How to Solve LinkedIn Zip (Beginner → Advanced)
An explainable approach that scales from simple boards to trickier dailies.
1) Understand the objective
The path must visit every cell exactly once and connect numbers in order. No branches, no crossings.
2) Force early structure
- Near the first numbers, edges and corners often create forced moves.
- Use distance-to-next-number to prune impossible detours.
3) Parity and reachability
- Ensure remaining cells can be covered without isolating islands.
- Watch for odd-sized pockets that cannot be threaded later.
4) Constraint propagation
When a segment becomes certain, update neighbors and eliminate newly illegal options.
5) Minimal backtracking
Roll back to the last meaningful fork; prefer branches that keep the board connected and numbers reachable.