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Pips hints — Sunday, October 4, 2026

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

Sunday, October 4, 2026Archived board

The Easy grid runs to 4 regions and 4 tiles, with all-equal 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
The purple region is the anchor: two cells, and they must add up to exactly 9. Only 4 pip combinations fit it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Easy
The 4–2 belongs across row 1, columns 2–3. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must add up to exactly 9.
Reveal the full Easy answer

Easy solution — October 4, 2026

42
22
56
35

blue (=): 2 · 2 | purple (=9): 4 · 5 | green (=7): 2 · 5 | amber (=9): 6 · 3

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
Purple9 — Add up to exactly 92
Green7 — Add up to exactly 72
Amber9 — Add up to exactly 92

The Medium grid runs to 9 regions and 7 tiles, with less-than, no-repeats, greater-than, all-equal 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
The orange region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be exactly 1. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Medium
The 5–1 belongs across row 4, columns 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because orange must be exactly 1. The 5 half sits in the amber region, which must show the same number on every cell.

Hint 3

Medium
There is exactly one home for the 4–2: down column 4, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because blue must be less than 3. The 4 half sits in the purple region, which must have no two cells showing the same number.
Reveal the full Medium answer

Medium solution — October 4, 2026

13
42
65
53
51
23
55

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

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

What each region asks for

RegionRuleCells
Blue<3 — Be less than 31
Purple≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number3
Green>3 — Be more than 31
Amber= — Show the same number on every cell4
Orange1 — Be exactly 11
SlateTake any value it likes1
TealTake any value it likes1
Pink2 — Be exactly 21
Lime1 — Be exactly 11

The Hard grid runs to 18 regions and 14 tiles, with target-sum, less-than, all-equal, no-repeats 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.

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
The slate region is the anchor: one cell, and it must be exactly 2. Only 1 pip combination fits it at all, which is why it gives way first.

Hint 2

Hard
The 2–0 belongs down column 2, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because slate must be exactly 2.

Hint 3

Hard
There is exactly one home for the 2–3: down column 6, rows 1–2. It is the only tile that works there, because pink must be exactly 2.

Hint 4

Hard
Lay the 6–3 down column 2, rows 4–5 — no guesswork needed. It is the only tile that works there, because purple must be more than 5.
Reveal the full Hard answer

Hard solution — October 4, 2026

63
42
51
03
45
53
23
13
20
44
34
22
05
10

blue (=3): 3 · 0 | purple (=8): 5 · 3 | green (<2): 1 | amber (=3): 0 · 3 | orange (=): 4 · 4 · 4 | slate (=2): 2 | teal (≠): 5 · 4 | pink (=2): 2 | lime (=): 2 · 2 · 2 | brown: 3 | blue (<2): 1 | purple (>5): 6 | green (≠): 1 · 5 | amber (=0): 0 | orange (=3): 0 · 3 | slate (=3): 3 | teal: 5 | pink: 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
Purple8 — Add up to exactly 82
Green<2 — Be less than 21
Amber3 — Add up to exactly 32
Orange= — Show the same number on every cell3
Slate2 — Be exactly 21
Teal≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number2
Pink2 — Be exactly 21
Lime= — Show the same number on every cell3
BrownTake any value it likes1
Blue<2 — Be less than 21
Purple>5 — Be more than 51
Green≠ — Have no two cells showing the same number2
Amber0 — Be exactly 01
Orange3 — Add up to exactly 32
Slate3 — Be exactly 31
TealTake any value it likes1
PinkTake any value it likes1
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