly 82
Amber8 — Add up to exactly 82
Orange5 — Add up to exactly 52
Slate6 — Add up to exactly 62

The Medium grid runs to 8 regions and 7 tiles, with target-sum, less-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 teal region first. Across one cell it has to 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 3–5: across row 7, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because teal must add up to exactly 3. The 3 half sits in the teal region, which must be exactly 3.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 1–0 across row 1, columns 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to less than 2. The 1 half sits in the purple region, which must be less than 2.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — May 21, 2026

35
63
10
13
62
45
02

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue2 — Add up to exactly 22
Purple<2 — Be less than 21
Green6 — Add up to exactly 63
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 — Be exactly 31
Pink<2 — Be less than 21

The Hard grid runs to 29 regions and 15 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
Look at the blue region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 0. 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 0–4: down column 1, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to exactly 0. The 0 half sits in the blue region, which must be exactly 0.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 1–5 across row 5, columns 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because pink must add up to exactly 1. The 1 half sits in the pink region, which must be exactly 1.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 2–4 domino down column 2, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 2. The 2 half sits in the purple region, which must be exactly 2.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — May 21, 2026

01
02
03
04
05
12
13
14
15
23
24
25
34
35
45

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue0 — Be exactly 01
Purple2 — Be exactly 21
Green1 — Be exactly 11
Amber5 — Be exactly 51
Orange4 — Be exactly 41
Slate5 — Be exactly 51
Teal4 — Be exactly 41
Pink4 — Be exactly 41
Lime3 — Be exactly 31
Brown0 — Be exactly 01
Blue= — Show the same number on every cell2
Purple2 — Be exactly 21
Green2 — Be exactly 21
Amber0 — Be exactly 01
Orange1 — Be exactly 11
Slate4 — Be exactly 41
Teal0 — Be exactly 01
Pink0 — Be exactly 01
Lime3 — Be exactly 31
Brown2 — Be exactly 21
Blue4 — Be exactly 41
Purple1 — Be exactly 11
Green2 — Be exactly 21
AmberTake any value it likes1
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate1 — Be exactly 11
Teal5 — Be exactly 51
Pink1 — Be exactly 11
Lime5 — Be exactly 51
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