Pips answers for Monday, January 26, 2026

Start with the 30 region at the center: only 4 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 6, or 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 can make it with these dominoes.

• the single-cell “<3” region at the top-left: 2
• the 30 region at the center: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
• the single-cell “<2” region at the top-right: 1
• the single-cell “>4” region at the left: 5
• the single-cell “>5” region at the right: 6
• the single-cell “>3” region at the bottom-left: 4

1. The single-cell “<2” region at the top-right must total less than 2 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–5 domino horizontally on row 1, column 3 and row 1, column 4.
2. The single-cell “<3” region at the top-left must total less than 3 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 2–5 domino horizontally on row 1, column 1 and row 1, column 2.
3. The single-cell “>5” region at the right must total more than 5 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 5–6 domino horizontally on row 2, column 3 and row 2, column 4.
4. The 30 region at the center needs a total of exactly 30 (3 of its 6 cells are already filled) — 5 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 3–5 domino horizontally on row 3, column 3 and row 3, column 4.
5. The 30 region at the center needs a total of exactly 30 (4 of its 6 cells are already filled) — 3 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 5–5 domino vertically on row 2, column 2 and row 3, column 2.
6. Row 2, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 1; the single-cell “>4” region at the left must total more than 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 4–5 domino vertically on row 2, column 1 and row 3, column 1.

Start with the 10 region at the top-right: the only way to make it with these dominoes is 4 + 6.

• the “=” region at the top-left: 2, 2
• the “=” region at the top: 0, 0
• the 10 region at the top-right: 4, 6
• the single-cell “<4” region at the left: 0
• the “=” region at the bottom-left: 2, 2
• the 10 region at the bottom-right: 4, 6

1. The 10 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 10 — nothing else fits. Place the 4–4 domino vertically on row 2, column 4 and row 3, column 4.
2. The “=” region at the top needs every pip to match — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–6 domino horizontally on row 1, column 3 and row 1, column 4.
3. The 10 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 10 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 2–6 domino horizontally on row 3, column 2 and row 3, column 3.
4. The “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match — nothing else fits. Place the 2–2 domino horizontally on row 1, column 1 and row 1, column 2.
5. The single-cell “<4” region at the left must total less than 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–2 domino vertically on row 2, column 1 and row 3, column 1.
6. Row 2, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 2; the “=” region at the top needs every pip to match (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–5 domino horizontally on row 2, column 2 and row 2, column 3.

Start with the 9 region at the bottom-right: only 3 + 6, or 4 + 5 can make it with these dominoes.

• the single-cell “>4” region at the top-left: 6
• the “=” region at the top-left: 6, 6
• the 5 region at the top: 1, 4
• the “≠” region at the center: 1, 2, 3, 4
• the 6 region at the bottom-left: 2, 4
• the 9 region at the bottom-right: 3, 6
• the 9 region at the bottom-left: 4, 5
• the 4 region at the bottom-right: 0, 4
• the single-cell “<3” region at the bottom-left: 1
• the single-cell “<2” region at the bottom-right: 1

1. The 9 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 9 — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 1–4 domino horizontally on row 7, column 1 and row 7, column 2.
2. Row 6, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 6, column 3; the 9 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 9 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 4–5 domino horizontally on row 6, column 2 and row 6, column 3.
3. The “≠” region at the center needs every pip to be different — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 2–2 domino horizontally on row 5, column 3 and row 5, column 4.
4. The “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match — 3 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 6–6 domino horizontally on row 1, column 2 and row 1, column 3.
5. Row 2, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 4; the “=” region at the top-left needs every pip to match (1 of its 2 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 1–6 domino horizontally on row 2, column 3 and row 2, column 4.
6. The 9 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 9 — 3 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 4–6 domino horizontally on row 6, column 6 and row 6, column 7.
7. The “≠” region at the center needs every pip to be different (1 of its 4 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 3–3 domino horizontally on row 5, column 5 and row 5, column 6.
8. Row 7, column 7 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 7, column 8; the 4 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 4 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–1 domino horizontally on row 7, column 7 and row 7, column 8.
9. The “≠” region at the center needs every pip to be different (2 of its 4 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 4–4 domino vertically on row 3, column 4 and row 4, column 4.
10. Row 4, column 5 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 5; the “≠” region at the center needs every pip to be different (3 of its 4 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 1–2 domino vertically on row 3, column 5 and row 4, column 5.

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