2026-07-20
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Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Analytical breakdown format — checkpoint hops, corridor notes, wall map, and strategy notes.
Overview
LinkedIn Zip #490 is the LinkedIn Zip daily for July 20, 2026. Zip is LinkedIn's path puzzle: draw one continuous route through a 6×6 grid, visit every cell exactly once, hit 14 numbered checkpoints in order, and navigate around 0 walls. 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 6×6 Zip route visits all 36 cells once, hits 14 checkpoints in order, and respects 0 walls:
1→2 (2 cells, R6C4→R5C4); 2→3 (3 cells, R5C4→R6C5); 3→4 (6 cells, R6C5→R4C4); 4→5 (4 cells, R4C4→R2C5); 5→6 (2 cells, R2C5→R3C5); 6→7 (6 cells, R3C5→R1C4); 7→8 (2 cells, R1C4→R1C3); 8→9 (9 cells, R1C3→R6C2); 9→10 (2 cells, R6C2→R6C3); 10→11 (2 cells, R6C3→R5C3); 11→12 (4 cells, R5C3→R3C2); 12→13 (2 cells, R3C2→R2C2); 13→14 (4 cells, R2C2→R4C3)
Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
Analysis
LinkedIn Zip #490 is a 6×6 Zip board with 14 numbered checkpoints and 0 walls. The Hamiltonian path visits all 36 cells once, hits checkpoints 1–14 in order, and ends on the final number. Segment plan: 1→2 (2 cells, R6C4→R5C4); 2→3 (3 cells, R5C4→R6C5); 3→4 (6 cells, R6C5→R4C4); 4→5 (4 cells, R4C4→R2C5); 5→6 (2 cells, R2C5→R3C5); 6→7 (6 cells, R3C5→R1C4); 7→8 (2 cells, R1C4→R1C3); 8→9 (9 cells, R1C3→R6C2); 9→10 (2 cells, R6C2→R6C3); 10→11 (2 cells, R6C3→R5C3); 11→12 (4 cells, R5C3→R3C2); 12→13 (2 cells, R3C2→R2C2); 13→14 (4 cells, R2C2→R4C3).
Board spotlight: Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares. Wall count 0 on 6×6 shapes which corridors stay open between numbered cells.
Segment 1 (1→2): 2 cells from R6C4 to R5C4. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 1 and 2 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 2 (2→3): 3 cells from R5C4 to R6C5. Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 2 and 3 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 3 (3→4): 6 cells from R6C5 to R4C4. 6 cells link checkpoint 3 at R6C5 to checkpoint 4 at R4C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Segment 4 (4→5): 4 cells from R4C4 to R2C5. 4 cells link checkpoint 4 at R4C4 to checkpoint 5 at R2C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Segment 5 (5→6): 2 cells from R2C5 to R3C5. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 5 and 6 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 6 (6→7): 6 cells from R3C5 to R1C4. 6 cells link checkpoint 6 at R3C5 to checkpoint 7 at R1C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Segment 7 (7→8): 2 cells from R1C4 to R1C3. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 7 and 8 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 8 (8→9): 9 cells from R1C3 to R6C2. 9 cells link checkpoint 8 at R1C3 to checkpoint 9 at R6C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Segment 9 (9→10): 2 cells from R6C2 to R6C3. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 9 and 10 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 10 (10→11): 2 cells from R6C3 to R5C3. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 10 and 11 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 11 (11→12): 4 cells from R5C3 to R3C2. 4 cells link checkpoint 11 at R5C3 to checkpoint 12 at R3C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Segment 12 (12→13): 2 cells from R3C2 to R2C2. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 12 and 13 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 13 (13→14): 4 cells from R2C2 to R4C3. 4 cells link checkpoint 13 at R2C2 to checkpoint 14 at R4C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Complete path: 36 cells, checkpoints in order, ending on 14. Pattern: checkpoint-cluster board — Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
Checkpoint hops
Corridor insight
Hop 1: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 1 and 2 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 1 (R6C4) to checkpoint 2 (R5C4).
Corridor insight
Hop 2: Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 2 and 3 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 3 cells from checkpoint 2 (R5C4) to checkpoint 3 (R6C5).
Corridor insight
Hop 3: 6 cells link checkpoint 3 at R6C5 to checkpoint 4 at R4C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 6 cells from checkpoint 3 (R6C5) to checkpoint 4 (R4C4).
Corridor insight
Hop 4: 4 cells link checkpoint 4 at R4C4 to checkpoint 5 at R2C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 4 cells from checkpoint 4 (R4C4) to checkpoint 5 (R2C5).
Corridor insight
Hop 5: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 5 and 6 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 5 (R2C5) to checkpoint 6 (R3C5).
Corridor insight
Hop 6: 6 cells link checkpoint 6 at R3C5 to checkpoint 7 at R1C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 6 cells from checkpoint 6 (R3C5) to checkpoint 7 (R1C4).
Corridor insight
Hop 7: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 7 and 8 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 7 (R1C4) to checkpoint 8 (R1C3).
Corridor insight
Hop 8: 9 cells link checkpoint 8 at R1C3 to checkpoint 9 at R6C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 9 cells from checkpoint 8 (R1C3) to checkpoint 9 (R6C2).
