level 20 question

[aslans]

hi everyone!

i've been getting stuck lately on level 20. i was wondering what methods have been successful for you. i've been alternating "121212" with "123123" and neither seem to be working well for me. i'm open to any suggestions (especially if you have any, momwhoplays...you got me over my last hurdle)!!!

thanks

I read Hamlets tutorial above and like you that would get me consistently stuck at 20. You need Hamlets advanced tutorial at ant.igon.us (link included at the bottom of the basic tutorial). Now I usually get passed 20 and either run out of guesses at 26,29 or 30 or I complete the game.

[aslans]

thanks kinzrey,

i've read the tutorial, but that part of it doesn't quite make sense yet. i'll re-read it a few more (hundred!) times, and maybe i'll get it. i'm not going to give up until i beat it!!

aslans

It didn't make sense the first time I read it either. I think you end up playing the probabilities. If you have one that might be in it together with a whole lot of another number that you have no idea about then if you get a green it likely belongs to the one you put a whole lot of in. If you get a red or two of either colour then the one you are unsure of is more likely. I hope I haven't just muddied the waters further.

[momwhoplays]

Here's my stragety, & it's a little different from Hamlet's. I find it confusing to figure out 3 numbers, so on level 20 & all the levels I start out 12121212. Then I do 343434, then 565656. Then I pick the the one with only 1 ball. In the higher levels, if you can be certain of 1 or 2 numbers, then the rest fall into place. So lets say, here's an example:

121212---two red ball
343434---one green ball, one red ball
565656---one red ball

find out is it a 5 or 6 & where it is first. If you have a number you know is not in the solution, use it. but to go to 787878 on lev 20 & above usually is unsucessful, you'll just run out of guesses. so i'll guess

677777--one red ball

so now i know that either there's a 6, & it's not in the first place, & there are 2 possiblities left. or there's a 7 & it's in the first place. more than likely, it's the 6, so i move forward w/ that.

336333--one green ball, one red ball

Now I know there is a 6, in the 5th position, & a 3 & a 4. they both "share a line"--that's the best way I can describe it. they are in the original spot of either the 3 or the 4. So we have determined where the 6 is, if we can find out where the 3 is, we'll have 2 or less possiblities of where the 4 is. The red balls on top (the 1 or 2) we can save for last. If we can find out the location of other 4 numbers, those remaining 2 numbers will just be opposite. We also need to find out what the 6th number is. So now, with the next guess, we have two objectives: to find out where the 3 is, & to find out what the 6th number is, a 7,8, 9 or 0. Here's our guess:

388868-two green balls, one red ball

so now we know 8 is the 6th number, & the 3 is in the wrong place. there are 9 chances to guess in level 20, so we have to pack in a lot of info w/ each guess.

038060-three green balls.

we were lucky. this game involves a lot of luck. now we know where the 4 is, & can guess at the 1 & 2.

238461-6 green balls, Great Job!

This game involves a lot of luck, but also educated guesses.

I hope this helps. Perhaps some day I'll write a flow chart. there is a flow chart in my head as I play this game, if this then that, & maybe it would help others.

Sorry, i don't have a document camera. I hope this helps you.