Spiffytap

Bulls and Cows
(Codebreaker)

Guess the 4-digit code. You get 10 tries.

# Guess Result
🐂 Right digit, right spot.  |  🐄 Right digit, wrong spot.

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Objective of Bulls and Cows

In the game of Bulls and Cows, your objective is to deduce a secret 4-digit code using a combination of guesswork, feedback, and logic. Can you crack the code before you run out of guesses?

Bulls and Cows' Gameboard

On the screen above you'll see 4 blank spaces, a number pad (with digits from 0 to 9), and a "Guess" button. Tap a number to place it in the first available blank space. The "Guess" button becomes active only once all 4 spaces are filled in.

How to Play Bulls and Cows

To make your first guess, tap any 4 numbers on the number pad. Each number will appear in the next available blank space. All 4 digits must be different — there are no repeating numbers in the secret code.

If you change your mind about a number, just tap the box containing that number in order to clear it. Then choose something else.

Once all 4 spaces are filled, tap "Guess." Feedback will then appear in a table below the gameboard, in the form of two symbols:

  • Bull (🐂): A correct digit in the correct position.
  • Cow (🐄): A correct digit in the wrong position.

The total number of symbols tells you how many of your digits are in the secret code. The number of bulls tells you how many are also in the right spot. Digits with no symbol are not in the code at all.

Use this feedback — and some logic! — to narrow down your next guess. Continue until you crack the code or run out of guesses.

Strategic Tips for Bulls and Cows

  • Start with broad coverage: On your first two guesses, try eight completely different numbers — for example, 1-2-3-4 and then 5-6-7-8. This quickly tells you which digits belong in the code.
  • Focus on confirmed digits: Once you know a digit is in the code, keep it in your next guess while shifting its position to find exactly where it belongs.
  • Avoid eliminated digits: Keep track of digits that produced no symbols at all, so you never waste a guess reusing them.

Levels of Difficulty

You can choose between two levels of difficulty: "Easier" gives you 10 guesses, while "Harder" limits you to 8.

Fun Fact

Did you know that there are 5,040 possible secret codes in Bulls and Cows?