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LinkedIn · Patches

LinkedIn Patches #199 answer — October 2, 2026

Unofficial hints. Not affiliated with LinkedIn.

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  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 2 in row 1, column 4 is boxed in by the grid edge and other clues, so its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 1 to row 2 of column 4.
    2. The 2 in row 7, column 4 is boxed in by the grid edge and other clues, so its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 6 to row 7 of column 4.
    3. Only the square clue in row 6, column 6 can reach the cell in row 7, column 7, so its patch must cover it. The grid edge and the clue in row 7, column 5 leave just one way to do that: the 2×2 square from row 6, column 6 to row 7, column 7.
    4. The 2 in row 7, column 5 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 6 to row 7 of column 5.
    5. Only the clue in row 1, column 3 can reach the cell in row 1, column 1, so its patch must cover it. The grid edge, the clue in row 2, column 2, and the patch of the 2 in row 1, column 4 leave just one way to do that: the 1×3 strip from column 1 to column 3 of row 1.
    6. The 2 in row 1, column 5 has two possible patches left. If it took the 1×2 strip from column 5 to column 6 of row 1, nothing could cover the cell in row 1, column 7. So its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 1 to row 2 of column 5.
    7. The 2 in row 7, column 3 has two possible patches left. If it took the 1×2 strip from column 2 to column 3 of row 7, nothing could cover the cell in row 7, column 1. So its patch is the 2×1 strip from row 6 to row 7 of column 3.
    8. Only the wide clue in row 4, column 4 can reach the cell in row 5, column 4, which leaves it two possible patches. If it took the 2×3 rectangle from row 4, column 4 to row 5, column 6, nothing could cover the cell in row 4, column 7. So its patch is the 2×4 rectangle from row 4, column 4 to row 5, column 7.
    9. Only the 2 in row 3, column 5 can reach the cell in row 3, column 4, so its patch must cover it. Only one of its possible patches does: the 1×2 strip from column 4 to column 5 of row 3.
    10. Only the clue in row 2, column 6 can reach the cells in row 1, column 7 and row 3, column 6, so its patch must cover both. The grid edge and the patches already placed leave just one way to do that: the 3×2 rectangle from row 1, column 6 to row 3, column 7.
    11. Only the square clue in row 5, column 3 can reach the cell in row 4, column 3, which leaves it two possible patches. If it took the 2×2 square from row 4, column 2 to row 5, column 3, nothing could cover the cell in row 4, column 1. So its patch is the 3×3 square from row 3, column 1 to row 5, column 3.
    12. Only the clue in row 6, column 2 can reach the cell in row 7, 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 6, column 1 to row 7, column 2.
    13. Only the wide clue in row 2, column 2 is left, so its patch is whatever remains: the 1×3 strip from column 1 to column 3 of row 2.
  4. 4Patches #199 solutionShow answer
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 1, column 1
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 1, column 4
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 1, column 5
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 2, column 1
    • 2×3 rectangle at row 1, column 6
    • 2×1 rectangle at row 3, column 4
    • 4×2 rectangle at row 4, column 4
    • 3×3 rectangle at row 3, column 1
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 6, column 1
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 6, column 6
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 6, column 3
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 6, column 4
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 6, column 5

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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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