2026-01-02
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Case file format — cell deductions, sign analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
Tango Level 2 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 2 adjacency signs (1 equal, 1 opposite).
Analysis
Case opened on Tango Level 2: 4×4 Tango grid, 6 preset cells, 2 sign constraints. The completed grid holds 8 suns and 8 moons across the 4×4 grid. Evidence chain: 10 deduced placements after givens.
Forensic read: column balance closes the line (3); row balance forces the last symbol (2); the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat (2); two matching symbols sandwich this cell (1); a × sign demands opposites (1); an = sign links neighbors (1). Watch for two identical symbols in a row or column — the no-three rule blocks the third and often forces the opposite symbol nearby. Cross-check every = and × against filled cells — a broken pair is the fastest way to spot a wrong symbol.
Early exhibits (R2C2 → Sun (two matching symbols sandwich this cell); R4C2 → Sun (column balance closes the line); R4C3 → Moon (a × sign demands opposites)) tie givens to sign constraints. Mid-case placements (R3C3 = Moon, R2C3 = Sun) confirm the propagation theory. Closing exhibits (R2C4 → Moon and R3C4 → Sun) complete the 4×4 grid without violating the no-three rule.
Balance audit: 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). No row or column exceeds 2 of either symbol in the solution.
Constraint verification: 1 equal signs require matching neighbors; 1 opposite signs require different symbols. A single broken edge means the grid fails even if row balance looks correct.
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.
Verdict: consistent 4×4 Tango solution. 8 suns and 8 moons across the 4×4 grid. Case closed — 10 deduced cells, zero rule violations.
Cells
Reasoning
Two moons sandwich this cell vertically — it must be Sun. Column 2 still needs 2 more suns for balance.
Solving note
Exhibit A: Sun at R2C2 because two matching symbols sandwich this cell. Start from givens and adjacent signs.
Reasoning
Column 2 still needs 1 more sun for balance.
Solving note
Exhibit B: Sun at R4C2 because column balance closes the line. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Two suns sandwich this cell — it must be Moon to avoid three suns in a row. Row 4 still needs 1 more moon to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be moons. The × sign between this cell and Row 4, column 4 means they must differ — Row 4, column 4 is Sun, so this cell is Moon.
Solving note
Exhibit C: Moon at R4C3 because a × sign demands opposites. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
The = sign between this cell and Row 4, column 3 means they must match — Row 4, column 3 is Moon, so this cell is Moon.
Solving note
Exhibit D: Moon at R3C3 because an = sign links neighbors. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit below — this cell cannot be moon. Column 3 still needs 1 more sun for balance.
Solving note
Exhibit E: Sun at R2C3 because column balance closes the line. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Sun is ruled out: Two suns sit to the right — this cell cannot be sun. Row 2 still needs 2 more moons to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be moons.
Solving note
Exhibit F: Moon at R2C1 because row balance forces the last symbol. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Column 1 still needs 1 more sun for balance.
Solving note
Exhibit G: Sun at R1C1 because column balance closes the line. Update row/column counts before the next placement.
Reasoning
Row 1 still needs 1 more moon to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be moons.
Solving note
Exhibit H: Moon at R1C4 because row balance forces the last symbol. 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 2 still needs 1 more moon to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be moons.
Solving note
Exhibit I: Moon at R2C4 because the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat. 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 4 still needs 1 more sun for balance.
Solving note
Exhibit J: Sun at R3C4 because the no-three-in-a-row rule blocks a repeat. Final open cell — grid complete after this.
Verification
Evidence supports the placement chain: 10 cells beyond givens, each with documented reasoning. Alternative symbols at any step would violate an = link, × link, balance limit, or three-in-a-row rule.
Solve path
Phase 1: 4×4 Tango board with 6 locked clues and 2 adjacency signs — each row and column needs 2 suns and 2 moons with no three identical symbols in a line. Step 1: R2C2 → Sun (sandwich rule). Two moons sandwich this cell vertically — it must be Sun. Step 2: R4C2 → Sun (column balance). Column 2 still needs 1 more sun for balance. Step 3: R4C3 → Moon (opposite sign). Two suns sandwich this cell — it must be Moon to avoid three suns in a row. Step 4: R3C3 → Moon (equal sign). The = sign between this cell and Row 4, column 3 means they must match — Row 4, column 3 is Moon, so this cell is Moon. Step 5: R2C3 → Sun (column balance). Moon is ruled out: Two moons sit below — this cell cannot be moon. Step 6: R2C1 → Moon (row balance). Sun is ruled out: Two suns sit to the right — this cell cannot be sun. Step 7: R1C1 → Sun (column balance). Column 1 still needs 1 more sun for balance. Step 8: R1C4 → Moon (row balance). Row 1 still needs 1 more moon to reach the 2-and-2 balance, so the remaining open cells must be moons. Step 9: R2C4 → 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. Step 10: R3C4 → 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. 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
Early chain: R2C2=Sun, R4C2=Sun, R4C3=Moon. These placements constrain the rest of the grid.
Any symbol that creates three in a row or breaks an = / × pair is illegal — most wrong taps fail on signs, not balance.
Three-in-a-row trap, 6 givens, 2 signs. File that combo for future Tango dailies.
Solution
This 4×4 grid has 6 locked clues and 2 adjacency signs (1 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.