Mastermind

How to Play Mastermind

Objective of the Game

The goal of Mastermind is to decode your opponent's secret color combination (also called a code or pattern) in as few moves as possible. Use logical deduction based on feedback from your guesses to crack the code before you run out of attempts.

How to Play

• Each row on the board represents one attempt to guess the secret combination of colors.
• Select your colors for each position in the row and submit your guess.
• After you guess, you receive feedback in the form of pegs:
  • Black peg: A correct color in the correct position.
  • White peg: A correct color, but in the wrong position.
• Use the feedback to refine your next guess. Reevaluate which colors are correct and where they might belong.
• You have ten guesses to crack the code. If you guess the entire correct combination (all pegs indicating correct color and position) before running out of attempts, you win.

Mastermind Strategy Tips

• Begin with a diverse guess: use multiple different colors to gather more feedback early on.
• Narrow down possibilities by eliminating colors that don't appear in the secret code.
• Pay special attention to the black pegs — they tell you both the correct color and the correct position.
• Try to minimize guess overlap. Change only one or two colors/positions at a time so you can track which changes lead to better feedback.
• Practice makes perfect. Over time, you'll start recognizing patterns that speed up code-breaking.

FAQs