Mastering the Grid: 5 Pro Strategies to Solve LinkedIn Patches Faster

Staring at a blank grid and a bunch of scattered numbers? We’ve all been there. Patches can be tricky because one wrong move at the start often leads to a total collapse of the logic later on.

To help you maintain your streak, we’ve put together the "Five-Point Power Play" for mastering Patches.

1. Hunt for "Prime Suspects"

Numbers like 3, 5, 7, and 11 are your best friends. Since these are prime numbers, they must be 1 x n or n x 1 strips.

• Pro Tip: If a "Tall Rectangle" 5 is near an edge, its path is almost always forced. Lock these in first to narrow down the remaining space.

2. Respect the "Square" Constraints

A 4 (2 x 2) or a 9 (3 x 3) with a solid square indicator is incredibly restrictive.

• The Strategy: Mentally "test" the square's placement. If placing it in one spot leaves a neighboring number with zero possible shapes, you know exactly where the square cannot go.

3. Find the "Lone Survivor" Cells

This is the secret of advanced players. Look at a corner or a gap and ask: "If Number A doesn't take this cell, who can?" * If only one number can reach a specific cell, that number must claim it, regardless of how counter-intuitive the shape might look at first.

4. Avoid "Logic Islands"

Every single cell on the board must be filled.

• Warning: If you draw a long strip that leaves a single 1 x 1 empty cell that no other number can reach, you’ve hit a dead end. Undo and re-evaluate the surrounding shapes.

5. Save the "Any Shape" for Last

The numbers with dashed cross-hatch backgrounds are your flexible "jokers."

• The Golden Rule: Always solve the "fixed" shapes (Squares, Tall/Wide Rectangles) first. Use the "Any Shape" blocks to fill the remaining gaps at the end.