Mastermind

Description

Mastermind is a code-breaking game for two players. The modern game with pegs was invented in 1970 by Mordecai Meirowitz, an Israeli postmaster and telecommunications expert. It resembles an earlier pencil and paper game called Bulls and Cows that may date back a century or more.

The codebreaker tries to guess the pattern, in both order and colour, within a maximum of twelve turns. Each guess is made by placing a row of code pegs on the decoding board. Once placed, the codemaker provides feedback by placing from zero to four key pegs in the small holes of the row with the guess. A coloured or black key peg is placed for each code peg from the guess which is correct in both colour and position. A white key peg indicates the existence of a correct colour code peg placed in the wrong position.

Tournament Format
Swiss Pairings, double round matches (ie players play as both the code setter and breaker in each round)
Rounds – 7
Time Control – 8 minutes (guesser), 3 minutes (setter)
Configuration – We play using 4 holes and 8 colours

In each match the players take a turn each as the code setter and the code breaker. The winner is the player who solves the code successfully in the fewest attempts. Should both players solve in an equal number of attempts or both players fail to solve then the match result is a draw.

Tournament Specific Rules
– If the guesser cannot solve the puzzle in the time allowed or without running out of chances they are assumed to have solved in 13 attempts for tie-break purposes.
– If the setter makes an incorrect mark or runs out of time then the guesser is awarded a solve on the next line, unless the current guess is correct.

Tiebreak
The first tiebreak shall be the sum of attempts required to solve over the 7 rounds. If still tied we revert to the standard MSO tie-breaks.