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Easy & Normal walkthrough: solving your first code

New to Crack the Code? These two small puzzles, solved clue by clue, show the exact habit you'll use on every level.

First, a 2-digit Easy code

Easy codes have 2 digits and 4 clues. Here's a real one:

1. Start with "nothing is correct". 47 says neither digit is in the code: 4 and 7 are out.
   47NothingNothing is correct
2. Read the two-correct clue. 91 has both digits in the code, just not in these spots. So the code is made of 9 and 1, with 9 not first and 1 not second.
   91Two wrong spotTwo numbers are correct but wrongly placed
3. Lock in the well-placed clue. 13 has one digit correct and well placed. 3 isn't one of our two digits, so it must be 1, well placed, first.
   13One correct & well placedOne number is correct and well placed
4. Place the last digit. With 1 first, 9 has to be second, which also fits "9 not first" from step 2.

The last clue, 95, was never needed to solve it. Check it anyway: 9 is in the code but not first ✔, 5 isn't in the code ✔.

Now a 3-digit Normal code

Normal codes add a digit and a clue: 3 digits, 5 clues.

1. Clear digits first. 194 says nothing is correct: 1, 9 and 4 are out.
   194NothingNothing is correct
2. One correct, well placed. 935 has one digit correct and well placed. 9 is already out, so it's 3, in the middle spot; 5 is out too, since only one digit of this clue is correct.
   935One correct & well placedOne number is correct and well placed
3. Two correct, nowhere placed. 986 has two correct digits, neither well placed. 9 is out, so they're 8 and 6. Neither sits where it appears here: 8 isn't in the middle (it's taken by 3 anyway), 6 isn't last.
   986Two wrong spotTwo numbers are correct but wrongly placed
4. Fit the last two spots. 6 and 8 fill the first and last spots. Since 6 can't be last (step 3), 6 is first and 8 is last.

067 and 260 both confirm it without being needed: in 067, only 6 is in the code and it's not in the middle spot ✔. In 260, only 6 is in the code and it's not in the middle spot ✔.

The habit to build

• "Nothing is correct" first. It costs you the least thinking and clears the most digits in one read.
• Well-placed clues name a position, not just a digit. Once you find one, write down both what it is and where it sits.
• You rarely need every clue. Puzzles carry a spare or two; once your digits and spots are locked in, use the rest only to double-check.

Put it into practice

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