Grid Puzzles › LinkedIn games › Patches answers

LinkedIn Patches #188 answer — Monday, September 21, 2026

Patches · Split the grid into rectangles, one clue per rectangle · puzzle #188

Stuck on today's LinkedIn Patches? Three progressive hints come first, then the full solution — tap to reveal as much or as little as you want. Other games today: Mini Sudoku · Wend · Zip · Queens · Tango · Pinpoint · Crossclimb.

Patches #188 is a 6×6 grid with 6 clues, 3 of them with the area hidden. The 6 marked "any shape" at row 1, column 3 has only one legal rectangle, so it is the obvious first cut. Prime areas (2, 3, 5, 7) must be single strips, which pins them fast.

Hints

Hint 1 — where to start

The 6 marked "any shape" at row 1, column 3 fits exactly one way: it must be 1 tall by 6 wide, so draw it first.

Hint 2 — a solid foothold

The 5 marked "any shape" at row 2, column 3 is the rectangle from row 2, column 3, 5 tall by 1 wide.

Hint 3 — nearly there

The 8 marked "any shape" at row 5, column 5 is the rectangle from row 2, column 5, 4 tall by 2 wide. The rest follows from what is left uncovered.

Solution

Tap any part to reveal it, or reveal everything at once.

A
A
6✚ any shape
A
A
A
B
?▮ tall
5✚ any shape
D
E
E
B
B
C
D
E
E
B
B
C
D
E
E
B
B
C
?▮ tall
8✚ any shape
E
B
B
C
?▬ wide
F
F
Solution as text
  1. Rectangle A: 1 tall by 6 wide, top-left at row 1, column 1 (area 6, contains the 6 marked "any shape" at row 1, column 3).
  2. Rectangle B: 5 tall by 2 wide, top-left at row 2, column 1 (area 10, contains the hidden-area clue marked "tall" at row 2, column 2).
  3. Rectangle C: 5 tall by 1 wide, top-left at row 2, column 3 (area 5, contains the 5 marked "any shape" at row 2, column 3).
  4. Rectangle D: 4 tall by 1 wide, top-left at row 2, column 4 (area 4, contains the hidden-area clue marked "tall" at row 5, column 4).
  5. Rectangle E: 4 tall by 2 wide, top-left at row 2, column 5 (area 8, contains the 8 marked "any shape" at row 5, column 5).
  6. Rectangle F: 1 tall by 3 wide, top-left at row 6, column 4 (area 3, contains the hidden-area clue marked "wide" at row 6, column 4).

Want more than one a day?

Grid Puzzles has an unlimited Patches-style mode with easy, medium and hard boards, plus a daily puzzle with a permanent archive and hints. Every board has exactly one solution.

Play unlimited PatchesHow to play Patches

Patches is a game by LinkedIn. This page is an independent solving guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LinkedIn Corporation or Microsoft. Puzzle contents are described for the purpose of commentary and help; play the original at linkedin.com/games.