Season 1 · 23 October to 22 November 2026
The Loyd Prize
The 1914 prize contest closed before it opened. We've reopened it, 112 years late.
The bug in the original
Page 6 of the Cyclopedia says entries must be "posted not earlier than December 1, 1915, and not later than January 1, 1915". The window shuts a year before it opens. No one could ever have won it. Ours has the dates the right way round.
The rules
- It's free to enter. No purchase, no account.
- Who qualifies: anyone who solves the finale on 22 November and holds at least 20 Season 1 flags that aren't Ghost.
- Under 18? A parent or guardian enters for you, with their own email. Old Tricks never asks anyone under 18 for an email address.
- How to enter: the entry form asks for a handle (a nickname, never your real name), the finale flag, the backup code from your flag wall, your country and the adult's email. There are three separate tick boxes: contact about the prize (required), a Hall of Fame listing by handle (optional) and Hamcodes news (optional).
- Dates: entries open when the finale goes live on 22 November 2026 and close on Sunday 6 December 2026 at 23:59 Hanoi time. The draw is on Monday 7 December 2026. Winners are emailed within 7 days and announced by handle.
- The draw: winners are picked at random from the qualifying entries. It's a draw, not a race, so sharing answers gains you nothing.
The entry form opens with the finale on 22 November 2026.
The prizes
- Loyd Prize winner: a year's Hamcodes subscription, free access to the Hamcodes learn-to-hack programme, and the book Hacker's Notes.
- 5 runners-up: Hacker's Notes.
- Every qualifying entrant: a printable Season 1 certificate and, if you tick the box, your handle in the Hall of Fame.
What happens to your data
Entries are used only for the prize. We keep them until the prizes are delivered plus 30 days, then delete them. The only exception is a Hall of Fame handle, which stays because you asked it to.