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Pips hints — Saturday, September 5, 2026

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

Saturday, September 5, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 7 regions and 5 tiles, with all-equal, greater-than 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

Easy
Start with the slate region — its one cell must 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 5–4: across row 3, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be more than 3. The 5 half sits in the green region, which must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — September 5, 2026

26
52
61
54
33

blue (=): 3 · 3 | purple (>4): 6 | green (=): 5 · 5 | amber (=): 2 · 2 | orange (>3): 4 | slate (>5): 6 | teal (<3): 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>4 — Be more than 41
Green= — Show the same number on every cell2
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell2
Orange>3 — Be more than 31
Slate>5 — Be more than 51
Teal<3 — Be less than 31

The Medium grid runs to 9 regions and 7 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

Medium
Start with the amber region — its two cells must add up to exactly 10. 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 4–4: down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to exactly 10. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must add up to exactly 15.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 0–5 down column 4, rows 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 15. The 0 half sits in the orange region, which must take any value it likes.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — September 5, 2026

06
44
02
16
05
66
03

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue>0 — Be more than 01
Purple15 — Add up to exactly 153
GreenTake any value it likes1
Amber10 — Add up to exactly 102
OrangeTake any value it likes1
Slate15 — Add up to exactly 153
TealTake any value it likes1
PinkTake any value it likes1
Lime>1 — Be more than 11

The Hard grid runs to 15 regions and 12 tiles, with all-equal, target-sum, greater-than 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.

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 3. 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 3–5: down column 1, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must be exactly 3.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 2–5 across row 4, columns 7–8 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because brown must be exactly 5. The 2 half sits in the lime region, which must add up to exactly 5.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 5–5 domino down column 2, rows 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because green must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — September 5, 2026

41
25
60
35
12
33
15
26
55
30
66
45

blue: 1 | purple: 0 | green (=): 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 | amber (=15): 6 · 4 · 5 | orange (>3): 4 | slate (=3): 3 | teal (<3): 1 | pink (>2): 3 | lime (=5): 2 · 3 | brown (=5): 5 | blue (=3): 1 · 2 | purple (=15): 3 · 6 · 6 | green (>3): 6 | amber: 0 | orange (>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
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green= — Show the same number on every cell4
Amber15 — Add up to exactly 153
Orange>3 — Be more than 31
Slate3 — Be exactly 31
Teal<3 — Be less than 31
Pink>2 — Be more than 21
Lime5 — Add up to exactly 52
Brown5 — Be exactly 51
Blue3 — Add up to exactly 32
Purple15 — Add up to exactly 153
Green>3 — Be more than 31
AmberTake any value it likes1
Orange>1 — Be more than 11
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