2026-01-02
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Case file format — checkpoint hops, corridor notes, wall map, and strategy notes.
Overview
Zip Level 2 is part of our exclusive Zip level track. Zip is LinkedIn's path puzzle: draw one continuous route through a 4×4 grid, visit every cell exactly once, hit 3 numbered checkpoints in order, and navigate around 1 wall. 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
This 4×4 Zip route visits all 16 cells once, hits 3 checkpoints in order, and respects 1 wall:
1→2 (9 cells, R3C3→R2C4); 2→3 (8 cells, R2C4→R4C1)
Several checkpoint hops require long detours through empty cells — the direct line between numbers is rarely the route you can keep.
Analysis
Case file Zip Level 2: 4×4 path puzzle, 3 checkpoint exhibits, 1 blocked edges. Full trace covers 16 cells. Hop summary: 1→2 (9 cells, R3C3→R2C4); 2→3 (8 cells, R2C4→R4C1).
Board spotlight: Several checkpoint hops require long detours through empty cells — the direct line between numbers is rarely the route you can keep. Wall count 1 on 4×4 shapes which corridors stay open between numbered cells.
Exhibit 1: 1→2, 9 cells. Long 9-cell sweep (56% of the board) from checkpoint 1 to 2 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Exhibit 2: 2→3, 8 cells. Long 8-cell sweep (50% of the board) from checkpoint 2 to 3 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Verdict: 16-cell Hamiltonian path satisfies checkpoint order and wall constraints. Case closed.
Checkpoint hops
Corridor insight
Corridor A — 1→2: Long 9-cell sweep (56% of the board) from checkpoint 1 to 2 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Solving note
Evidence: 9 cells, endpoints R3C3 → R2C4.
Corridor insight
Corridor B — 2→3: Long 8-cell sweep (50% of the board) from checkpoint 2 to 3 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Solving note
Evidence: 8 cells, endpoints R2C4 → R4C1.
Verification
Evidence supports segment order 1→2 (9 cells), 2→3 (8 cells). Alternative corridors between checkpoints either cross walls or leave unreachable cell islands.
Solve path
Phase 1: Start at checkpoint 1 (R3C3) on this 4×4 grid with 3 checkpoints and 1 wall. Segment 1: Visit checkpoint 2 at R2C4 via 9 cells from checkpoint 1. Long 9-cell sweep (56% of the board) from checkpoint 1 to 2 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour. Segment 2: Visit checkpoint 3 at R4C1 via 8 cells from checkpoint 2. Long 8-cell sweep (50% of the board) from checkpoint 2 to 3 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour. Complete: Hamiltonian path covers all 16 cells, checkpoints 1–3 in order, ending on checkpoint 3 at R4C1.
Pattern
Several checkpoint hops require long detours through empty cells — the direct line between numbers is rarely the route you can keep.
Learn more in Zip Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Segment chain 1→2 (9 cells), 2→3 (8 cells) is the only wall-respecting order that visits all 16 cells.
Skipping a cell in any hop breaks the Hamiltonian rule immediately.
Wide-detour path — 4×4, 3 checkpoints, 1 walls.
Solution
This 4×4 board has 3 checkpoints (1@R3C3, 2@R2C4, 3@R4C1) and 1 wall. The solution path covers 16 cells in 2 checkpoint hops: 1→2 (9 cells, R3C3→R2C4); 2→3 (8 cells, R2C4→R4C1). Several checkpoint hops require long detours through empty cells — the direct line between numbers is rarely the route you can keep. Use the Solution tab for a checkpoint-segment reveal with live board updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete path at a glance.