What connects Chocolate, Potato, Wood, Poker, Computer in Pinpoint #568?
The connector is 'Words that come before "chip"'. For example, the phrases are Chocolate chip, Potato chip, Wood chip, Poker chip, and Computer chip.
💡 Hover (desktop) or tap (mobile) each clue to see how it connects to the answer
LinkedIn Pinpoint #568 Answer:
Detailed breakdown continues just below - keep scrolling
Pinpoint #568 Walkthrough & Analysis
Puzzle Overview
Today's LinkedIn Pinpoint started with a seemingly delicious theme, as Chocolate and Potato immediately suggested food items. But the introduction of Wood and Poker felt like a sudden curveball, forcing a complete reconsideration of that initial culinary path. It became clear the link wasn't a category you could taste or hold, but something more structural hiding in the words themselves.
How the Solution Emerged
My first guess was a bit of a stretch, but I went with it anyway. I saw Chocolate and Potato and thought, "Things that can be fried or come in fries." It felt a bit silly, but sometimes the connections are odd. My confidence, already shaky, completely evaporated when Wood appeared. You can fry wood, I guess, but that’s not a common association. My theory was toast.
I moved on to a new idea. "Things that are brown or can be brown?" No, that immediately fails on Poker. My mind then jumped to abstract categories like "Things that are processed or manufactured." That seemed plausible for a moment, but it felt too broad and generic for a Pinpoint puzzle. That’s when I stopped forcing categories and just looked at the words next to each other: Chocolate... Potato.... What comes after them? What if the word itself is the clue? It felt like a classic misdirection.
I decided to test a simple, linguistic pattern. What if the connector was a word that could *follow* each clue? I tried a few common suffixes in my head. Then I thought of the word "chip." I tested it against the clues I had. Chocolate chip. Potato chip. My heart skipped a beat. Then Wood chip. It fit. When Poker chip and Computer chip came up, I wasn't even surprised anymore. I knew I had it. The pattern was there from the start, hiding in plain sight.
- Chocolate → Chocolate chip, a small piece of chocolate used in cookies and other desserts.
- Potato → Potato chip, a thin slice of potato that has been deep-fried or baked until crisp.
- Wood → Wood chip, a small piece of wood, often from gardening or landscaping.
- Poker → Poker chip, a small disc used to represent currency in a game of poker.
- Computer → Computer chip, the central processing unit or microprocessor that runs a computer.
That was the click. It wasn't about what the items *were*, but about a simple word they all shared in a common phrase. The initial red herrings of food and color were just a distraction from this linguistic link.
How Each Clue Connects to "Words that come before "chip""
| Clue Word | Example Phrase | Connection Explained |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | “Chocolate chip” | Chocolate chips are small pieces of chocolate used in baking, particularly in cookies. |
| Potato | “Potato chip” | A potato chip is a thin slice of potato that is fried or baked until crunchy, commonly enjoyed as a snack. |
| Wood | “Wood chip” | Wood chips are small pieces of wood that are produced as a byproduct of cutting, grinding, or chipping wood, often used as mulch or for fuel. |
| Poker | “Poker chip” | A poker chip is a token used in the game of poker to represent currency for betting. |
| Computer | “Microcomputer chip” | A microcomputer chip is a small computing device that contains the essential components of a computer, showcasing the relationship between computers and chips. |
The Correct Connections
Once the answer was revealed, everything made perfect sense. Here's how each clue connects:
- Chocolate (Chocolate chip): Chocolate chips are small pieces of chocolate used in baking, particularly in cookies.
- Potato (Potato chip): A potato chip is a thin slice of potato that is fried or baked until crunchy, commonly enjoyed as a snack.
- Wood (Wood chip): Wood chips are small pieces of wood that are produced as a byproduct of cutting, grinding, or chipping wood, often used as mulch or for fuel.
- Poker (Poker chip): A poker chip is a token used in the game of poker to represent currency for betting.
- Computer (Microcomputer chip): A microcomputer chip is a small computing device that contains the essential components of a computer, showcasing the relationship between computers and chips.
Lessons Learned from Pinpoint #568
- 1
Challenge Your Strongest Impulse
The 'Chocolate' and 'Potato' clues create an overwhelmingly strong food theme. The key to today's puzzle was actively challenging that first, powerful impulse rather than settling for an imperfect fit that works for only a few clues.
- 2
Test a Simple Pattern Across All Clues
When complex categories fail, try a simple linguistic or structural pattern. The solution here wasn't a deep conceptual category but a simple word that could follow each clue. Testing 'chip' against all five clues provided an immediate and perfect confirmation.
- 3
Let Outliers Guide Your Hypothesis
The clues that don't fit your initial theory are often the most important. 'Wood' and 'Poker' were the outliers that broke the 'food' theory. Instead of discarding them, I used them to pivot toward a completely new type of connection that could accommodate them all.
FAQ
Why isn't the connection 'Things you can fry'?
While Chocolate (in batter), Potato, and even Wood can be fried, this theme falls apart on Poker and Computer. A valid connector must logically apply to every single clue without exception.
Would a clue like 'Cow' fit this puzzle's theme?
No, because 'cow chip' has a very different meaning (a dried piece of dung) that breaks the clean, consistent pattern established by the other clues. The solution relies on a specific, non-facetious meaning of 'chip'.
How can I solve similar puzzles faster?
If you have a strong initial theory, immediately test it against the most unusual clue. If it fails, quickly pivot from categorical thinking (what something *is*) to linguistic or structural thinking (what a word *looks like* or what word *comes after* it).