LinkedIn Tango: The Sun and Moon Rules and How to Solve It

Tango is the LinkedIn game that looks the friendliest and still trips people up, usually because they forget one of the four rules halfway through. Once they're in your head, most grids fall into place quickly.

Here's everything LinkedIn's help page says about Tango, followed by the order I'd solve a grid in.

Tango's four rules

1. Every cell holds a sun or a moon.
2. Each row and each column has an equal number of suns and moons.
3. You can't have more than two suns or two moons next to each other, across or down.
4. Cells joined by = are the same symbol; cells joined by x are opposite symbols.

Some cells are filled in when the puzzle starts. LinkedIn also notes that on certain days the emojis on the grid may change, so don't be thrown if it isn't suns and moons. The rules stay the same.

Getting started

1. Open Tango from the Games hub, the My Network page or LinkedIn search.
2. Tap Start game.
3. Tap an empty cell to place a symbol, and tap again to switch it.
4. Work through the grid until every cell is filled and no rule is broken.

Buttons and settings worth knowing

Tool	What it does
Hint	Highlights a cell where a symbol must go, or marks wrong placements
Undo	Removes your last placement
Clear	Removes every symbol you've placed
Auto-check (Settings)	Highlights rule breaks with red stripes on the affected cells

I'd switch Auto-check on for your first few games. It catches the three-in-a-row mistake the moment you make it, instead of when you're stuck at the end.

A solving order that works

None of this is official, it's simply what the rules force:

• Fill the = and x pairs next to a given symbol first. If one side is known, the other is decided.
• Look for two matching symbols side by side. The cells either end of the pair must be the opposite symbol, or you'd have three in a row.
• Look for a gap between two matching symbols, like sun, empty, sun. The gap must be a moon.
• Count each row and column. Once a line has its full share of suns, every empty cell remaining in that line must be a moon, and the other way round.
• Only then move on to the harder cells, and use Hint rather than guessing.

If you enjoy this kind of puzzle, my list of logic puzzle games for keeping sharp has more in the same spirit.

A worked example of the pair rule

Say a row starts with two suns side by side. The cell straight after them can't be a sun, because that would make three in a row, so it has to be a moon. Now say the same row has a sun, then an empty cell, then another sun. The empty cell in the middle must be a moon for the same reason. These two patterns crop up in almost every grid, and spotting them quickly is most of the battle.

Counting works the same way. If a row needs an equal split and already has its full share of moons, every empty cell left in that row is a sun. Run that check along each row and column after every few moves and the grid tends to fill itself in.

The mistakes most people make

• Checking rows but not columns. The equal-count and no-three rules apply both ways.
• Reading an x as 'empty'. It means the two cells are different symbols, not that one is blank.
• Filling a line by count before checking the three-in-a-row rule, which can leave you with an impossible line.

After you finish

The results page shows your score compared with averages for all members, your company, CEOs and others. You'll see your streak and game analytics, can set a reminder for the next puzzle, check the leaderboard if you're eligible and share your score. There's also a daily post where players compare notes.

Timing and old puzzles

A new Tango puzzle is released every day at midnight Pacific Time, and the previous one expires at the same moment. You can't go back and play a missed day, so if you're keeping a streak, that's your deadline.

Playing without an account

Anyone can play Tango as a guest. The score is only kept for 30 minutes before it's deleted, and guests can't hold a streak or see leaderboards. Sign in within that window if you want the result to count.

Where to find Tango each day

LinkedIn lists the Games hub, the My Network page, Today's Games under LinkedIn News on desktop, the side panel in the mobile app, search and notifications. If you play every day, switching on the optional reminder for new puzzles saves you hunting for it.

Is Tango the same as a binary puzzle?

It's very close. If you've played binary or Takuzu-style puzzles, the balance and no-three rules will feel familiar. The = and x signs are Tango's extra twist, and they're often where the first few moves come from.

My advice

Turn on Auto-check, start with the = and x clues and the obvious pairs, then count each line. Don't guess. If you're stuck, one Hint will usually open up the rest of the grid. And if you're using LinkedIn for work as well as play, keep the games to a few minutes and spend the rest on posting something useful.

If you want the full set, start at the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules of LinkedIn Tango?

Fill every cell with a sun or moon so each row and column has an equal number of each, with no more than two of the same next to each other.

What does = mean in Tango?

An = sign between two cells means they must be the same symbol.

What does x mean in Tango?

An x between two cells means they must be different symbols.

Why are there different emojis in Tango today?

LinkedIn says that on certain days the emojis on the grid may vary. The rules don't change.

When does a new Tango puzzle come out?

Every day at midnight Pacific Time, when the previous puzzle expires.

Can I turn on mistake checking in Tango?

Yes. Turn on Auto-check in Settings and rule breaks are highlighted with red stripes.