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LinkedIn · Patches

LinkedIn Patches #186 answer — September 19, 2026

Unofficial hints. Not affiliated with LinkedIn.

Hints get stronger as you go. The answer is always the last step — nothing is revealed until you tap.

  1. 1A first footholdShow hint
  2. 2Halfway thereShow hint
  3. 3Solve it step by stepShow hint

    Rows count from the top and columns from the left. Sizes read height × width, so a 1×4 strip lies along a row and a 4×1 strip runs down a column.

    1. The wide clue in row 2, column 1 is boxed in by the grid edge and the clue in row 2, column 3, so its patch is the 1×2 strip from column 1 to column 2 of row 2.
    2. The wide clue in row 7, column 1 is boxed in by the grid edge and the clue in row 7, column 3, so its patch is the 1×2 strip from column 1 to column 2 of row 7.
    3. Only the 3 in row 6, column 7 can reach the cell in row 7, column 7, so its patch must cover it. The clue in row 8, column 7 leaves just one way to do that: the 3×1 strip from row 5 to row 7 of column 7.
    4. Only the 4 in row 2, column 6 can reach the cell in row 2, column 7, so its patch must cover it. Other clues leave just one way to do that: the 1×4 strip from column 4 to column 7 of row 2.
    5. The 4 in row 2, column 8 has two possible patches left. If it took the 4×1 strip from row 2 to row 5 of column 8, the 4 in row 7, column 8 would have no room left. So its patch is the 4×1 strip from row 1 to row 4 of column 8.
    6. The 4 in row 1, column 7 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 1×4 strip from column 4 to column 7 of row 1.
    7. The 4 in row 7, column 8 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 4×1 strip from row 5 to row 8 of column 8.
    8. The 5 in row 8, column 7 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 1×5 strip from column 3 to column 7 of row 8.
    9. The 9 in row 7, column 6 can only be a 3×3 square, and the patches already placed leave it just one spot: the square from row 5, column 4 to row 7, column 6.
    10. The wide clue in row 8, column 2 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the 5 in row 8, column 7, so its patch is the 1×2 strip from column 1 to column 2 of row 8.
    11. Only the 4 in row 3, column 7 can reach the cell in row 4, column 7, so its patch must cover it. The patches already placed leave just one way to do that: the 2×2 square from row 3, column 6 to row 4, column 7.
    12. Only the wide clue in row 3, column 2 can reach the cells in row 3, column 1 and row 4, column 5, so its patch must cover both. The grid edge and the patches already placed leave just one way to do that: the 2×5 rectangle from row 3, column 1 to row 4, column 5.
    13. The tall clue in row 2, column 3 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the wide clue in row 3, column 2, so its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 1 to row 2 of column 3.
    14. The wide clue in row 1, column 2 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the tall clue in row 2, column 3, so its patch is the 1×2 strip from column 1 to column 2 of row 1.
    15. Only the square clue in row 6, column 2 can reach the cell in row 5, column 1, so its patch must cover it. The grid edge and the patches already placed leave just one way to do that: the 2×2 square from row 5, column 1 to row 6, column 2.
    16. Only the tall clue in row 7, column 3 is left, so its patch is whatever remains: the 3×1 strip from row 5 to row 7 of column 3.
  4. 4Patches #186 solutionShow answer
    • 2×1 rectangle at row 1, column 1
    • 2×1 rectangle at row 2, column 1
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 1, column 3
    • 5×2 rectangle at row 3, column 1
    • 4×1 rectangle at row 1, column 4
    • 4×1 rectangle at row 2, column 4
    • 1×4 rectangle at row 1, column 8
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 3, column 6
    • 1×3 rectangle at row 5, column 7
    • 3×3 rectangle at row 5, column 4
    • 5×1 rectangle at row 8, column 3
    • 1×4 rectangle at row 5, column 8
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 5, column 1
    • 2×1 rectangle at row 7, column 1
    • 1×3 rectangle at row 5, column 3
    • 2×1 rectangle at row 8, column 1

Spotted a wrong answer, or a hint that gives too much away? Email us at hello@hints.day

How to play Patches

  • Divide the whole grid into rectangles — no gaps, no overlaps.
  • Each rectangle contains exactly one clue.
  • A number tells you how many cells that rectangle covers.
  • The badge sets its shape: square (as tall as it is wide), tall (taller than wide), wide (wider than tall) or any.

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Full Patches rules, a first game step by step, and FAQ

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