Patches Strategy Guide
Expert tips to solve faster and earn 3 stars on every puzzle
Start with the Most Constrained Patches
Not all clues are created equal. A Square · 4clue can only be a 2×2 rectangle — there's only one possible shape. Meanwhile, a Wide · 6 could be 6×1, 3×2, or 2×3 (minus the non-wide options), giving you more possibilities to consider.
Constraint ranking (most → least):
- Square clues — fewest valid rectangles (1×1, 2×2, 3×3 only)
- Small area clues — fewer ways to tile a 2- or 3-cell patch
- Corner/edge clues — boundary limits placement options
- Large free/any clues — many valid dimensions, solve last
Work from Edges Inward
Corner cells can only be covered by patches that start at or extend to that corner. This dramatically reduces possibilities. A clue in the top-left corner with Tall · 3can only extend downward (1×3 starting at row 0) — there's literally no other option.
Edge cells (not corners) have slightly more freedom but are still more constrained than center cells. Solve the borders first to create a smaller unsolved region in the middle.
Master Shape Type Analysis
Understanding valid rectangle dimensions for each shape type is key to fast solving.
💡 Square constraints are the tightest. A Square·9 is always 3×3 — place it immediately.
💡 Width must be strictly greater than height. Wide·2 is always 2×1.
💡 Height must be strictly greater than width. Tall·2 is always 1×2.
💡 No shape constraint — only the total area matters. Solve these after more constrained clues.
💡 Completely unconstrained. These are wild cards — leave them for last.
Use Cell Counting & Elimination
The grid has exactly 36 cells and every cell must be covered. When you've placed most patches, count the remaining empty cells and compare them to the unplaced clue areas. If only one configuration fits the remaining space, you've found the answer without trial and error.
Example:
You have 8 empty cells left and two unplaced clues: Wide·6 and Square·2 (which is impossible since 2 can't be square — it would need to be 1×2 or 2×1). So Wide·6 must be 3×2 or 6×1. Check which fits the remaining empty region to lock in both placements.
Speed Tips for 3-Star Times
- ⚡Scan the whole grid first. Spend 5 seconds identifying the most constrained clues before placing anything.
- ⚡Use Undo, not Reset. Undo only removes the last patch and doesn't affect your star rating. Reset clears everything and restarts the timer.
- ⚡Don't hesitate. The timer starts on your first placement, so plan before you start drawing. Once you begin, commit quickly.
- ⚡Practice Easy puzzles for speed. Re-solve Easy puzzles to build muscle memory for common patterns like 3×3 squares and 6×1 rows.
Expert Puzzle Techniques
Expert puzzles have maximum constraint density — often with many small patches that interlock tightly. Here are advanced techniques:
- Forced cells: Find cells that can only be covered by one specific patch. These are your anchors.
- Chain reasoning: Placing one forced patch often forces the next. Look for cascades.
- Parity check: In some configurations, a patch must be oriented a certain way to leave an even fillable region.
- Bifurcation: If stuck between two options for a clue, try one. If it leads to an impossible state (uncoverable cell), the other must be correct.
Star Rating Thresholds
Here are the exact time thresholds for each difficulty level. Using a hint caps your maximum at ⭐⭐.
| Difficulty | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | < 1:30 | < 3:00 | Any time |
| Medium | < 2:30 | < 5:00 | Any time |
| Hard | < 4:00 | < 8:00 | Any time |
| Expert | < 6:00 | < 12:00 | Any time |