Mastermind game how many pegs

They also have one peg of the correct color and in the correct position. The red slider is pulled out one space. Decoders: if the Decoder breaks the secret code, the Codemaker pulls out the red indicator arm next to the correct combination so that it displays the number 4 and reveals the hidden code by turning the unit around.

That game is over. Tally the score and change roles. At the end of each game, the Codemaker scores one point for every line of Code pegs placed by the Decoder. If the Decoder does not crack the code in nine attempts, that game is over and the Codemaker scores nine points. Make a note of your score after each game. In the next step, go with a color pattern to identify the colors.

Keep the first pair of the same color as before, red. And for the last two pegs, choose a new color. Follow the same pattern in the next few moves while changing the color of the second pair.

Now you have figured out the four colors involved in the secret code. As you have played in two pairs, you gathered some information on which colors go to which half of the board. So did you enjoy code-cracking with Mastermind? For your next pick, we have a couple of more suggestions up our sleeve. The game features 12 ways to break the code with more colors in pegs.

If you are looking for similar deduction-based games but only for a larger crowd, try Zendo. It involves a great deal of thinking, reasoning, learning, and problem-solving. Players build structures to collect more information about the secret rule on every move. For those who enjoy wordplay, Code Stack is a game with a related theme and gameplay. The last game in our suggestion is of a different flavor — Clue , from the murder mystery genre. However, Clue requires the same kind of inductive skill to narrow down the list by eliminating possible suspects and figuring out who murdered Mr.

What is Mastermind? You should get the following items with this kit: Game board with a built-in storage tray and code peg shield code pegs in 6 colors 30 key pegs in red and white Mastermind game rules and instructions sheet. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Article by:. Read all the articles 69 written by MaddyGG Check Out Other Games:. We try Yellow Green Pink Yellow and get four black pegs — the code is solved.

Part 3. Eliminate two colors at the same time with 4 unknown pins. For example red and blue: Red Red Blue Blue Result 1 : no pegs: red and blue are not in the code Result 2 : one white or black peg let's suppose a white peg. Either red or blue is in the code once.

Blue Blue Blue Blue will give you a peg if it's blue, or no pegs if it's red let's suppose no pegs. In the example we now know there's a red pin, and that it's in the 3rd or 4th spot as we got a white pin at Red Red Blue Blue. Finding it will be discussed in the next strategy in one step: Red Green Green Green. Result 3 : more pegs lets suppose 2 white pegs.

Just as Result 2, we can try Blue Blue Blue Blue to know how many pins were blue lets again assume zero. Now it's only a matter of finding the pins. In the example, we already know the 3rd and 4th are red pins, as there are 2 red pins, and they are not in the first or second spot as we have gotten 2 white pegs.

Find the location of a red, if you know there's at least one red pin, but do not know in what of the holes it should be. You can find a pin by trying each of the locations. As an alternate color, we use colors we haven't tested yet. This way, we not only find the red pin but also additional information about other colors. The following is an example, if you know there's a red pin, but don't know in which one of the four holes it is.

It will also give you the amount of green, yellow and pink. Red Green Green Green Yellow Red Yellow Yellow Pink Pink Red Pink Note : If you know the exact amount of reds, you don't need to try the last location: if there's one red pin, and it's not in the first, second or third location, it has to be in the fourth. Result 1 : If there are no white pegs, you'll have at least one black peg.

That peg indicates the red pin is on the correct location Result 2 : If there's one white peg, you know the red pin is on an incorrect place, and that the alternate color isn't in the code Result 3 : If there's a second white peg, you know the second color should be on the location where the red pin is.

Result 4 : If there are one or more black pegs, that indicates that the second color is present. It also gives you the number of pins of that color, and you know it's not on the location where red is as that would give a white peg , or, obviously, on the location where red ends up being.

Eliminate two colors at the same time with 3 unknown pins. Put one color in the place you know, and the other color in the places you don't know.

For example green and yellow, and we know the first pin is red: Green Yellow Yellow Yellow Result 1 : no pegs; green and yellow are not in the code Result 2a : a white peg indicates green is in the code, but we don't know the amount it might be one, but also two or even three Result 2b : the number of black pegs indicates the amount of yellow in the code as noted in Strategy 2: knowing the exact amount can save you a step in finding the color.

Eliminate two colors at the same time with only 1 or 2 unknown pins. This strategy looks a lot like the previous strategy, but now the amount of white pegs also gives us the amount of that color, the, for example, green and yellow, and we know the first two pins are red: Green Green Yellow Yellow Result 1 : no pegs: green and yellow are not in the code Result 2a : a white peg indicates one green is in the code, while 2 pegs indicate there are green are in the code since there are only 2 unknowns, it's impossibly for there to be three greens Result 2b : as with the previous strategy, the amount of black pegs indicates the amount of yellow in the code.

Learn from an example. In this example, as always, we start with strategy We want to know which is blue and which is red, so we check: strategy 1 bis Blue Blue Blue Blue gives one black peg. This means, we know in the previous answer, there was one blue and on the wrong spot - so will be 3rd or 4th , and thus also one red and also on the wrong spot, so will be 1st or 2nd strategy 2 find blue Green Green Blue Green gives a white and a black pegs.

We tested one of the locations of blue, and as there's a white peg, we know it's not the 3rd peg. As we know it was either the 3rd or 4th peg, we know the 4th peg is blue. The black peg also indicates there's a green peg, but it's not the 3rd spot as it's a black peg, not a white peg. So it's in the second location. So, we know the only unknown spot - the 3rd spot - has an orange color answer Green Red Orange Blue.

The strategy proposed as methodical is maybe easy, but needs a large number of guesses. Not Helpful 8 Helpful 9. They're for the code maker to set the code so that she won't forget it or cheat by changing the code in her head. Not Helpful 43 Helpful 9. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

If the codebreaker guesses multiple of the same color, the code maker still gives only one hint for each peg. For example, if the codebreaker guesses Yellow Yellow Blue Blue and the correct code is Yellow Blue Green Green , the code maker puts down one red peg for the first yellow and one white peg for the first blue.

The second yellow and second blue do not earn any hint pegs, because the code only has one yellow and one blue in it. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1. If you start by guessing Blue Blue Green Green or any pattern , and play perfectly, you can always win in five moves or fewer. However, playing perfectly requires considering all 1, possible codes, so this strategy is only used by computers. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published.

Related wikiHows How to. How to. Co-authors: Updated: November 17, Categories: Puzzles and Memory Games. Article Summary X Mastermind is a code-breaking puzzle game played by two players, although you can also play it online against a computer. Deutsch: Mastermind spielen.

Italiano: Giocare a Mastermind. Nederlands: Mastermind spelen. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. Reader Success Stories Anonymous Dec 8,