Detailed Explanation of Hit and Blow
Hit and Blow is a game that uses strategic thinking and logical deduction to decipher a hidden secret code. The game typically uses a four-digit code with no repeating numbers, but the rules can be customized to change the number of digits or the range of numbers used.
Game Flow
Code Generation: The computer generates a secret four-digit number that the player must guess (e.g., 5824).
Guessing: The player makes a guess by entering a four-digit number (e.g., 1234).
Providing Hints: For each guess, the computer provides hints in the form of "Hit" and "Blow" counts.
Hit: Refers to a number that is correct in both value and position.
Blow: Refers to a number that is correct in value, but in the wrong position.
Example: If the secret code is "5824" and the guess is "1234"
The number "4" is in the code but in the wrong position, resulting in 1 Blow.
"5", "8", and "2" do not match, so there are no Hits or Blows for those numbers.
The result is "0 Hits, 1 Blow".
Another example: If the secret code is "5824" and the guess is "5482"
The number "5" is correct in both value and position, resulting in 1 Hit.
The numbers "4", "8", and "2" are correct in value but in the wrong positions, resulting in 3 Blows.
The result is "1 Hit, 3 Blows".
Repetition: The player uses the provided hints to form the next guess. This process is repeated until all the digits are guessed correctly.
Game Goal
The ultimate goal is to guess the secret code in the fewest attempts possible. The game is won when the player successfully guesses all the digits in their correct positions, resulting in a score of "4 Hits, 0 Blows".
Difference from Similar Games
Hit and Blow is widely known, particularly as Mastermind. The rules are essentially the same, but Mastermind often uses colored pegs, while Hit and Blow typically uses numbers.