Bulls and Cows: Guess secret text with clues

By K. Ramanraj

Guess the 4 character secret text:

Time:

Score Board:

Rules and Hints:

The aim of the game is to guess the 4 character secret text randomly generated, with clues given as a response to your guess. Every straight match adds up as bulls and any other match adds up as cows. For example if the secret text was "LUCK" the attempts to guess are evaluated as follows:

L U C K The word to be guessed.
First try A B C D The third letter C is a straight match. No other matches found. hence "1 Bull 0 Cows"
2nd try E F G H No matches. Response is "0 Bulls 0 Cows". You can omit all the four characters from further guesses.
3rd try I J K L K and L match as Cows. Hence "0 Bulls 2 Cows"; You have to eliminate two characters. I would try EFIJ because, EF are definitely absent and I can test IJ alone.
4th try E F I J No matches. Hence "0 Bulls 0 Cows". Now I can rule out I and J also. That gives me a sold clue that KL are included in the secret. I would thus reason out with more tries.
Finally, L U C K Bull's Eye!
You are allowed only 20 tries per game after which the secret text is revealed and a new game starts. Have fun with Bulls and Cows!

	L	U	C	K	The word to be guessed.
First try	A	B	C	D	The third letter C is a straight match. No other matches found. hence "1 Bull 0 Cows"
2nd try	E	F	G	H	No matches. Response is "0 Bulls 0 Cows". You can omit all the four characters from further guesses.
3rd try	I	J	K	L	K and L match as Cows. Hence "0 Bulls 2 Cows"; You have to eliminate two characters. I would try EFIJ because, EF are definitely absent and I can test IJ alone.
4th try	E	F	I	J	No matches. Hence "0 Bulls 0 Cows". Now I can rule out I and J also. That gives me a sold clue that KL are included in the secret. I would thus reason out with more tries.
Finally,	L	U	C	K	Bull's Eye!

To try playing a game with the secret word set to "LUCK" and since this is only a trial game, its outcome is not added to the score.

Thanks:

I would like to thank Mr. K. Vaitheeswaran for having introduced me to this game. It can also be played with a friend on odd ends of paper when too bored with Tic-Tac-Toe.

Please send your comments on the content of these web pages to ramanraj@vsnl.com

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