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How scoring works: Waffle

Your game score comes from your own puzzle result. Your party rank compares that score with your party's submissions for the same day.

Quick summary

Earn more stars by solving the Waffle in fewer swaps to improve your game score. Your party rank compares your game score with other party submissions for the same game/day and can change as new submissions arrive.

How to score well

  • Every Waffle can be solved in exactly 10 swaps, and every swap saved beyond 10 earns a star (up to 5).
  • More stars earn a better game score.
  • Unsolved puzzles score lower than solved puzzles.

How ranking works in parties

  • Higher stars rank higher within the party.
  • Unsolved entries earn 0 points for the day.
  • Tied star counts share the same competition rank (1, 1, 3).

Example

In a 3-player party Alice solves for 5 stars, Bob for 3, Carol unsolved. Alice earns 3 points, Bob earns 2, Carol earns 0.

Technical scoring data 
{
    "ranking": {
        "tie_algorithm": {
            "key": "competition_ranking",
            "display_name": "Competition ranking"
        }
    },
    "examples": [
        "A 5-star solve (10 swaps, the minimum) earns the maximum game score.",
        "A 3-star solve (12 swaps) earns a moderate game score.",
        "A 0-star solve (all 15 swaps) earns the lowest solved game score, but still ranks above an unsolved entry."
    ],
    "rule_text": "Higher star counts earn a better game score. A solved 0-star game still ranks above an unsolved entry.",
    "edge_cases": [
        "Solved 0-star and unsolved submissions do not tie in absolute scoring: solved 0-star is 0.2 and unsolved is 0.0.",
        "If all party members solve with the same star count, everyone ties at rank 1."
    ],
    "measurement": {
        "metric_key": "star_count",
        "metric_label": "Stars earned",
        "scoring_type": "higher_better"
    },
    "human_review": {
        "checklist": [
            "Verify rule_text reflects the scoring behavior without ambiguity.",
            "Verify examples are readable and match expected outcomes.",
            "Verify edge_cases are clear and non-conflicting.",
            "Verify 0-star solved vs unsolved distinction is explained."
        ],
        "machine_verifiable_scope": [
            "measurement.scoring_type",
            "absolute_scoring.method",
            "absolute_scoring.solved_floor",
            "absolute_scoring.unsolved_score",
            "absolute_scoring.range.best",
            "absolute_scoring.range.worst_solved",
            "ranking.tie_algorithm.key",
            "party_ranking.normalization_summary"
        ]
    },
    "party_ranking": {
        "normalization_summary": "Within a party, players are ranked on this game using higher star counts first, with unsolved entries ranked last. Each player earns one point for every party member they beat, plus one. Players who don't solve the puzzle earn zero points for this game."
    },
    "schema_version": 1,
    "absolute_scoring": {
        "range": {
            "best": 1,
            "worst_solved": 0.2
        },
        "method": "higher_better",
        "scoring_type": "higher_better",
        "solved_floor": 0.2,
        "unsolved_score": 0
    }
}