RECTANGLE PUZZLE GUIDE
Patches vs Shikaku: what is the difference?
Both puzzles divide a grid into rectangles. In Shikaku, a numbered clue gives the area of its rectangle. LinkedIn's Patches combines size clues with shape clues, such as wide, tall or square. A Shikaku board does not represent all Patches rules.
Chaoschemy is independent and is not affiliated with LinkedIn or Nikoli. This practice board is our original Shikaku example, not a Patches puzzle or an official daily board.
Try a 4×4 Shikaku board
Fill the board with rectangles. Each must contain exactly one number and that many cells. Tap or click two opposite corners to place a rectangle. Use Tab and Enter or Space on a keyboard. In Safari, you may need Option-Tab to reach the board buttons.
Choose two corners of a rectangle.
How to solve this board
Each 4 must cover four cells. The top-left 4 cannot occupy the whole top row: that would contain another clue. It cannot occupy the whole left column either, for the same reason. Its remaining rectangle is a 2×2 square. Repeat that reasoning for the other corners.
How the rules differ
- Shikaku: every rectangle contains one numbered clue, and its area equals that number.
- Patches: a clue can specify a rectangle's shape as well as its size. Some puzzles may use shape without a number.
- In both: fill the grid with non-overlapping rectangles, each with one clue.
A rectangle of area 4 can be 1×4 or 2×2 in this Shikaku example. A shape clue can narrow that choice in Patches. Our example checks Shikaku rules only.