LinkedIn Crossclimb #850

LinkedIn Crossclimb #850 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for August 28, 2026. Crossclimb is LinkedIn's word-ladder game: solve 5 middle crossword clues, order the rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter, then unlock the top and bottom combo words. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Hard. Estimated solve time: 6–10 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from JACK to POTS:

JACK → BACK → BACH → BATH → PATH → PATS → POTS

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “A compound word for what is paid out by slot machines (also known as fruit machines or poker machines).”

1. Middle 1Clue 1

   BACK

   Returned from a trip abroad

   Clue insight

   "Returned from a trip abroad" resolves to "BACK" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 1: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

2. Middle 2Clue 2

   BACH

   Johann Sebastian ___ (German composer)

   Clue insight

   Fill-in style clue — "BACH" completes the pattern described in "Johann Sebastian ___ (German composer)".

   Solving note

   Clue 2: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

3. Middle 3Clue 3

   BATH

   Alternative to a shower

   Clue insight

   "Alternative to a shower" resolves to "BATH" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 3: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

4. Middle 4Clue 4

   PATH

   Route from one place to another

   Clue insight

   "Route from one place to another" resolves to "PATH" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 4: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

5. Middle 5Clue 5

   PATS

   Gently touches, as a pet dog

   Clue insight

   "Gently touches, as a pet dog" resolves to "PATS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 5: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

1. JACK → BACKStep 1

   J→B at the first letter (JACK → BACK)

   JACK and BACK are adjacent in the solved ladder — J→B at the first letter (JACK → BACK).

   Step 1: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; this step touches a combo end.

2. BACK → BACHStep 2

   K→H at the fourth letter (BACK → BACH)

   BACK and BACH are adjacent in the solved ladder — K→H at the fourth letter (BACK → BACH).

   Step 2: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

3. BACH → BATHStep 3

   C→T at the third letter (BACH → BATH)

   BACH and BATH are adjacent in the solved ladder — C→T at the third letter (BACH → BATH).

   Step 3: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

4. BATH → PATHStep 4

   B→P at the first letter (BATH → PATH)

   BATH and PATH are adjacent in the solved ladder — B→P at the first letter (BATH → PATH).

   Step 4: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

5. PATH → PATSStep 5

   H→S at the fourth letter (PATH → PATS)

   PATH and PATS are adjacent in the solved ladder — H→S at the fourth letter (PATH → PATS).

   Step 5: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

6. PATS → POTSStep 6

   A→O at the second letter (PATS → POTS)

   PATS and POTS are adjacent in the solved ladder — A→O at the second letter (PATS → POTS).

   Step 6: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; this step touches a combo end.

After solving middles (BACK, BACH, BATH, PATH, PATS), only the order BACK → BACH → BATH → PATH → PATS satisfies the one-letter rule between every adjacent pair. Each step changes exactly one letter: J→B at the first letter (JACK → BACK); K→H at the fourth letter (BACK → BACH); C→T at the third letter (BACH → BATH); B→P at the first letter (BATH → PATH); H→S at the fourth letter (PATH → PATS); A→O at the second letter (PATS → POTS). Wrong permutations fail when two middles differ by two or more letters.

The combo clue "A compound word for what is paid out by slot machines (also known as fruit machines or poker machines)." describes both end words together — "JACK" and "POTS" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Top "JACK" connects to BACK via J→B at the first letter (JACK → BACK). Bottom "POTS" connects from PATS via A→O at the second letter (PATS → POTS).

The combo clue "A compound word for what is paid out by slot machines (also known as fruit machines or poker machines)." describes both end words together — "JACK" and "POTS" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.

Phase 1: Solve the 5 middle crossword clues to unlock BACK, BACH, BATH, PATH, PATS. Middle 1: "Returned from a trip abroad" → BACK. "Returned from a trip abroad" resolves to "BACK" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Johann Sebastian ___ (German composer)" → BACH. Fill-in style clue — "BACH" completes the pattern described in "Johann Sebastian ___ (German composer)". Middle 3: "Alternative to a shower" → BATH. "Alternative to a shower" resolves to "BATH" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Route from one place to another" → PATH. "Route from one place to another" resolves to "PATH" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Gently touches, as a pet dog" → PATS. "Gently touches, as a pet dog" resolves to "PATS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Phase 2: Order the middle rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter — valid chain: BACK → BACH → BATH → PATH → PATS. Ladder step: J→B at the first letter (JACK → BACK) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: K→H at the fourth letter (BACK → BACH). Ladder step: C→T at the third letter (BACH → BATH). Ladder step: B→P at the first letter (BATH → PATH). Ladder step: H→S at the fourth letter (PATH → PATS). Ladder step: A→O at the second letter (PATS → POTS) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "JACK" and bottom "POTS" share the clue: A compound word for what is paid out by slot machines (also known as fruit machines or poker machines)..

Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer.

This Crossclimb is a 4-letter word ladder from JACK to POTS. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: A compound word for what is paid out by slot machines (also known as fruit machines or poker machines). The solution path is JACK → BACK → BACH → BATH → PATH → PATS → POTS, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Returned from a trip abroad, Johann Sebastian ___ (German composer), and Alternative to a shower, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: BACK → BACH → BATH → PATH → PATS. The combo clue "A compound word for what is paid out by slot machines (also known as fruit machines or poker machines)." describes both end words together — "JACK" and "POTS" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer. Use the Solution tab above for a three-phase walkthrough (middles → order → combo ends), or the Solved board tab for the complete ladder at a glance.