Corridor insight
Hop 9: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 9 and 10 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 9 (R6C2) to checkpoint 10 (R6C3).
Corridor insight
Hop 10: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 10 and 11 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 10 (R6C3) to checkpoint 11 (R5C3).
Corridor insight
Hop 11: 4 cells link checkpoint 11 at R5C3 to checkpoint 12 at R3C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 4 cells from checkpoint 11 (R5C3) to checkpoint 12 (R3C2).
Corridor insight
Hop 12: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 12 and 13 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 12 (R3C2) to checkpoint 13 (R2C2).
Corridor insight
Hop 13: 4 cells link checkpoint 13 at R2C2 to checkpoint 14 at R4C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 4 cells from checkpoint 13 (R2C2) to checkpoint 14 (R4C3).
Verification
The archived path is the unique Hamiltonian route on this board: 36 orthogonally adjacent steps, checkpoints 1 through 14 in order, 0 walls never crossed. Each segment 1→2, 2→3, 3→4, 4→5, 5→6, 6→7, 7→8, 8→9, 9→10, 10→11, 11→12, 12→13, 13→14 is the shortest viable corridor that still leaves enough open cells for the remaining sweep.
Solve path
Phase 1: Start at checkpoint 1 (R6C4) on this 6×6 grid with 14 checkpoints and 0 walls. Segment 1: Visit checkpoint 2 at R5C4 via 2 cells from checkpoint 1. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 1 and 2 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 2: Visit checkpoint 3 at R6C5 via 3 cells from checkpoint 2. Tight 3-cell hop — checkpoints 2 and 3 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 3: Visit checkpoint 4 at R4C4 via 6 cells from checkpoint 3. 6 cells link checkpoint 3 at R6C5 to checkpoint 4 at R4C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 4: Visit checkpoint 5 at R2C5 via 4 cells from checkpoint 4. 4 cells link checkpoint 4 at R4C4 to checkpoint 5 at R2C5 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 5: Visit checkpoint 6 at R3C5 via 2 cells from checkpoint 5. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 5 and 6 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 6: Visit checkpoint 7 at R1C4 via 6 cells from checkpoint 6. 6 cells link checkpoint 6 at R3C5 to checkpoint 7 at R1C4 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 7: Visit checkpoint 8 at R1C3 via 2 cells from checkpoint 7. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 7 and 8 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 8: Visit checkpoint 9 at R6C2 via 9 cells from checkpoint 8. 9 cells link checkpoint 8 at R1C3 to checkpoint 9 at R6C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 9: Visit checkpoint 10 at R6C3 via 2 cells from checkpoint 9. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 9 and 10 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 10: Visit checkpoint 11 at R5C3 via 2 cells from checkpoint 10. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 10 and 11 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 11: Visit checkpoint 12 at R3C2 via 4 cells from checkpoint 11. 4 cells link checkpoint 11 at R5C3 to checkpoint 12 at R3C2 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 12: Visit checkpoint 13 at R2C2 via 2 cells from checkpoint 12. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 12 and 13 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 13: Visit checkpoint 14 at R4C3 via 4 cells from checkpoint 13. 4 cells link checkpoint 13 at R2C2 to checkpoint 14 at R4C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Complete: Hamiltonian path covers all 36 cells, checkpoints 1–14 in order, ending on checkpoint 14 at R4C3.
Pattern
Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
Learn more in Zip Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
On LinkedIn Zip #490, plan 13 hops (1→2 (2 cells), 2→3 (3 cells), 3→4 (6 cells), 4→5 (4 cells), 5→6 (2 cells), 6→7 (6 cells), 7→8 (2 cells), 8→9 (9 cells), 9→10 (2 cells), 10→11 (2 cells), 11→12 (4 cells), 12→13 (2 cells), 13→14 (4 cells)) before filling stray cells — Zip rewards reaching the next number without trapping leftovers.
Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares.
0 walls on 6×6 — mark blocked edges before committing to a corridor toward checkpoint 2.
Solution
This 6×6 board has 14 checkpoints (1@R6C4, 2@R5C4, 3@R6C5, 4@R4C4, 5@R2C5, 6@R3C5, 7@R1C4, 8@R1C3, 9@R6C2, 10@R6C3, 11@R5C3, 12@R3C2, 13@R2C2, 14@R4C3) and 0 walls. The solution path covers 36 cells in 13 checkpoint hops: 1→2 (2 cells, R6C4→R5C4); 2→3 (3 cells, R5C4→R6C5); 3→4 (6 cells, R6C5→R4C4); 4→5 (4 cells, R4C4→R2C5); 5→6 (2 cells, R2C5→R3C5); 6→7 (6 cells, R3C5→R1C4); 7→8 (2 cells, R1C4→R1C3); 8→9 (9 cells, R1C3→R6C2); 9→10 (2 cells, R6C2→R6C3); 10→11 (2 cells, R6C3→R5C3); 11→12 (4 cells, R5C3→R3C2); 12→13 (2 cells, R3C2→R2C2); 13→14 (4 cells, R2C2→R4C3). Checkpoints sit close together on the grid — short numbered hops still need full-cell coverage between them without revisiting squares. 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.