# How to play Costcodle


      The rules, one guess at a time

      
## Basics in 30 Seconds
Costcodle gives you one product and one hidden target price. Enter a positive plain decimal with up to two digits after the decimal point: 12.99 is valid, while $12.99 and 1,234.00 are not. You get five guesses.

## Reading Feedback

### Arrows show direction
An up arrow means the target is higher than your guess. A down arrow means it is lower.

### Colors show closeness

| Result | Meaning | Next move |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Green | Within 5% of the target | You solved the challenge. |
| Amber | Within 25%, but outside the win range | Make a smaller adjustment. |
| Red | More than 25% away | Make a larger correction. |

### The 5% rule
The target itself is not required. A guess inside the 5% winning band is enough. For a $12.99 target, the valid winning range is $12.35 through $13.63.

      
## A Worked Session
Suppose the target is $12.99. A guess of $20.00 is high and far, so move down. A guess of $10.00 is low and near enough to guide you upward. A guess of $15.00 is high and closer. The fourth guess, $13.00, falls inside $12.35–$13.63 and wins.

      
## FAQ

**What input format should I use?**
Use only a positive decimal with zero, one, or two digits after the decimal point. Leave out symbols and separators.

**What happens after five misses?**
The challenge ends and the result can show the target for that published record.

**Can I see earlier records?**
Open [the archive](/archive/) for saved dates, or return to [Today](/today/) for the current entry.

      Return to the [daily game](/) or read [the strategy guide](/strategy/).