Cipher Mosaic: reading clues and narrowing down a code
Cipher Mosaic never reveals which particular fields are correct. After each guess, it gives you two numbers. A useful next move separates “which values occur?” from “where are they placed?”.
| Arrangement | Field 1 | Field 2 | Field 3 | Field 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice code | A | B | A | C |
| Guess | A | A | C | B |
Response: 1 exact, 3 misplaced. The code is visible here only for the example.
What the two numbers actually mean
“Exact” counts values in their correct positions. “Misplaced” counts values present in the code but located elsewhere. Each code element counts at most once, so repeated values cannot artificially increase the total.
Imagine a practice code A–B–A–C and the guess A–A–C–B. The first A is exact. The other A, C and B occur in the code but occupy different positions. The response would be 1 exact and 3 misplaced. In a real match you do not know the code; this example only explains the counting.
Make the next guess informative
Begin with a small number of fields and values. Use an opening guess that distinguishes several possible values. After its response, change some fields and keep the others. Changing everything at once makes the new clue harder to connect to a particular decision.
The lock beside a field is your notebook: it copies a value to the next row, but does not certify that value. The empty field Ø is also a value and may repeat. Do not discard it just because it looks like no move.
Compare two hypotheses
When two possible codes fit every previous response, plan a guess that would give them different outcomes. You do not have to guess the whole code immediately: a useful move may primarily eliminate one hypothesis. Rankings favour fewer guesses and, in a tie, less time, so brief notes help you decide without guessing blindly.