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NumberGlyph strategy

You always get two strong clues: Σ (sum of digits) and Shape (the > < = pattern between digits). Treat the puzzle like a little constraint game — you’re narrowing possibilities, not just “chasing greens”.

Fast loop Openers Σ Shape Reveals Examples

Use Σ as a budget

If your idea can’t add up to Σ, it’s simply not possible. Move on fast.

Use Shape for order

Shape tells you the “up / down / same” pattern. Great for rejecting bad placements quickly.

Reveal only for a big split

Tap a reveal when it meaningfully narrows the remaining options (not just “because”).

1) The fast solve loop (do this every turn)

Tiles first: lock greens, remember yellows, avoid greys.
Σ check: can your current digit set still reach the total?
Shape check: does your assumed order match the Shape pattern?
Next move: choose an “info guess” (learn digits) or a reveal (if it will narrow a lot).

Good order: length → tiles → Σ → Shape → (optional reveal)

2) Openers: keep it simple

Early on, your goal is to learn digits. Two quick rules help:

If Shape contains “=”: repeats are guaranteed somewhere, so testing a repeat early can be useful.
If there’s no “=”: try mostly distinct digits to learn more per guess.

Starter ideas (examples, not rules): Easy (4): 0 1 7 8 or 1 2 8 9 Medium (5): 0 1 4 7 9 Hard (6): 0 1 3 6 8 9 If Shape includes "=" → consider repeating one digit to test repeats.

3) Σ: prune the universe

A handy shortcut: average digit ≈ Σ ÷ number of digits. That gives you the “centre”.

Low Σ → too many 8/9s becomes unlikely or impossible.
High Σ → too many 0/1s becomes unlikely or impossible.
When a digit turns ⬛, it can’t be in any Σ-fitting theory.

Easy (4 digits): Σ = 10 → average digit 2.5 So the answer tends to “live around” 0–4 more than 7–9.

4) Shape: control the pattern

Shape compares each digit to the next: > down, < up, = same.

Example: 6 0 8 1 6>0, 0<8, 8>1 → ><>

Any “=” means: at least one repeat exists somewhere.
>>> (descending) or <<< (ascending): don’t waste guesses that break the direction.
Peaks/valleys (like ><> or <><) are great for spotting wrong placements.

Quick sanity check: If your assumed order gives a different Shape, your placement is wrong — even if tiles “feel close”.

5) When to tap reveals (O/E, P, U, Σ²)

Reveals are best when you feel like you’ve learned some digits, but there are still “too many” candidates left.

O/E (odd/even by slot): great when you need structure fast.
U (unique digits): perfect when Shape includes “=” or you suspect repeats.
P (prime digits count): useful late to split a small set of options.
Σ² (sum of squares): best when many candidates share the same Σ.

Common pattern: - Shape has "=" → U (or O/E) often helps most. - Lots of same-Σ candidates → Σ² is the tie-breaker.

6) Two mini worked examples

Example A: reading the “feel” of Σ + Shape

Mode: Easy (4) Fingerprint: Σ = 10, Shape = ><> What it suggests: - Σ=10 → digits tend to be smaller (avg 2.5) - Shape ><> → there’s a peak at digit 3 Simple approach: 1) Guess a mix of small/mid digits (learn membership) 2) Use tiles to confirm which digits are in 3) Build a placement that matches both Σ and the peak pattern

Example B: why Σ² is powerful

If the answer were 6081: Σ = 15 Σ² = 6²+0²+8²+1² = 101 Σ² instantly rejects other "Σ=15" candidates with different composition.

Common traps

Over-trusting one yellow: yellows can move — confirm with another guess + Shape.
Ignoring “=”: if Shape has “=”, stop forcing all digits to be unique.
Getting stuck in one theory: if Σ or Shape contradicts your idea, drop it immediately.

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