Pips answers for Monday, March 23, 2026
Hints first, answers last — open only what you need. Puzzles edited by Ian Livengood.
Easy Pips answer — March 23, 2026
5 dominoes · 4×4 board · by Ian Livengood
Hint 1: where to start
Start with the “=” region at the center: all 3 cells must show the same number, and only 0s appear on enough dominoes to fill it.
Hint 2: the pips in each region
- the single-cell 1 region at the top-right: 1
- the “=” region at the center: 0, 0, 0
- the “=” region at the left: 4, 4
- the “=” region at the right: 5, 5
- the single-cell 1 region at the bottom-right: 1
Hint 3: step-by-step solution
- The “=” region at the right 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 1–5 domino vertically on row 3, column 4 and row 4, column 4.
- Row 1, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 4; the single-cell 1 region at the top-right needs a total of exactly 1 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–3 domino vertically on row 1, column 4 and row 2, column 4.
- The “=” region at the center 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 0–0 domino horizontally on row 2, column 2 and row 2, column 3.
- Row 2, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 1; the “=” region at the center needs every pip to match (2 of its 3 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–4 domino vertically on row 2, column 1 and row 3, column 1.
- Row 3, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 3; the “=” region at the left needs every pip to match (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 4–5 domino horizontally on row 3, column 2 and row 3, column 3.
Full answer board
1===1
Medium Pips answer — March 23, 2026
7 dominoes · 5×5 board · by Rodolfo Kurchan
Hint 1: where to start
Start with the 2 region at the center: the only way to make it with these dominoes is 1 + 1.
Hint 2: the pips in each region
- the 6 region at the top-left: 2, 4
- the 10 region at the top: 3, 3, 4
- the 2 region at the center: 1, 1
- the 10 region at the right: 5, 5
- the 5 region at the bottom-left: 2, 3
Hint 3: step-by-step solution
- The 2 region at the center needs a total of exactly 2 — 4 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 1–4 domino vertically on row 2, column 2 and row 3, column 2.
- The 10 region at the top needs a total of exactly 10 — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 2–4 domino horizontally on row 1, column 2 and row 1, column 3.
- The 2 region at the center needs a total of exactly 2 (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 1–5 domino horizontally on row 3, column 3 and row 3, column 4.
- Row 2, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 4; the 10 region at the top needs a total of exactly 10 (1 of its 3 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 3–3 domino horizontally on row 2, column 3 and row 2, column 4.
- The 10 region at the right needs a total of exactly 10 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 3–5 domino horizontally on row 4, column 4 and row 4, column 5.
- Row 4, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 2; the 5 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 5 — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 2–3 domino horizontally on row 4, column 1 and row 4, column 2.
- Row 4, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 5, column 3 — nothing else fits. Place the 6–6 domino vertically on row 4, column 3 and row 5, column 3.
This board has more than one valid layout; the steps follow the official answer.
Full answer board
6102105
Hard Pips answer — March 23, 2026
13 dominoes · 10×8 board · by Rodolfo Kurchan
Hint 1: where to start
Start with the 1 region at the right: the only way to make it with these dominoes is 0 + 1.
Hint 2: the pips in each region
- the single-cell 6 region at the top-left: 6
- the 3 region at the top-left: 0, 1, 2
- the 4 region at the top-left: 2, 2
- the single-cell 6 region at the left: 6
- the 2 region at the left: 1, 1
- the 12 region at the center: 4, 4, 4
- the 1 region at the right: 0, 1
- the 10 region at the right: 4, 6
- the 16 region at the bottom-left: 5, 5, 6
- the “=” region at the bottom-right: 3, 3, 3
- the single-cell 4 region at the bottom-right: 4
Hint 3: step-by-step solution
- The 10 region at the right needs a total of exactly 10 — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 4–6 domino vertically on row 7, column 8 and row 8, column 8.
- The 16 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 16 — nothing else fits. Place the 5–5 domino vertically on row 9, column 3 and row 10, column 3.
- The “=” region at the bottom-right needs every pip to match — 2 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 3–3 domino vertically on row 9, column 6 and row 10, column 6.
- The 1 region at the right needs a total of exactly 1 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–3 domino vertically on row 7, column 6 and row 8, column 6.
- The 3 region at the top-left needs a total of exactly 3 — 3 placements fit here for now; this one matches the official answer (this board has more than one valid layout). Place the 0–6 domino vertically on row 1, column 3 and row 2, column 3.
- Row 2, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 2; the 3 region at the top-left needs a total of exactly 3 (1 of its 3 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 1–2 domino horizontally on row 2, column 1 and row 2, column 2.
- Row 8, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 7, column 3; the 16 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 16 (2 of its 3 cells are 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 vertically on row 7, column 3 and row 8, column 3.
- The 4 region at the top-left needs a total of exactly 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 2–6 domino vertically on row 4, column 3 and row 5, column 3.
- Row 3, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 2; the 4 region at the top-left needs a total of exactly 4 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–2 domino horizontally on row 3, column 2 and row 3, column 3.
- Row 6, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 6, column 4; the 2 region at the left needs a total of exactly 2 (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 0–1 domino horizontally on row 6, column 3 and row 6, column 4.
- The 12 region at the center needs a total of exactly 12 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–4 domino horizontally on row 6, column 5 and row 6, column 6.
- Row 7, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 7, column 5; the 12 region at the center needs a total of exactly 12 (1 of its 3 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 4–4 domino horizontally on row 7, column 4 and row 7, column 5.
- Row 6, column 8 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 6, column 7; the 10 region at the right needs a total of exactly 10 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 3–4 domino horizontally on row 6, column 7 and row 6, column 8.
This board has more than one valid layout; the steps follow the official answer.
Full answer board
634621211016=4