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LinkedIn · Patches

LinkedIn Patches #209 answer — October 12, 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 9 in row 1, column 5 can only be a 3×3 square, and the grid edge and the clue in row 3, column 3 leave it just one spot: the square from row 1, column 4 to row 3, column 6.
    2. The 4 in row 4, column 6 can only be a 2×2 square, and the grid edge and the patch of the 9 in row 1, column 5 leave it just one spot: the square from row 4, column 5 to row 5, column 6.
    3. The 2 in row 6, column 6 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patch of the 4 in row 4, column 6, so its patch is the 1×2 strip from column 5 to column 6 of row 6.
    4. The 6 in row 1, column 1 is boxed in by the grid edge, the clue in row 3, column 1, and the patch of the 9 in row 1, column 5, so its patch is the 2×3 rectangle from row 1, column 1 to row 2, column 3.
    5. The 4 in row 3, column 1 can only be a 4×1 strip, and the patch of the 6 in row 1, column 1 leaves it just one spot: the strip from row 3 to row 6 of column 1.
    6. The 3 in row 6, column 2 can only be a 1×3 strip, and the patch of the 4 in row 3, column 1 leaves it just one spot: the strip from column 2 to column 4 of row 6.
    7. The 6 in row 3, column 3 is boxed in by the grid edge and the patches already placed, so its patch is the 3×2 rectangle from row 3, column 2 to row 5, column 3.
    8. Only the 2 in row 4, column 4 is left, so its patch is whatever remains: the 2×1 strip from row 4 to row 5 of column 4.
  4. 4Patches #209 solutionShow answer
    • 3×2 rectangle at row 1, column 1
    • 3×3 rectangle at row 1, column 4
    • 1×4 rectangle at row 3, column 1
    • 2×3 rectangle at row 3, column 2
    • 1×2 rectangle at row 4, column 4
    • 2×2 rectangle at row 4, column 5
    • 3×1 rectangle at row 6, column 2
    • 2×1 rectangle at row 6, column 5

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.

Stuck on your own grid? Open the Patches solver.

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

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