How to Play LinkedIn Patches
Patches asks you to divide a grid into shapes. A clue might tell you how many squares to take, what shape to draw, or both. Every shape has one clue inside it. The satisfying part is finding a patch that fits only one way, then watching it settle the shapes next door.
Patches rules
- Cover every square once. Each patch must be connected edge to edge and contain exactly one clue.
- A number gives the patch’s area, including the square with the clue.
- A square icon means equal height and width. Tall and wide rectangle icons tell you which dimension is longer. A freeform clue lets you work out the outline from the surrounding cells.
Fit the corner square first
Step 1. The 4 in the upper-left corner sits inside a square icon. Four cells in a square means two rows by two columns. 
Step 2. Draw the 2 × 2 square into the corner. The two tall 2 clues now each take the cell directly beneath them. 
Step 3. Each wide 4 is a strip four cells across. Fill its row and check that each of the five patches contains just one clue.
How to play on LinkedIn
- Find a clue with a tight fit. Start with corners and numbered shapes, where you can often rule out most dimensions immediately.
- Drag across the squares that belong to the patch. Include the clue as part of the shape. Tap a drawn patch to remove it if you need to redraw it.
- Check the cells you’ve left behind. Each must still be reachable by a clue that has room for it. Keep drawing until the whole board is covered.
- Use Undo for the last move, Reset for a fresh grid, or Hint to get help with a specific cell or region.
Patches solving tips
Write out the dimensions
For a wide patch of 6, try 6 × 1 and 3 × 2. A five-column board rules out 6 × 1, and any placement that swallows another clue is out too.
Look for a cell every option shares
If a rectangle can slide left or right, its possible positions may still overlap. Those shared squares belong to that patch either way. Use them to narrow down a neighbor.
Check the leftover pockets
If drawing a patch would cut off a group of squares with no clue, that placement is impossible. The same goes for a pocket with four squares and a clue that needs five.
Common questions
Does the clue square count toward the patch size?
Yes. A clue marked 4 uses its own square plus three others.
Can a rectangle stretch in either direction?
Read the icon first. A wide rectangle must have more columns than rows. A tall rectangle must have more rows than columns.
Can a patch connect at a corner?
The squares in a patch need to connect along edges. Two groups touching only at a corner are still separate.
What if a clue has no number?
Work out its size from the shape, if one is shown, and the room left by neighboring patches. It still has to cover its own clue and leave a legal fit for the rest of the board.
When does Patches reset?
LinkedIn releases a new puzzle every day at midnight Pacific Time. Find previous solutions in the Patches answer archive.