Guide

How to play

Every day there is a board of 30 everyday things and one secret rule. Some things fit the rule and some don't. Your job is to work out the rule in as few tests as you can.

Today's puzzle

One secret rule. Thirty things. It takes about three minutes.

Play today's puzzle

1. Test things

Tap a thing to test it. It turns white if it fits the rule, and fades with a line through its name if it doesn't. Each test adds 1 to your score. Two things are tested for you at the start, one of each kind.

apple

taxi

cow

lemon

bed

Here the apple and the lemon fit. The taxi and the bed don't. The cow hasn't been tested yet.

2. Have an inkling

When you think you know the rule, press I have an inkling and type it in your own words. "It's a fruit", "fruits" and "kinds of fruit" are all right. You get three guesses. A wrong one costs 2 tests, and shows you a thing or two that your rule gets wrong.

3. Or prove it

Can't find the words? Choose Prove it instead. Six untested things are outlined. Tap each one once for "fits" or twice for "doesn't". Get all six right and the puzzle is cracked. A failed proof costs 2 tests, but doesn't use up a guess.

What a rule can be about

What a thing is. It is a fruit. It has wheels. You can wear it.
Its name. It has a double letter. It rhymes with a number. There is an animal hidden in the word, like the OWL in bOWL.
Where it sits. It is in the top row. It touches the tree.

The week has a rhythm. Monday and Tuesday are gentle, Wednesday to Friday are Medium, Saturday is Hard, and Sunday is Medium or Hard.

Scoring

Each test: 1.
Each wrong guess or failed proof: 2.
The hint on a Hard puzzle: 3. It is offered after 3 tests, and you never have to take it.

Lower is better. Once enough people have played, you also see how you did against them, as a percentage.

Five tips

Test things that are as different from each other as you can. Two fruits tell you less than a fruit and a hammer.
When something surprising fits, say its name out loud. The rule may be about the word, not the thing.
A "doesn't fit" is as useful as a "fits".
If the white tiles line up, think about position.
Guess once you'd bet on it. A wrong guess costs the same as two tests.

Streaks

Play each day and your streak grows. Miss one day in a week and it takes a rest day. Miss two and it starts again.

Sharing

When the round ends, Copy result gives you a line of marks to send to friends. It shows how your round went without giving the rule away: ■ a test that fit, □ one that didn't, × a wrong guess, ? a hint, ✓ cracked it, ⚑ gave up.