| Mastermind | |
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| Publisher(s) | |
| Release Date | 1972
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| Number of Players | 2 players |
| Age Range | 10 to Adult |
| Setup Time | <5 minutes
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| Playing Time | 10 minutes |
| Rules complexity | Low |
| Strategy depth | Medium
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| Random chance | Low
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| Skills required | Logic, pattern matching |
| Credits | History | Rules | |
Mastermind is a game of logic for 2 players.
Each player alternates being "The Codemaker" and "The Codebreaker". "The Codemaker" uses coloured pegs to create a four-peg code at one end of the board behind a shield. "The Codebreaker" must decipher the code by duplicating the exact colours and positions of the secret code. Each time the codebreaker places a row of pegs the codemaker must give information by placing white or black pegs indicating a colored peg is the right colour but wrong position or the right colour and position.
On-line Versions
There are various on-line versions where you can play against the computer (the computer creates a code for you to break). These can be good if you just want to play by yourself. An example of this is CodeBreaker which also gives you a score based on how quickly you cracked the code.
Use in Education
Many people like to use Mastermind when teaching logic. It is a simple game that can be played individually or as a group. When played as a group, people can discuss their ideas and learn from each other.