How to play SmarterMind
1. Color Code:
Your opponent will set a secret sequence of color codes (either 4, 5, or 6 code spaces in length) using a defined set of colors (between 6 to 10).
E.g. a 4 color code using 6 possible colors may be set.
2. Object of the game:
The object of the game is to deduce the exact positions and colors of the code set by your opponent in as few moves as possible.
Both challenger and opponent play together (but you don't both have to be online at the same time to play) and the winner is the one who solves his/her respective secret code in fewer moves than the other.
3. Black & White Markers:
After every move (i.e. you fill up each hole with a color peg), the game will automatically respond by giving you a black marker for each correct color in the correct position (i.e. exact match), and one white marker for each correct color but in the wrong position. If neither color nor position were correct, you receive no markers.
Note: the order of the markers does NOT correspond to the order of the colors in the code.
E.g. if there are two black marker in the first two slots, it does not mean that your first two color pegs (in this instance, pink and yellow) are the ones that fit in color and position.
It just means that your guess had 2 colors in exactly the correct positions, but it is still up to you to use a process of elimination and further guesses to determine which ones they are.
E.g. If you score 2 white markers on a move, in a 4 color-coded game, you have guessed 2 correct colors out of 4, but the colors are not in the correct positions.
If no markers are scored in a move, this means all the colors you have guessed are wrong.
4. Repeat Colors
If you choose to repeat colors, any color may be used any number of times in the sequence. Look at the three examples below:
However, it does not necessarily mean that you HAVE to repeat colors when you set the code. In other words, you may choose the option for allowing repeat colors when setting up your challenge, but set a code which doesn't have any repeat colors.
Note: Allowing repeat colors in a code significantly increases the number of possible code combinations and thus the difficulty level is also much much harder.
5. Winning
To win a game, you need to solve the code set by your opponent within the maximum allowable 15 move limit, AND you need to solve the code in fewer moves than your opponent takes to solve your code.
If you both take the same number of moves to solve your respective codes, or you both fail to solve your codes in 15 moves, or you both choose the "Give Up" option, then a draw is declared.
5. Time Limit on Games
Once an opponent accepts a challenge, the clock starts ticking and both players have up to 3 full days (72 hours) from that point to solve their puzzles. After that time, the game expires and if either player has not solved her puzzle by then, an automatic "Give Up" is forced on that player and the winner is declared.