# Can You Break the Code? (a game) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2001, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107 "2001-08-13T21:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/41 "2001-08-15T17:19:59Z")
Thanks, but I still don’t understand the cipher completely. For instance, 57. Where did that come from? By the way, make it a Corona. Don’t forget the lime. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/42 "2001-08-15T18:20:55Z")
::::lost:::: ---
**Author:** ![Spyderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@Spyderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spyderman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/43 "2001-08-15T18:32:41Z")
Ahhh, the mysterious 57. Actually it was meant to be 56 and it was a slight typo. I discovered this after I posted (I did preview -HONEST!) and it was too late to make any corrections.:o Just a red herring to throw everyone off! I guess it worked too well. ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/44 "2001-08-15T18:40:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Royal Sampler \* > **I entered the code in and after 12 minutes and 53 seconds, out came the answer. I basically told the program to cycle through the numbers, substitute them for letters, until it came out with a combination that resulted in words found in the dictionary.** Can you post your code? I don’t know C++ but can probably read it and re-engineer for VB. I have been planning on writing something like this for quite a while and I am curious to see others methods. I’ve never done the dictionary piece so I’m particularly interested in that part. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/45 "2001-08-16T15:51:12Z")
I’d hate to see this thread die an untimely death. So I’m going to toss out some random thoughts and hope someone will bite. So… 65 = N = I, and 50 = F = A? Looks like I need to find a key that sets 65 to N and set 50 to F. The nbr 5 is evidently used to move back 5 letters from the key. The whole 57/56 thing has me confused too. If it weren’t for that number, all of the numbers would be divisable by either 5 or 9. 56 is divisable by neither. WTF? I really like how the consonants = multiple of 5, vowels = multiples of 9 could make a great key. Maybe for another puzzle, but I like it none the less. I then tried to decode what Spyderman and Scott posted to each other… Scott: 50 25 65 57 65 85 75 27 05 57 15 05 27 So I’m thinking… what fits that 13 letter sentance? Well, for one thing: “IS THIS THE CODE” fits nice. Furthermore, Spyderman replies back with: 05 95 30 05 18 57 36 10 which goes nicely with “GREAT JOB” What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Sampler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Royal\_Sampler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Sampler)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/46 "2001-08-16T16:02:46Z")
65 = N, but, N = I. Count back 5 letters from N, and you get I. That’s where the “5” bit comes in. 50 = F, count back 5, you get A. Come on guys, this isn’t brain surgery… ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/47 "2001-08-16T16:27:41Z")
Actually, \*\*Spyderman[/b}, I worked up the key [hint to dopers]which has a definite pattern[/hint to dopers], and your 57(56) should be 45. Am I mistaken? There were a couple of letters of the alphabet that weren’t used, as is common among short phrases, and I don’t know what the coded form of these are, but the rest fit. ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/48 "2001-08-16T16:28:54Z")
Damned brackets! ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Sampler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Royal\_Sampler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Sampler)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/49 "2001-08-18T16:15:50Z")
? ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/50 "2001-08-18T16:22:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Royal Sampler \* > \*\*65 = N, but, N = I. Count back 5 letters from N, and you get I. That’s where the “5” bit comes in. 50 = F, count back 5, you get A. Come on guys, this isn’t brain surgery… \*\* The “Count Back 5” thing I get. It’s how to make 65=N that has me completely stumpified. ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Sampler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Royal\_Sampler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Sampler)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/51 "2001-08-22T13:04:32Z")
Is it time to let the cat out of the bag? ---
**Author:** ![Spyderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@Spyderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spyderman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107/52 "2001-08-23T16:04:51Z")
[list][li]A=99[_]B=90[_]C=80[_]D=70[_]E=60[_]F=50[_]G=40[_]H=30[_]I=20[_]J=10[_]K=95[_]L=85[_]M=75[_]N=65[_]O=65[_]P=45[_]Q=35[_]R=25[_]S=15[_]T=05[_]U=78[_]V=67[_]W=56\*\*/57\*\*[_]X=36[_]Y=27[\*]Z=18[/li] Hope that clears everything up 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-break-the-code-a-game/76107.md?page=2)