Tips & strategy
Nine habits that make domino pips puzzles faster — from the first forced cell to the last free one.
1. Start where there is only one possibility
Single cells with a number are free information — that cell must show exactly that many pips. Extreme totals are almost as good: two cells totalling 12 must be 6 and 6; two cells totalling 0 must be two blanks; “>11” over two cells also forces 6+6. Fill those first.
2. Check the tray before the board
Look at which dominoes you actually have. If a region needs a 6 and only one domino has a 6, that domino's other half must sit next to it. Counting pips in the tray often decides a placement faster than staring at the board.
3. Equal regions love doubles
An “=” region of two cells across a domino can only be filled by a double (2–2, 5–5…). If the two cells belong to different dominoes, you need two halves showing the same number — note which numbers appear at least twice in the tray.
4. Different regions block repeats
In a “≠” region no number may appear twice, so a double can never lie fully inside it. Use this to rule out doubles quickly.
5. Turn less-than and greater-than into short lists
“<3” on a single cell means 0, 1 or 2. “>9” on two cells means the pair is from {4+6, 5+5, 5+6, 6+6}. Write the short list in your head and cross out what the tray can't supply.
6. Shape forces the layout
A cell with only one empty neighbour must share a domino with that neighbour. Corners and dead-end arms of the board are the best places to look — the tiling alone often fixes several dominoes before you think about pips.
7. Free (dotted) cells are leftovers
Cells with no rule usually take whatever pips are left at the end. Solve the constrained regions first and let the free cells absorb the rest.
8. Watch the badges
A badge turns green when its region is full and correct, and red when it is full and wrong. If a badge goes red, the last domino you placed there is the first suspect.
9. Use one hint, not five
Stuck on Hard? A single hint places one correct domino — usually enough to restart your reasoning. You keep the solve, and your shared result shows how many hints you needed.
How difficult are the levels?
| Level | Dominoes | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 4–5 | Mostly exact totals and small regions. A minute or two. |
| Medium | 7–9 | More equal, less-than and greater-than regions; a few free cells. |
| Hard | 11–14 | Fewer exact totals, bigger regions, more free cells. You must plan several dominoes ahead. |