CODEBUSTERS B

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1. DESCRIPTION: Teams will cryptanalyze and decode encrypted messages using cryptanalysis techniques
for historical and modern advanced ciphers.
A TEAM OF UP TO: 3 APPROXIMATE TIME: 50 minutes
2. EVENT PARAMETERS:
a. Teams must bring writing utensils and may bring up to three (3) stand-alone non-graphing, non-
programmable, non-scientific 4-function or 5-function calculators (Class I).
b. No resource materials, except those provided by the Event Supervisor, may be used.
c. The Event Supervisor will provide scratch paper for each team to use.
d. The exam packet will include a resource sheet with the Morse Code Table, English/Spanish letter
frequencies, Porta Table, Baconian mappings and modulus inverse tables as needed for the questions on
the exam.
3. THE COMPETITION:
a. This event consists of participants using cryptanalysis techniques and advanced ciphers to decrypt
messages on a written or computer based exam.
b. Teams will begin the event simultaneously at the indication of the Event Supervisor.
c. Teams must not open the exam packet nor write anything prior to the “start” signal, nor may they write
anything after the “stop” signal.
d. Participants are allowed to separate the pages of the test to be free to answer the questions in any order,
working individually or in groups, attempting whichever of the questions seem right for them.
e. The code types that may be used at Division B Regional Tournaments are as follows:
i. Monoalphabetic substitution using K1, K2, or random alphabets as defined by the American
Cryptogram Association (ACA) with or without a hint
(1) Aristocrats - messages with spaces included but no spelling or grammar errors
(2) Aristocrats - messages with spaces including spelling/grammar errors
(3) Patristocrats - messages with spaces removed with letters grouped in sets of 5
ii. The Baconian Cipher - decrypting ciphertext encoded with the a and b values represented as one or
more letters, glyphs, symbols, or character rendering variations (e.g., bold, underline, italic)
iii. Xenocrypt - no more than one cryptogram can be in Spanish
iv. Cryptanalysis of the Fractionated Morse Cipher - decrypting Morse code ciphertext encoded as
letters and spaces with a “crib” of at least 4 plaintext characters.
v. Cryptarithms - determining mapping values to letters in base 10 (decimal) mathematical equations
and extracting the word or words used for mapping
vi. The Porta Cipher - Decrypting ciphertext given a key
vii. Cryptanalysis of the Complete Columnar Transposition Cipher - Decrypting ciphertext encoded in
9 columns or less given a crib which is no shorter than one less than the number of columns used.
viii. The Nihilist Cipher - Decrypting ciphertext given the keys
ix. The Atbash Cipher (In English, not Hebrew)
x. The Caesar Cipher, also called a shift cipher.
xi. The Affine Cipher - Decrypting ciphertext given the a and b values
f. The code types that may be used on the exam at State and National competitions are as follows:
i. All Invitational and Regional code types
ii. Xenocrypt - at the state and national levels, at least one cryptogram will be in Spanish
iii. Cryptanalysis of the Porta Cipher with a “crib” of at least 3 plaintext characters.
iv. Cryptanalysis of the Affine Cipher with a “crib” of at least 2 plaintext characters
v. Cryptanalysis of the Nihilist Cipher with a “crib” that is no shorter than the length of the keyword
used.
g. For aristocrats, patristocrats, and xenocrypts, no letter can ever decrypt to itself.
h. The first question of the exam will be timed.
i. The first question will be the decoding of an Aristocrat as defined by 3.e.i.(1)
ii. A team member should signal when his or her team has broken the cryptogram.
iii. Before the exam begins, the Event Supervisor will announce the nature of the signal that must be
used (e.g., shouting “bingo”, or quietly raising hand).
iv. The time in seconds, to the precision of the device used, to solve the cryptogram will be recorded by
the Event Supervisor or designee.

©2024-B11
 CODEBUSTERS B (CONT.)
See General Rules, Eye Protection & other Policies on www.soinc.org as they apply to every event.

v. If a team gets the timed question wrong, they may attempt to answer the question repeatedly
without penalty. The timing bonus will be calculated from the start of the event until the question is
successfully answered by the team with two or fewer errors, or until 10 minutes has elapsed. After
10 minutes, the timed question can still be answered but the timing bonus is zero.
i. Up to three questions which are not aristocrats, patristocrats or xenocrypts will be marked on the exam
as special bonus questions.
4. SCORING:
a. The high score wins. Final Score = Exam Score + Timing Bonus + Special Bonus.
b. The scores for each question will be added together to determine the exam score.
c. For questions such as cryptograms, with answers composed of letters, the final points will be determined
based on the number of errors found in the decoded plaintext as is appropriate to the question.
i. Two or fewer errors will be scored as correct and result in full credit.
ii. Each additional error results in a penalty of 100 points but the penalty will not exceed the value
of the question. For example, a 400-point question with 5 errors earns 100 points [400 - 3(100)]
whereas the same 400-point question with 7 errors would earn 0 points, not -100 points.
d. A Timing Bonus can be earned based on the number of seconds it takes a team to correctly decode the
first question. The timing bonus is equal to 2 x (600 - number of seconds). For example, 6 minutes = 2
x (600-360) = 480 points.
e. A special Bonus can be earned by solving any of the questions marked as special bonus questions with
no penalty points. The bonus will be awarded as follows: One solved = 150 points, Two solved = 400
points, All three solved = 750 points.
f. Scoring example: Team A earns 3600 points on the exam and solved the timed question in 435 seconds
and solved one Special Bonus question
Exam Score = 3600 points
+ Timing Bonus 2(600-435) = 330 points
+ Special Bonus (One=150) = 150 points
Final Score 4080 points
g. Tiebreakers: For teams that are tied, select questions predetermined by the Event Supervisor, will be
used to break the tie using the following criteria in this order: score, degree of correctness and number
attempted.
Recommended Resources: The Science Olympiad Store (store.soinc.org) carries a variety of resources to
purchase for this event; other resources are on the Event Pages at soinc.org.

©2024-B12