2026-01-01
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Solver walkthrough format — cell deductions, sign analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
Tango Level 1 is part of our exclusive Tango level track. Tango is LinkedIn's balance puzzle: fill a 4×4 grid so every row and column has 2 suns and 2 moons, never three identical symbols in a line, and all = and × signs between neighbors are satisfied. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min.
Answer
8 suns and 8 moons across the 4×4 grid.
This 4×4 board has 6 starting clues and 1 adjacency signs (0 equal, 1 opposite).
Analysis
When I open Tango Level 1, I scan the 4×4 grid for locked suns and moons first, then hunt = and × pairs. This board has 6 givens and 1 signs — 0 equal links and 1 opposite links — before I touch an empty cell.
My first pass is always sign pairs near givens. Watch for two identical symbols in a row or column — the no-three rule blocks the third and often forces the opposite symbol nearby. I count suns and moons per row and column as I go — when a line needs exactly one more sun (or moon) and only one empty cell remains, that cell is forced.
I fill R1C1 → Sun (row balance forces the last symbol); R1C4 → Sun (the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat); R2C3 → Moon (a × sign demands opposites) in my first few minutes — those cells unlock the most sign chains. Around mid-solve I lock R2C4 = Moon, R2C1 = Sun when row and column counts tighten. The last cells (R4C3 → Sun and R4C4 → Moon) are almost always balance finishes, not guesses.
Line balance check: Every row and column holds exactly 2 suns and 2 moons (row 1: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 2: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 3: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 4: 2 suns, 2 moons). That 2-and-2 split is the backstop when signs alone do not decide a cell.
Sign verification: every = pair matches (0 pairs) and every × pair differs (1 pairs). I re-walk signs after the grid is full — one mismatched neighbor invalidates the solve.
No-three rule pass: scan every row and column for three consecutive suns or moons — none appear in the completed grid. Sandwich cases (sun-moon-sun patterns around a filled pair) often force the middle cell and show up as two matching symbols sandwich this cell deductions on boards like this.
Done — 8 suns and 8 moons across the 4×4 grid. I used 10 forced placements after the 6 givens. Watch for two identical symbols in a row or column — the no-three rule blocks the third and often forces the opposite symbol nearby.
Cells
Reasoning
Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit to the right — this cell cannot be moon. Row 1 still needs 2 more suns to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be suns.
Solving note
First fill: Sun at R1C1 because row balance forces the last symbol. Start from givens and adjacent signs.
Reasoning
Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit to the left — a third moon here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Row 1 still needs 1 more sun to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be suns.
Solving note
Second fill: Sun at R1C4 because the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
The × sign between this cell and Row 2, column 2 means they must differ — Row 2, column 2 is Sun, so this cell is Moon.
Solving note
Third fill: Moon at R2C3 because a × sign demands opposites. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Two suns sandwich this cell vertically — it must be Moon. Column 4 still needs 2 more moons for balance.
Solving note
Fourth fill: Moon at R2C4 because two matching symbols sandwich this cell. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Row 2 still needs 1 more sun to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be suns.
Solving note
Fifth fill: Sun at R2C1 because row balance forces the last symbol. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Sun is ruled out: Two suns sit above — a third sun here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Column 1 still needs 1 more moon for balance.
Solving note
Sixth fill: Moon at R3C1 because the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Two suns sandwich this cell vertically — it must be Moon. Column 2 still needs 1 more moon for balance.
Solving note
Seventh fill: Moon at R3C2 because two matching symbols sandwich this cell. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit to the left — a third moon here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Row 3 still needs 1 more sun to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be suns. Column 3 still needs 2 more suns for balance.
Solving note
Eighth fill: Sun at R3C3 because the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Column 3 still needs 1 more sun for balance.
Solving note
Ninth fill: Sun at R4C3 because column balance closes the line. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Sun is ruled out: Two suns sit to the left — a third sun here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Row 4 still needs 1 more moon to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be moons. Column 4 still needs 1 more moon for balance.
Solving note
Tenth fill: Moon at R4C4 because the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat. Final open cell — grid complete after this.
Verification
I trust this grid because every cell I placed was forced — the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat (4); row balance forces the last symbol (2); two matching symbols sandwich this cell (2); a × sign demands opposites (1); column balance closes the line (1). Wrong symbols would break a sign pair or push a row past 2 suns or moons. Watch for two identical symbols in a row or column — the no-three rule blocks the third and often forces the opposite symbol nearby.
Solve path
Phase 1: 4×4 Tango board with 6 locked clues and 1 adjacency sign — each row and column needs 2 suns and 2 moons with no three identical symbols in a line. Step 1: R1C1 → Sun (row balance). Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit to the right — this cell cannot be moon. Step 2: R1C4 → Sun (no-three rule). Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit to the left — a third moon here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Step 3: R2C3 → Moon (opposite sign). The × sign between this cell and Row 2, column 2 means they must differ — Row 2, column 2 is Sun, so this cell is Moon. Step 4: R2C4 → Moon (sandwich rule). Two suns sandwich this cell vertically — it must be Moon. Step 5: R2C1 → Sun (row balance). Row 2 still needs 1 more sun to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be suns. Step 6: R3C1 → Moon (no-three rule). Sun is ruled out: Two suns sit above — a third sun here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Step 7: R3C2 → Moon (sandwich rule). Two suns sandwich this cell vertically — it must be Moon. Step 8: R3C3 → Sun (no-three rule). Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit to the left — a third moon here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Step 9: R4C3 → Sun (column balance). Column 3 still needs 1 more sun for balance. Step 10: R4C4 → Moon (no-three rule). Sun is ruled out: Two suns sit to the left — a third sun here would break the no-three-in-a-row rule. Complete: 8 suns and 8 moons across the 4×4 grid. All = and × constraints satisfied — no row or column violates balance or the no-three rule.
Pattern
Watch for two identical symbols in a row or column — the no-three rule blocks the third and often forces the opposite symbol nearby.
Every row and column holds exactly 2 suns and 2 moons (row 1: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 2: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 3: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 4: 2 suns, 2 moons).
Learn more in Tango Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Locked givens plus sign pairs opened the first 5 cells. After that, row and column counts did the heavy lifting.
Scan for two identical symbols in a line before placing — the no-three rule blocked several wrong taps on this 4×4 board.
Retry Tango Level 1 using one hint per stuck phase. You should finish balance lines without guessing once 6 givens are mapped.
Solution
This 4×4 grid has 6 locked clues and 1 adjacency sign (0 equal, 1 opposite). 8 suns and 8 moons across the 4×4 grid. Every row and column holds exactly 2 suns and 2 moons (row 1: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 2: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 3: 2 suns, 2 moons; row 4: 2 suns, 2 moons). Watch for two identical symbols in a row or column — the no-three rule blocks the third and often forces the opposite symbol nearby. Use the Solution tab for a cell-by-cell reveal with live board updates and constraint reasoning, or the Solved board tab for the complete grid.