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Pips hints — Thursday, October 1, 2026

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

Thursday, October 1, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 5 regions and 5 tiles, with less-than, all-equal, target-sum and greater-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
Look at the orange region first. Across one cell it has to be more than 4. Only 2 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
There is exactly one home for the 5–6: down column 4, rows 3–4. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be more than 4.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — October 1, 2026

46
00
56
10
04

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue<4 — Be less than 41
Purple= — Show the same number on every cell4
Green10 — Add up to exactly 102
Amber10 — Add up to exactly 102
Orange>4 — Be more than 41

The Medium grid runs to 9 regions and 7 tiles, with all-equal, greater-than, less-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
Look at the orange region first. Across one cell it has to be exactly 4. 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 6–0: down column 4, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because amber must add up to less than 7. The 6 half sits in the purple region, which must take any value it likes.

Hint 3

Medium
Lay the 1–1 down column 2, rows 1–2 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must show the same number on every cell.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — October 1, 2026

46
41
60
11
35
45
21

blue (=): 1 · 1 | purple: 6 | green (>9): 4 · 6 | amber (<7): 0 · 4 · 1 · 1 | orange (=4): 4 | slate: 5 | teal (<4): 3 | pink: 5 | lime (<3): 2

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
PurpleTake any value it likes1
Green>9 — Add up to more than 92
Amber<7 — Add up to less than 74
Orange4 — Be exactly 41
SlateTake any value it likes1
Teal<4 — Be less than 41
PinkTake any value it likes1
Lime<3 — Be less than 31

The Hard grid runs to 32 regions and 16 tiles, with 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.

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 1. 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 1–2: down column 2, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must be exactly 1.

Hint 3

Hard
Lay the 2–5 across row 5, columns 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must be exactly 2.

Hint 4

Hard
Place the 1–3 domino down column 3, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must be exactly 1.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — October 1, 2026

13
26
15
60
12
56
23
66
20
36
00
41
35
24
25
16

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue1 — Be exactly 11
Purple1 — Be exactly 11
Green2 — Be exactly 21
Amber2 — Be exactly 21
Orange5 — Be exactly 51
Slate2 — Be exactly 21
Teal3 — Be exactly 31
Pink3 — Be exactly 31
Lime6 — Be exactly 61
Brown5 — Be exactly 51
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple0 — Be exactly 01
Green0 — Be exactly 01
Amber3 — Be exactly 31
Orange5 — Be exactly 51
Slate1 — Be exactly 11
TealTake any value it likes1
Pink6 — Be exactly 61
Lime0 — Be exactly 01
Brown6 — Be exactly 61
Blue6 — Be exactly 61
Purple0 — Be exactly 01
Green1 — Be exactly 11
Amber1 — Be exactly 11
Orange2 — Be exactly 21
Slate2 — Be exactly 21
Teal5 — Be exactly 51
Pink6 — Be exactly 61
Lime6 — Be exactly 61
Brown6 — Be exactly 61
BlueTake any value it likes1
Purple4 — Be exactly 41
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