Pips answers for Friday, September 18, 2026

Start with the 0 region at the center: the only way to make it with these dominoes is 0 + 0.

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

1. The single-cell 6 region at the top needs a total of exactly 6 — nothing else fits. Place the 5–6 domino horizontally on row 1, column 3 and row 1, column 4.
2. The 0 region at the center needs a total of exactly 0 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–0 domino horizontally on row 2, column 2 and row 2, column 3.
3. Row 1, column 1 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 1, column 2; 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.
4. Row 2, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 4; the “=” region at the top-right needs every pip to match (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 1–5 domino vertically on row 2, column 4 and row 3, column 4.
5. Row 3, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 3; the single-cell 4 region at the bottom needs a total of exactly 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 1–4 domino horizontally on row 3, column 2 and row 3, column 3.

Start with the 8 region at the left: only 2 + 6, or 3 + 5, or 4 + 4 can make it with these dominoes.

• the 8 region at the top-left: 0, 4, 4
• the 8 region at the left: 2, 6
• the 8 region at the right: 2, 6
• the single-cell 3 region at the right: 3
• the single-cell “<2” region at the left: 1
• the 8 region at the bottom: 2, 6
• the 8 region at the bottom: 3, 5
• the 8 region at the right: 4, 4

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

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

Start with the “>10” region at the bottom-right: only 5 + 6, or 6 + 6 can make it with these dominoes.

• the “=” region at the top-right: 1, 1, 1
• the single-cell “<4” region at the top-left: 3
• the single-cell “<3” region at the top: 2
• the single-cell “<2” region at the top: 1
• the “=” region at the top: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
• the single-cell “<6” region at the left: 5
• the single-cell “<5” region at the center: 4
• the “=” region at the bottom: 3, 3, 3, 3
• the “>10” region at the bottom-right: 6, 6
• the single-cell “<3” region at the bottom: 2
• the single-cell “>3” region at the bottom: 6
• the single-cell “>3” region at the bottom: 4
• the single-cell “<2” region at the bottom-right: 0

1. The “=” region at the bottom 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 3–3 domino vertically on row 7, column 4 and row 8, column 4.
2. Row 1, column 7 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 2, column 7; the “=” region at the top-right needs every pip to match — nothing else fits. Place the 1–1 domino vertically on row 1, column 7 and row 2, column 7.
3. The “=” region at the bottom needs every pip to match (2 of its 4 cells are already filled) — 3 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 8, column 5 and row 9, column 5.
4. The “>10” region at the bottom-right must total more than 10 — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–6 domino vertically on row 8, column 6 and row 9, column 6.
5. The “=” region at the bottom needs every pip to match (3 of its 4 cells are already filled) — 3 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 1–3 domino vertically on row 6, column 3 and row 7, column 3.
6. Row 3, column 7 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 7; the “=” region at the top-right needs every pip to match (2 of its 3 cells are already filled) — 2 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 1–2 domino vertically on row 3, column 7 and row 4, column 7.
7. Row 7, column 6 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 6, column 6; the “>10” region at the bottom-right must total more than 10 (1 of its 2 cells is already filled) — 3 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 3–6 domino vertically on row 6, column 6 and row 7, column 6.
8. Row 8, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 9, column 3; the single-cell “<3” region at the bottom must total less than 3 — 3 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 2–6 domino vertically on row 8, column 3 and row 9, column 3.
9. The “=” region at the top needs every pip to match — 6 placements fit here for now, but every other one leaves some region impossible a few moves later. Place the 0–1 domino vertically on row 2, column 5 and row 3, column 5.
10. Row 2, column 3 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 3, column 3; the single-cell “<3” region at the top must total less than 3 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–2 domino vertically on row 2, column 3 and row 3, column 3.
11. 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 top-left must total less than 4 — nothing else fits. Place the 0–3 domino vertically on row 2, column 1 and row 3, column 1.
12. Row 3, column 4 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 4; the “=” region at the top needs every pip to match (3 of its 5 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–4 domino vertically on row 3, column 4 and row 4, column 4.
13. Row 3, column 2 has only one open neighbor, so its domino must run to row 4, column 2; the “=” region at the top needs every pip to match (4 of its 5 cells are already filled) — nothing else fits. Place the 0–5 domino vertically on row 3, column 2 and row 4, column 2.