Bulls & Cows
About the game and how to play
Bulls & Cows is a classic two-player logic game. Each player picks a secret number with no repeated digits, then you take turns trying to crack each other’s number. A “bull” means a digit is correct and in the right place; a “cow” means the digit is in the number but in a different place.
- Players
- 2 players
- Category
- Guessing games
- Price
- Free, no download, no sign-up
- Where to play
- In the browser on phone, tablet and computer
Can be played with friends in an online room
How to play
- Create a room, send the code to your opponent and each pick a secret number.
- Take turns guessing your opponent’s number.
- Use the count of bulls and cows to rule out possibilities.
- The first to crack the other’s number wins.
Tips
- With a 4-digit number and unique digits, open with 0123 and then 4567: the bulls plus cows from each tell you how many digits come from each group, and the rest must be 8 or 9.
- A reply of 0 bulls and 0 cows is one of the most useful you can get — it removes every digit in that guess at once.
- The room creator guesses first, and the first player to crack the number wins on the spot with no equalising turn. Take turns creating the room between matches to even it out.
- Your opponent’s guesses and results are visible to you, so watch how close they are getting to your number. When picking your own, avoid obvious runs like 1234.
Frequently asked questions
Can digits repeat in the secret number?
Only if the host enables “Allow repeated digits”; by default every digit must be different. A leading zero is allowed by default and can be switched off, and your guesses must follow the same rules.
How are bulls and cows counted when a digit repeats?
Each digit is matched only once: bulls are counted first, then cows from the digits that remain. For example, if the secret is 1123 and you guess 1111, you get 2 bulls and 0 cows.
What if neither player cracks the number?
With an attempt limit of 10, 15 or 20, the game is a draw once both players have used all their guesses. With unlimited attempts, it continues until someone gets it.
Can I play Bulls & Cows against the computer?
No, on this site it’s a duel between two people and the room holds exactly 2 players. Create a room, send the 4-character code to your opponent, and choose a number length of 4, 5 or 6 digits.