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Pips hints — Thursday, August 20, 2026

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

Thursday, August 20, 2026Archived board

Today's Easy board has 5 dominoes across 6 regions, mixing 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
Start with the blue region — its one cell must be less than 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 4–0 belongs across row 1, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must add up to less than 1. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must add up to exactly 10.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — August 20, 2026

40
65
41
51
33

blue (<1): 0 | purple (=10): 4 · 6 | green (=10): 3 · 3 · 4 | amber (=10): 5 · 5 | orange: 1 | slate: 1

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue<1 — Be less than 11
Purple10 — Add up to exactly 102
Green10 — Add up to exactly 103
Amber10 — Add up to exactly 102
OrangeTake any value it likes1
SlateTake any value it likes1

Today's Medium board has 7 dominoes across 7 regions, mixing target-sum, less-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
Start with the purple region — its one cell must be less than 2. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 4–1 belongs across row 1, columns 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to less than 2. The 4 half sits in the blue region, which must add up to exactly 12.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 3–4: across row 3, columns 4–5. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to exactly 9.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — August 20, 2026

41
02
44
25
12
34
56

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue12 — Add up to exactly 123
Purple<2 — Be less than 21
Green= — Show the same number on every cell3
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange9 — Add up to exactly 92
Slate<2 — Be less than 21
Teal5 — Add up to exactly 52

Today's Hard board has 13 dominoes across 14 regions, mixing target-sum, all-equal, greater-than 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
Start with the teal region — its one cell must be more than 4. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 3–6 belongs down column 1, rows 5–6. It is the only tile that works there, because brown must add up to more than 4. The 3 half sits in the blue region, which must add up to exactly 9.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 2–5: across row 6, columns 6–7. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to more than 10. The 2 half sits in the green region, which must add up to less than 3.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 0–0 down column 8, rows 5–6 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because lime must add up to exactly 3.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — August 20, 2026

36
44
01
65
33
21
64
00
55
34
25
66
45

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue3 — Add up to exactly 32
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green= — Show the same number on every cell3
Amber>0 — Be more than 01
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell3
Slate>3 — Be more than 31
Teal>4 — Be more than 41
Pink= — Show the same number on every cell3
Lime3 — Add up to exactly 32
Brown>4 — Be more than 41
Blue9 — Add up to exactly 93
Purple>10 — Add up to more than 102
Green<3 — Add up to less than 32
Amber>3 — Be more than 31
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