LinkedIn Crossclimb #886

LinkedIn Crossclimb #886 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for October 3, 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 PORK to RIBS:

PORK → PORE → POPE → ROPE → RIPE → RIPS → RIBS

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Bone-in meat items often served at a barbecue.”

1. Middle 1First middle

   PORE

   Small skin opening

   Clue insight

   I read "Small skin opening" and write PORE. "Small skin opening" resolves to "PORE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   First middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

2. Middle 2Second middle

   POPE

   Leo XIV, for one

   Clue insight

   I read "Leo XIV, for one" and write POPE. "Leo XIV, for one" resolves to "POPE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Second middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

3. Middle 3Third middle

   ROPE

   Cord that may be climbed for exercise

   Clue insight

   I read "Cord that may be climbed for exercise" and write ROPE. "Cord that may be climbed for exercise" resolves to "ROPE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Third middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

4. Middle 4Fourth middle

   RIPE

   Ready to be picked, as fruit

   Clue insight

   I read "Ready to be picked, as fruit" and write RIPE. "Ready to be picked, as fruit" resolves to "RIPE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Fourth middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

5. Middle 5Fifth middle

   RIPS

   Damages, as a page in a book

   Clue insight

   I read "Damages, as a page in a book" and write RIPS. "Damages, as a page in a book" resolves to "RIPS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Fifth middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

1. PORK → POREStep 1

   K→E at the fourth letter (PORK → PORE)

   I check PORK → PORE: K→E at the fourth letter (PORK → PORE).

   First link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

2. PORE → POPEStep 2

   R→P at the third letter (PORE → POPE)

   I check PORE → POPE: R→P at the third letter (PORE → POPE).

   Second link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

3. POPE → ROPEStep 3

   P→R at the first letter (POPE → ROPE)

   I check POPE → ROPE: P→R at the first letter (POPE → ROPE).

   Third link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

4. ROPE → RIPEStep 4

   O→I at the second letter (ROPE → RIPE)

   I check ROPE → RIPE: O→I at the second letter (ROPE → RIPE).

   Fourth link: Vowel swap — keep the chain tight.

5. RIPE → RIPSStep 5

   E→S at the fourth letter (RIPE → RIPS)

   I check RIPE → RIPS: E→S at the fourth letter (RIPE → RIPS).

   Fifth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

6. RIPS → RIBSStep 6

   P→B at the third letter (RIPS → RIBS)

   I check RIPS → RIBS: P→B at the third letter (RIPS → RIBS).

   Sixth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

I arrange middles as PORE → POPE → ROPE → RIPE → RIPS because that's the chain where every hop changes one letter. 6 links checked — K→E at the fourth letter (PORK → PORE) through P→B at the third letter (RIPS → RIBS).

Combo clue "Bone-in meat items often served at a barbecue." — I only fill PORK and RIBS after middles order cleanly. The pair should read naturally against the clue.

The combo clue "Bone-in meat items often served at a barbecue." describes both end words together — "PORK" and "RIBS" 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 PORE, POPE, ROPE, RIPE, RIPS. Middle 1: "Small skin opening" → PORE. "Small skin opening" resolves to "PORE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Leo XIV, for one" → POPE. "Leo XIV, for one" resolves to "POPE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Cord that may be climbed for exercise" → ROPE. "Cord that may be climbed for exercise" resolves to "ROPE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Ready to be picked, as fruit" → RIPE. "Ready to be picked, as fruit" resolves to "RIPE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Damages, as a page in a book" → RIPS. "Damages, as a page in a book" resolves to "RIPS" 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: PORE → POPE → ROPE → RIPE → RIPS. Ladder step: K→E at the fourth letter (PORK → PORE) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: R→P at the third letter (PORE → POPE). Ladder step: P→R at the first letter (POPE → ROPE). Ladder step: O→I at the second letter (ROPE → RIPE). Ladder step: E→S at the fourth letter (RIPE → RIPS). Ladder step: P→B at the third letter (RIPS → RIBS) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "PORK" and bottom "RIBS" share the clue: Bone-in meat items often served at a barbecue..

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 PORK to RIBS. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Bone-in meat items often served at a barbecue. The solution path is PORK → PORE → POPE → ROPE → RIPE → RIPS → RIBS, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Small skin opening, Leo XIV, for one, and Cord that may be climbed for exercise, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: PORE → POPE → ROPE → RIPE → RIPS. The combo clue "Bone-in meat items often served at a barbecue." describes both end words together — "PORK" and "RIBS" 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.