Mastermind Strategy: How to Crack the Code
Mastermind-style games are about information. Every guess is a question, and the clues are the answer. In Mastercode you crack a hidden 4-digit code with no repeated digits; these habits help you ask better questions.
Ready to practise? Play Mastercode free, no sign-up.
1. Start with a varied first guess
Use four different digits that cover a spread, such as 1234. Because the code has no repeated digits, a varied guess tells you exactly which digits are in the code and which are not.
2. Read both clues together
Count the exact matches and the right-but-misplaced ones. Together they tell you how many of your guess belong in the code at all.
3. Write down every guess
Keep a list of past guesses and clues. Each new guess should be one that could still be the answer.
4. Test one change at a time
When you are close, change a single position or swap one digit and watch how the clues move. The difference tells you exactly what that change did.
5. Eliminate before you guess
Use the clues to cross out digits that cannot be in the code. A short list of candidates makes the final guess easy.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good first guess?
- Four different digits, for example 1234. The next guess can use 5678 or a mix to find which digits are in the code.
- Can I always win?
- With careful elimination you usually solve the code in a handful of guesses, but a few codes do need more.