How to play Number Match
Number Match is a number puzzle on a board nine cells wide. Clear every number by removing them in pairs. This page has the full rules, what the buttons do, how scoring works, and tips for harder boards.
The goal
Clear the whole board. Every board on this site has been checked by a solver before you see it, so it can always be cleared within the adds it gives you.
Which numbers make a pair
Two numbers make a pair when they are:
- the same, like 4 and 4, or
- add up to 10, like 3 and 7, 1 and 9, or 5 and 5.
Tap the first number, then the second. If they pair, both disappear. If they don’t, the second number becomes your new choice, so you can keep looking without tapping again.
Where a pair can be
The two numbers must “see” each other, with nothing but empty cells between them. They can be:
- side by side in the same row;
- one above the other in the same column;
- on a diagonal, in either direction;
- at the end of one row and the start of the next, as if the board were one long line of text.
Empty cells never block a pair. As the board clears, numbers that were far apart can meet. Any number still on the board between them does block it.
Clearing rows
When a whole row is empty it is removed and the rows below move up. Clearing a row also gives bonus points, and it often lines up new pairs.
The buttons
- Add numbers (+): when you can find no more pairs, add numbers. Every number still on the board is copied, in order, after the last one. Each level gives you a few adds; the small number on the button shows how many are left. Classic has no limit.
- Hint (light bulb): lights up a pair that keeps the board solvable, or tells you it is time to add numbers. You have 3 hints per game.
- Undo (back arrow): takes back your last pair or add. You can undo many steps in a row. Undo does not give back a hint, and it is off once the game ends.
- New game: starts a fresh board. If you have already started, it asks first so you don’t lose a game by mistake.
On a computer you can also play with the keyboard: arrow keys move, Space or Enter picks a number, A adds numbers, H shows a hint and U undoes.
Scoring
| Move | Points |
|---|---|
| A pair of numbers that touch | 1 |
| A pair with empty cells between them | 4 |
| Each row you clear | 10 |
| Clearing the whole board | 150 |
Far pairs are worth more because they are harder to spot. Your best time and best score for each level are kept on the Stats page, in your own browser.
Levels
| Level | Numbers at the start | Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 27 | 5 |
| Medium | 36 | 5 |
| Hard | 45 | 4 |
| Expert | 54 | 3 |
Harder levels start with more numbers and fewer adds, and fewer of the first moves lead to a clear board.
Classic is the old paper game, also called Take Ten or Numberama: the board always starts with 1 to 9 and then the digits of 11 to 19, and you can add numbers as often as you like.
Daily Challenge is one Hard board a day, the same for everyone. It changes at midnight in your time zone. Clear it on consecutive days to build a streak.
If you get stuck
When there are no pairs left and no adds, the game is over. You can try the same board again, or undo a few steps first and take a different path. Every board can be cleared, so another try often works.
Tips
- Look for far pairs first. Pairs across empty cells or across rows are easy to miss later, and they score more.
- Think before clearing a 5. A 5 can only pair with another 5. If one 5 is left alone, you will need an add.
- Check for lonely numbers. Before you clear a pair, see whether one of its numbers is the only partner for another number nearby.
- Clear rows when you can. A removed row pulls everything below it up and often opens new pairs.
- Save your adds. Each add copies every number on the board, so it is cheapest near the end, when few numbers are left.
- Use hints to learn. A hint never leads into a dead end, so it shows you a move that keeps the board solvable.
Questions
Is Number Match free?
Yes. The game is free, has no ads and needs no sign-up. Your games and stats stay in your browser.
Can every board be solved?
Yes. Each level board, and each daily board, is checked by a solver before it is shown.
What is the difference between Number Match and Take Ten?
They are the same game. Take Ten, Numberama and Ten Pair are older names for the paper version, which this site plays as Classic.