Quick winning principles
- Open with a guess using 2-3 colors (e.g. AABB) to maximize information, not all different colors.
- Never repeat a guess that received zero black and zero white pegs.
- Track eliminated colors and positions after each response.
- Aim to eliminate 50%+ of remaining codes with each guess.
Ideal strategy
- 1
Knuth's algorithm: after each guess, calculate remaining consistent codes. Choose the next guess that minimizes the maximum remaining set size (minimax).
- 2
First guess optimization: AABB (two pairs) is optimal for 6 colors/4 pegs — it partitions the 1296 codes into balanced response groups.
- 3
Information entropy: a guess that splits remaining codes into equal-sized groups maximizes expected information. Avoid guesses that leave one large group.
- 4
Constraint narrowing: black pegs fix position; white pegs fix color but not position. Cross-reference both constraints before guessing.
- 5
Endgame: with fewer than 10 codes remaining, guess a valid code directly rather than a probe — you might win immediately.
- 6
Duplicate colors: remember codes can repeat colors (AAAA is valid). Don't eliminate color repetition too early.