Patches Today Answer

Patches 156 LinkedIn Answer

Hints, final board, and solving notes for today's Patches puzzle, August 20, 2026.

August 20, 2026

Start with the original Patches grid and hints. Reveal the final board only when you are ready to compare your solve.

Today's Patches answer is LinkedIn Patches #156 for August 20, 2026. The board is 7×7, with 8 clues, 8 solved regions, and 49/49 cells covered. Use this Patches answer today as a check after you try the starting grid.

Board size is 7×7.
8 clue cells shape the starting grid.
8 solved regions cover the final board.
49/49 cells are covered in the saved answer.

Patches 156 LinkedIn Answer Today Clues

Today's Patches puzzle starts with the original grid. The final board stays hidden until you click the reveal button.

Start Patches 156 LinkedIn Answer Today Start Grid

Hidden Patches 156 LinkedIn Answer Today Final Board

Patches 156 LinkedIn Answer Today Spoiler-Safe Hints

Start with the 4-cell marker. Bigger regions usually have fewer safe placements, so they are easier to test early.
Do not merge nearby fixed cells just because they sit close together. Each solved region must keep its own marker.
Use square and rectangle clues to confirm borders before filling the small leftover areas.

Patches 156 LinkedIn Answer Today Summary

Board size: 7×7
Total regions: 8
Fixed cells: 8
Main anchor: r4 c6, vertical rectangle marker (upper half, right side)
Largest region: Region 1, 3×5 rectangle
Key trap: Keep r3 c5 and r3 c6 separate.

Region Reference

Role	Anchor	Plain location	Region	Solved shape	Cells
Main anchor	r4 c6 vertical rectangle marker	upper half, right side	Region 6	4×2 rectangle	r4 c6 to r7 c7
Shape check	r4 c2 horizontal rectangle marker	upper half, left side	Region 3	2-cell horizontal strip	r4 c1 to r4 c2
Early trap	r3 c5 shape marker	upper half, right side	Region 1	3×5 rectangle	r1 c1 to r3 c5
Early trap	r3 c6 shape marker	upper half, right side	Region 2	3×2 rectangle	r1 c6 to r3 c7
Extra check	r4 c3 2-cell marker	upper half, left side	Region 4	2-cell horizontal strip	r4 c3 to r4 c4

Patches #156 Solving Notes

First read: Patches #156 starts with 8 clue cells on a 7×7 board. Begin with the fixed clues at r3 c5, r3 c6, r4 c2 instead of guessing color groups from empty space. Those clue cells are the safest anchors because every solved region must keep exactly one clue area and still cover the whole board.

Main anchor: The best anchor is the vertical rectangle clue at r4 c6, not a random corner. This clue is useful because a strict shape has less room to wiggle than an open patch. After reveal, check it against Region 6, which should form the 4×2 rectangle from r4 c6 to r7 c7.