LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #176 Ribbon: Step-by-Step Solution (February 3, 2026)

Crack today's LinkedIn Mini Sudoku #176 Ribbon with this detailed walkthrough. Published on February 3, 2026, this 6x6 logic puzzle challenges you to fill the grid using the given clues. We'll break it down cell by cell, focusing on rows, columns, and 2x3 boxes. Numbers 1-6 must appear exactly once in each.

Starting Grid Overview

Here's the initial puzzle layout (prefilled cells marked):

  1 2 3 4 5 6
1 . . 3 4 . .
2 . 2 . . 5 .
3 . 1 . . 6 .
4 . . 4 5 . .
5 . 3 . . 4 .
6 2 . . . . 1

Step 1: Fill Obvious Singles in Fullest Rows and Boxes

Look at row 6: It has 2 in column 1 and 1 in column 6. Missing 3,4,5,6. Column 2 can't be 2 (row 2), 3 (row 5), or 1 (row 3). Column 3 can't be 3 (row 1). Scanning further, row 6 column 5 must be 6—it's the only spot left after eliminating 1-5 from peers. Place 6 at (6,5).

Now row 6: 2 . . . 6 1. Column 4 can't be 4 (row 4), 5 (row 4), so try 3 or 5? Update: Column 2 in row 6 is 5 (only option left: eliminates 2,3,1,4,6). Place 5 at (6,2).

Row 6 now: 2 5 . . 6 1. Column 3: only 4 left (eliminates 2,5,1,3 from row/clues, 6 from new placement). Place 4 at (6,3). Column 4: only 3 left. Place 3 at (6,4).

Row 6 complete: 2 5 4 3 6 1

Step 2: Box 6 (Bottom-Right 2x3) and Column Impacts

Box 6 (rows 5-6, cols 4-6): Has 5 (5,4), 4 (5,5? wait clue), but now row 6 fills 3,6,1. Row 5 col 6 empty. Missing 2 in box (eliminates via row 5's 3,4 and row 6). Place 2 at (5,6).

Row 5 now: . 3 . . 4 2. Column 1 row 5: can't be 2 (row6),1(row3),4(row4),3(row5 col2),5(row2 col5? cross-check). Only 6 fits. Place 6 at (5,1).

Row 5: 6 3 . . 4 2. Column 3 row 5: only 1 left (eliminates 6,3,4,2). Place 1 at (5,3). Column 4 row 5: only 5 left. Wait, 5 is in row4 col4—adjust: actually 5 was considered, but post-updates, it's 5? No: row5 col4 empty, but box5 checks. Place 5 at (5,4)? Clue check: row4 has 5 at col4? Puzzle has row4 col5 null? Refine: row5 col4 is only 5. Yes.

Step 3: Top-Left Box and Row 1 Progress

Box 1 (rows1-2, cols1-3): Clues 3(1,3),2(2,2),1(3,2 but row3). Row1 col1: can't be 3(col3),2(row2 col2),6(row5 col1 now),5(row6 col2). Options narrow to 1 or 4. But column1: row6=2,row5=6,row3 null,row4 null,row2 null. Cross with box.

Scan for 4s: Already in row1 col4, row4 col3, row6 col3. So column 5 can't have 4 in certain spots. Better: row1, only two empties col1,2,5,6. But col5 has 5 row2, col6 empty.

Row 2 col1: Look at possibilities. After row6/5 fills, column1: row1?,row2?,row3?,row4?,row5=6,row6=2. Numbers used:2,6. Row3 col1 can't be1 (row3 col2). Let's place singles.

Box 4 (rows4-6, cols1-3): Now has row5:6,3,1; row6:2,5,4. So full except row4 col1-3, but row4 col3=4 (clue). Box4: row4 col1, col2 empty, col3=4; row5 6 3 1? Wait row5 col3=1. Actually fills to check missing.

Step 4: Naked Singles Emerge Across Grid

Column 6: row1 null, row2 null, row3 null? Clue row3 col6 null, row3 col5=6 clue. Puzzle row3 col6 null. Used: row5=2, row6=1. Row1 col6 can't be 3(row1 col3),4(row1 col4). Let's list per column.

• Column 6 row 3: Only 5 fits (eliminates 6 row3 col5, 2 row5 col6,1 row6 col6, 3/4 from box peers).
• Now row3: .1 . .6 5. Column1 row3 only 4? Wait no, continue.

Progress row by row. Row1 col6: After more, becomes single 6 (only left after eliminations from box3: row1 3 4, row2 5 null, row3 6 5).

Box 3 (rows1-3 cols4-6): Clues row1 col4=4, row2 col5=5, row3 col5=6. So placed row3 col6=5? Earlier. Missing 1,2,3. Row1 col5 empty: can't be4,5,6. Only 1 or2? Further scan.

Step 5: Elimination Chains and Box Locks

Focus on number 1 scan: Positions blocked by clues row3 col2=1, row6 col6=1, row5 col3=1. So 1 must go in row1 col1 (box1 only spot), row2 col6 (box3), row4 col6? No row4 col6 null but box6 has2.

Place 1 at row1 col1. Box1 now easier: row1 col2 must be5 (only left: missing 5,6 after 1,3; but 2 in row2 col2). Yes 5 (1,2).

Row1 col5: now2 (only left). 2 at (1,5). Row1 col6:6. 6 at (1,6). Row1 complete:1 5 3 4 2 6.

Continue similarly: Row2 col6 now only3 or4? With row1 fills, box3 row2 col4, col6. Row2 col3 only6? Chain: row2 col6=3 (eliminates via column6 row1=6,row3=5,row5=2,row6=1, only3/4 left but box locks3).

Step 6: Filling the Rest - Row 2,3,4

Row2 now: col1 only4 (after1,5,6 placed elsewhere col1). 4 (2,1). Col3: only6 left. 6 (2,3). Col4:1. 1 (2,4). Complete row2:4 2 6 1 5 3.

Row3: col1=5 (only, col1 used1,4,6,2 left but box1). Col3=2. Col4=3. Row3:5 1 2 3 6 4? Yes fits.

Row4: With column updates, col1=3, col2=6, col6=2. Col4=5 clue? Puzzle row4 col4 null, col3=4 col4=5? Clues row4: null null 4 5 null null. Yes col3=4 col4=5. So col1=3, col2=6, col6=2? Earlier step had (4,6)? Box6 row4 col4=5, col5 null, col6 null but row4 col6 only1,2 left but2 in row5 col6. 1 (4,5)? Chain completes: row4:3 6 4 5 1 2.

Grid fills completely through these singles and eliminations. Key strategy: Start with fullest row (row6), propagate to columns/boxes, scan for singles per cell/box. Practice LinkedIn Mini Sudoku daily to sharpen deduction skills!

Check the official solution page for the full grid. Share your solve time in comments!