# Bulls and Cows **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [August 8, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561 "2020-08-08T05:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/121 "2020-08-12T03:36:16Z")
But I will continue as planned: 8642. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/122 "2020-08-12T03:37:41Z")
8642 has no bulls and one cow. | # | guess | Bulls | Cows | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 9753 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | 8642 | 0 | 1 | ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/123 "2020-08-12T03:46:08Z")
_“And thus, 0 and 1 can be already eliminated.”_ _“Amazing, Holmes.”_ _“Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary.”_ [![](https://iheartsoil.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/det-sherlock-holmes-and-dr-watson.jpg) ](https://iheartsoil.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/det-sherlock-holmes-and-dr-watson.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/124 "2020-08-12T03:48:40Z")
My next guess is 9653. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/125 "2020-08-12T03:50:42Z")
9653 yields two bulls and no cows. | # | guess | Bulls | Cows | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 9753 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | 8642 | 0 | 1 | | 3 | 9653 | 2 | 0 | ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/126 "2020-08-12T03:55:48Z")
A clean shot: 6 will join 0 and 1, and 7 can’t wait to be promoted to the rank of bull. Let’s try the following: 7853. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/127 "2020-08-12T03:57:09Z")
7853 has one bull and one cow. | # | guess | Bulls | Cows | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 9753 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | 8642 | 0 | 1 | | 3 | 9653 | 2 | 0 | | 4 | 7853 | 1 | 1 | ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/128 "2020-08-12T04:07:45Z")
My next guess is 9257. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/129 "2020-08-12T04:09:37Z")
Well, that didn’t take too long. Congratulations, PlaceboTarget, you have solved the puzzle. | # | guess | Bulls | Cows | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 9753 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | 8642 | 0 | 1 | | 3 | 9653 | 2 | 0 | | 4 | 7853 | 1 | 1 | | 5 | 9257 | 4 | 0 | ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/130 "2020-08-12T04:25:15Z")
Thank you. 🙂 When the stars align, everybody can get as sharp as a tack. 🏆 I will hold the trophy until someone guesses the next secret number: 🔘 🔘 🔘 🔘 Please submit your guesses and I’ll process them as soon as I find the time. ⏳ ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/131 "2020-08-12T04:27:22Z")
I have time for one guess before going to bed. How about 9876? ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/132 "2020-08-12T04:30:56Z")
Thank you for your guess. 🙂 | **guess #** | **player** | **guess** | **bulls** | **cows** | | 1 | bibliophage | 9876 | 0 | 1 | ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/133 "2020-08-12T05:49:08Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/134 "2020-08-12T05:53:56Z")
| **guess #** | **player** | **guess** | **bulls** | **cows** | | 1 | bibliophage | 9876 | 0 | 1 | | 2 | Aspidistra | 7654 | 0 | 2 | ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/135 "2020-08-12T11:09:11Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/136 "2020-08-12T11:15:50Z")
| **guess #** | **player** | **guess** | **bulls** | **cows** | | 1 | bibliophage | 9876 | 0 | 1 | | 2 | Aspidistra | 7654 | 0 | 2 | | 3 | Prof.Pepperwinkle | 3657 | 0 | 1 | ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/137 "2020-08-12T11:30:23Z")
0152? ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/138 "2020-08-12T11:36:15Z")
| **guess #** | **player** | **guess** | **bulls** | **cows** | | 1 | bibliophage | 9876 | 0 | 1 | | 2 | Aspidistra | 7654 | 0 | 2 | | 3 | Prof.Pepperwinkle | 3657 | 0 | 1 | | 4 | Prof.Pepperwinkle | 0152 | 0 | 2 | ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/139 "2020-08-12T11:51:39Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561/140 "2020-08-12T11:55:37Z")
| **guess #** | **player** | **guess** | **bulls** | **cows** | | 1 | bibliophage | 9876 | 0 | 1 | | 2 | Aspidistra | 7654 | 0 | 2 | | 3 | Prof.Pepperwinkle | 3657 | 0 | 1 | | 4 | Prof.Pepperwinkle | 0152 | 0 | 2 | | 5 | Aspidistra | 4591 | 0 | 1 | [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bulls-and-cows/917561.md?page=8)