Pips answers for Saturday, October 4, 2025

Start with the 8 region at the left: the only way to make it with these dominoes is 4 + 4.

• the 8 region at the left: 4, 4
• the 9 region at the bottom-left: 3, 6
• the 7 region at the bottom: 1, 6

1. The 8 region at the left needs a total of exactly 8 — 5 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 3–4 domino vertically on row 3, column 1 and row 4, column 1.
2. Row 2, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 1, column 1; the 8 region at the left needs a total of exactly 8 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 4–4 domino vertically on row 1, column 1 and row 2, column 1.
3. Row 5, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 5, column 2; the 9 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 9 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 1–6 domino horizontally on row 5, column 1 and row 5, column 2.
4. Row 5, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 5, column 4; the 7 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 7 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 3–6 domino horizontally on row 5, column 3 and row 5, column 4.

Start with the “=” region at the top-left: all 5 cells must show the same number, and only 0s appear on enough dominoes to fill it.

• the “=” region at the top-left: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
• the “=” region at the top-right: 1, 1, 1
• the single-cell 4 region at the left: 4
• the “=” region at the right: 2, 2
• the “=” region at the bottom: 6, 6

1. The “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match — 4 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–0 domino horizontally on row 1, column 1 and row 1, column 2.
2. Row 2, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 2; the single-cell 4 region at the left needs a total of exactly 4 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 4–5 domino horizontally on row 2, column 1 and row 2, column 2.
3. The “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match (2 of its 5 cells are already filled) — 3 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–1 domino horizontally on row 1, column 3 and row 1, column 4.
4. The “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match (3 of its 5 cells are already filled) — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–2 domino horizontally on row 2, column 3 and row 2, column 4.
5. The “=” region at the top-right needs every pip to match (1 of its 3 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 1–2 domino vertically on row 1, column 5 and row 2, column 5.
6. Row 1, column 6 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 6; the “=” region at the top-right needs every pip to match (2 of its 3 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 1–4 domino vertically on row 1, column 6 and row 2, column 6.
7. The “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match (4 of its 5 cells are already filled) — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–5 domino vertically on row 3, column 3 and row 4, column 3.
8. Row 3, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 4; the “=” region at the bottom needs every pip to match — nothing else fits. Place the 6–6 domino vertically on row 3, column 4 and row 4, column 4.

Start with the 3 region at the bottom-right: only 0 + 3, or 1 + 2 can make it with these dominoes.

• the “=” region at the top-left: 4, 4
• the single-cell 0 region at the top: 0
• the “<3” region at the top-right: 0, 1
• the single-cell 3 region at the top: 3
• the single-cell 0 region at the top: 0
• the 4 region at the center: 1, 1, 1, 1
• the single-cell 0 region at the bottom-left: 0
• the 3 region at the bottom-right: 1, 2

1. The single-cell 0 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 0 — 3 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 0–3 domino vertically on row 4, column 1 and row 5, column 1.
2. The 3 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 3 — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 1–2 domino vertically on row 4, column 4 and row 5, column 4.
3. The single-cell 3 region at the top needs a total of exactly 3 — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 1–3 domino vertically on row 2, column 2 and row 3, column 2.
4. The 4 region at the center needs a total of exactly 4 (1 of its 4 cells is already filled) — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 0–1 domino vertically on row 2, column 3 and row 3, column 3.
5. The single-cell 0 region at the top needs a total of exactly 0 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–0 domino horizontally on row 1, column 2 and row 1, column 3.
6. Row 4, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 3; the 4 region at the center needs a total of exactly 4 (2 of its 4 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 1–1 domino horizontally on row 4, column 2 and row 4, column 3.
7. Row 1, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 1; the “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match — nothing else fits. Place the 4–4 domino vertically on row 1, column 1 and row 2, column 1.
8. Row 1, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 4; the “<3” region at the top-right must total less than 3 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 1–4 domino vertically on row 1, column 4 and row 2, column 4.

This board has more than one valid layout; the steps follow the official answer.