Pips answers for Sunday, July 12, 2026

Start with the 9 region at the bottom: the only way to make it with these dominoes is 3 + 6.

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

1. Row 1, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 1, column 1; the single-cell “>4” region at the top-left must total more than 4 — 2 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 1, column 1 and row 1, column 2.
2. The 9 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 9 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 1–3 domino horizontally on row 4, column 4 and row 4, column 5.
3. The single-cell 3 region at the right needs a total of exactly 3 — nothing else fits. Place the 2–3 domino horizontally on row 2, column 3 and row 2, column 4.
4. Row 3, column 5 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 5; the 3 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 3 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–2 domino vertically on row 2, column 5 and row 3, column 5.
5. Row 4, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 2; the 9 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 9 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 6–6 domino horizontally on row 4, column 2 and row 4, column 3.

Start with the 8 region at the top-right: only 3 + 5, or 4 + 4 can make it with these dominoes.

• the 8 region at the top-right: 3, 5
• the 2 region at the top: 0, 2
• the “=” region at the left: 4, 4
• the 7 region at the center: 1, 1, 5
• the single-cell 2 region at the right: 2
• the “=” region at the bottom-left: 0, 0

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

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

Start with the 18 region at the right — it has the fewest pip combinations on the board, so the dominoes around it are the easiest to pin down.

• the single-cell 3 region at the top-left: 3
• the single-cell 5 region at the top: 5
• the single-cell 0 region at the top: 0
• the single-cell 2 region at the top-right: 2
• the single-cell 2 region at the top-left: 2
• the single-cell 4 region at the top: 4
• the single-cell 4 region at the top: 4
• the single-cell 2 region at the top-right: 2
• the single-cell 5 region at the top-left: 5
• the single-cell 1 region at the top: 1
• the 18 region at the right: 3, 4, 5, 6
• the single-cell 0 region at the left: 0
• the single-cell 3 region at the center: 3
• the single-cell 3 region at the left: 3
• the single-cell 0 region at the center: 0
• the single-cell 0 region at the center: 0
• the single-cell 1 region at the right: 1
• the single-cell 3 region at the bottom-left: 3
• the single-cell 1 region at the bottom: 1
• the single-cell 5 region at the bottom: 5
• the single-cell 1 region at the bottom-right: 1
• the single-cell 5 region at the bottom-left: 5
• the single-cell 1 region at the bottom: 1
• the single-cell 2 region at the bottom: 2
• the single-cell 3 region at the bottom-right: 3
• the single-cell 2 region at the bottom-left: 2
• the single-cell 4 region at the bottom: 4
• the single-cell 4 region at the bottom: 4
• the single-cell 0 region at the bottom-right: 0

1. The single-cell 2 region at the top-right needs a total of exactly 2 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–2 domino horizontally on row 1, column 3 and row 1, column 4.
2. The single-cell 3 region at the top-left needs a total of exactly 3 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 2–3 domino vertically on row 1, column 1 and row 2, column 1.
3. Row 1, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 2; the single-cell 5 region at the top needs a total of exactly 5 — nothing else fits. Place the 4–5 domino vertically on row 1, column 2 and row 2, column 2.
4. The single-cell 5 region at the top-left needs a total of exactly 5 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 1–5 domino horizontally on row 3, column 1 and row 3, column 2.
5. The single-cell 1 region at the bottom-right needs a total of exactly 1 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–3 domino vertically on row 6, column 4 and row 7, column 4.
6. The single-cell 3 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 3 — nothing else fits. Place the 3–5 domino vertically on row 6, column 1 and row 7, column 1.
7. The single-cell 1 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 1 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–1 domino vertically on row 5, column 2 and row 6, column 2.
8. The single-cell 0 region at the left needs a total of exactly 0 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–3 domino vertically on row 4, column 1 and row 5, column 1.
9. The single-cell 0 region at the center needs a total of exactly 0 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–5 domino vertically on row 5, column 3 and row 6, column 3.
10. The single-cell 1 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 1 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–2 domino horizontally on row 7, column 2 and row 7, column 3.
11. The 18 region at the right needs a total of exactly 18 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–4 domino vertically on row 4, column 4 and row 5, column 4.
12. Row 8, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 8, column 2; the single-cell 2 region at the bottom-left needs a total of exactly 2 — nothing else fits. Place the 2–4 domino horizontally on row 8, column 1 and row 8, column 2.
13. The single-cell 4 region at the top needs a total of exactly 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 3–4 domino vertically on row 2, column 3 and row 3, column 3.
14. Row 2, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 4; the single-cell 2 region at the top-right needs a total of exactly 2 — nothing else fits. Place the 2–5 domino vertically on row 2, column 4 and row 3, column 4.
15. Row 4, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 3; the single-cell 3 region at the center needs a total of exactly 3 — nothing else fits. Place the 3–6 domino horizontally on row 4, column 2 and row 4, column 3.
16. Row 8, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 8, column 4; the single-cell 4 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–4 domino horizontally on row 8, column 3 and row 8, column 4.