Patches Today Answer

Patches 196 LinkedIn Answer

Final board and checked analysis for today's Patches puzzle, September 29, 2026.

September 29, 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 #196 for September 29, 2026. The board is 7×7, with 4 clues, 4 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.
4 clue cells shape the starting grid.
4 solved regions cover the final board.
49/49 cells are covered in the saved answer.

Patches 196 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 196 LinkedIn Answer Today Start Grid

Hidden Patches 196 LinkedIn Answer Today Final Board

Patches 196 LinkedIn Answer Today Spoiler-Safe Hints

Start with the 15-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 196 LinkedIn Answer Today Summary

Board size: 7×7
Total regions: 4
Fixed cells: 4
Main anchor: r4 c1, 15-cell marker (upper half, left edge)
Largest region: Region 3, 3×5 rectangle
Key trap: Do not treat the 14-cell clue at r7 c4 as spare filler after the larger clue is placed.

Region Reference

Role	Anchor	Plain location	Region	Solved shape	Cells
Main anchor	r4 c1 15-cell marker	upper half, left edge	Region 3	3×5 rectangle	r3 c1 to r5 c5
Shape check	r1 c4 10-cell horizontal rectangle marker	top edge, left side	Region 1	2×5 rectangle	r1 c1 to r2 c5
Early trap	r7 c4 14-cell horizontal rectangle marker	bottom edge, left side	Region 4	2×7 rectangle	r6 c1 to r7 c7
Extra check	r4 c7 10-cell marker	upper half, right edge	Region 2	5×2 rectangle	r1 c6 to r5 c7

Patches #196 Full Analysis

First read: Patches #196 starts with 4 clue cells on a 7×7 board. Begin with the fixed clues at r1 c4, r4 c1, r4 c7 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 strongest number anchor is the 15-cell clue at r4 c1. Large regions usually have fewer safe placements, so this clue is a better first test than a tiny patch. After reveal, check it against Region 3, which should form the 3×5 rectangle from r3 c1 to r5 c5.