Can you create a code your opponent can’t crack? In this classic two-player strategy game, the rules are simple; one player acts as code-maker and arranges four colored pegs behind a shield on his/her end of the board. Then it’s up to the code-breaker to crack the code, guessing at the sequence of pegs the code-maker placed, and trying to duplicate it on the board. After the code-breaker places a row of four pegs, the code-maker uses small white and red pegs to give the code-breaker feedback. A white peg means that the code-breaker has chosen a peg of the right color, but it’s in the wrong position. A red peg means that one of the four pegs is the correct color and in the right position. The catch is that the code-breaker has no way to know which one of his pegs is right without some trial and error! Play continues until either all ten rows have been filled unsuccessfully or the code-breaker breaks the code. The code-maker gets points for each row of pegs filled by the code-breaker, or 11 points if the code is not cracked. Then it’s time to switch roles and play again. Simple to learn but challenging every time, everyone can enjoy this brain-twisting challenge.

Customer Reviews

 
Terri K. from Hillsborough, NC wrote the following on 01/09/2009:
My favorite teacher taught our class to play Mastermind back in third grade, and I had been looking for this game since I had children of my own old enough to play it. To play, the code-maker chooses 4 colored pegs and places them behind a hidden area. The code-breaker tries to guess the code in as few guesses as possible using the feedback s/he receives from the codemaker. It is great for promoting logical and deductive reasoning.

 
Angie P. from Fredericktown, OH wrote the following on 03/21/2010:
Mastermind was one of my most favorite games when I was growing up. I actually bought a copy for my husband when we were dating long ago but somehow it got lost. He said I had it in my apartment before we moved onto our farm ~ I say he had at his parent's home. But, regardless of all of that, I recently bought it from Rainbow Resource for my daughter for Christmas because I knew my kids would just love it. Turns out I was right about two things; one ~ my kids love this game and two ~ the game I bought my husband long ago is at his mom's house! Now the kids can play Mastermind at home and at Grandma's!