LinkedIn Zip #454 Answer & Analysis

The puzzle starts at 1 in the lower-middle-left area. Since 2 is directly below it and 3 is just to the left, the opening is a short forced chain that pulls the path down, then back left. This establishes the early direction without wasting any cells.

From 3, the path has to travel a long distance before it can hit 4. The cleanest route is to sweep along the left edge, across the bottom row, up the right edge, and then back along the top until it drops into 4. This kind of perimeter sweep is a common Zip tactic because it prevents stranded cells.

After 4, the path works through a tight zig-zag in the upper-middle and right-center section. The numbered cells 5, 6, 7, and 8 are arranged so the route must bounce between rows while staying on adjacent cells only.

The middle of the board is solved by a controlled return through the lower-right center. This section collects 9 through 13 in order while avoiding the wall-trapped edges. The result is a smooth inward curve instead of a dead-end branch.

The last section must bring the path from 13 to 16 while still visiting every remaining cell exactly once. The route climbs through the left-center, uses the upper-left edge, and then comes back into the top-middle to finish on the final number. This is where wall awareness matters most, because any premature turn would strand part of the grid.