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Pips hints — Friday, August 21, 2026

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

Friday, August 21, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 7 regions and 5 tiles, with less-than, 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

Easy
Look at the purple region first. Across one cell it has to be less than 1. 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 4–0: down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to less than 1. The 4 half sits in the blue region, which must take any value it likes.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — August 21, 2026

52
63
15
35
40

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple<1 — Be less than 11
Green>4 — Be more than 41
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell3
Slate= — Show the same number on every cell2
Teal>1 — Be more than 11

The Medium grid runs to 7 regions and 7 tiles, with greater-than, target-sum, all-equal and less-than 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 blue region first. Across one cell it has to be more than 3. Only 3 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 5–5: across row 3, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 8. The 5 half sits in the orange region, which must take any value it likes.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 4–1 across row 2, columns 2–3 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because green must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — August 21, 2026

12
64
55
43
00
66
41

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>3 — Be more than 31
Purple8 — Add up to exactly 83
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell3
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate<4 — Be less than 41
Teal<3 — Add up to less than 33

The Hard grid runs to 15 regions and 16 tiles, with all-equal, greater-than, less-than, target-sum and no-repeats 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 slate region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 5. 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 1–5: across row 3, columns 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must add up to exactly 5. The 1 half sits in the orange region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 3–4 across row 5, columns 6–7 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because brown must add up to exactly 3. The 3 half sits in the brown region, which must be exactly 3.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 3–1 domino across row 10, columns 5–6. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must add up to less than 2. The 3 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — August 21, 2026

34
61
22
63
41
33
24
06
31
25
66
15
23
55
44
35

blue (=): 3 · 3 | purple (>3): 5 | green (=): 2 · 2 | amber (<3): 2 | orange (=): 1 · 1 | slate (=5): 5 | teal (=): 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 | pink (<3): 2 | lime (>3): 6 | brown (=3): 3 | blue (≠): 2 · 5 · 0 · 6 · 4 · 1 | purple (>15): 5 · 5 · 6 | green (>10): 6 · 6 | amber (=): 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 | orange (<2): 1

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
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber<3 — Be less than 31
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell2
Slate5 — Be exactly 51
Teal= — Show the same number on every cell4
Pink<3 — Be less than 31
Lime>3 — Be more than 31
Brown3 — Be exactly 31
Blue≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number6
Purple>15 — Add up to more than 153
Green>10 — Add up to more than 102
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell4
Orange<2 — Be less than 21
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