The 4x4 Grid and Hazard Layout Rules
The4×4 board has16 cells. Choose2,3 or4 hazards. No two hazards share a row or column, and every legal layout is sampled with equal probability. A safe tile stays revealed; a hazard ends the round with zero return. Collect is available after a safe reveal.
How Odds and Multipliers Are Calculated
Live value starts at0.97×stake. Divide it by the selected cell’s conditional safe probability after a safe reveal. Remaining layouts must avoid every opened cell. Different unopened coordinates can therefore have different odds. A proven-safe cell has probability1 and adds no value; a proven hazard is locked.
House Edge and Expected RTP
Exact expected return is97% for every permitted stopping policy. Safe-branch compensation preserves conditional expectation; the initial3% reduction is applied once. This is a mathematical long-run expectation, not a guaranteed balance or outcome in a session.
Automatic Banking and Payout Limits
When no uncertain cell remains, the game settles the current value automatically. A choice whose next value would exceed1000×stake is unavailable; if no eligible uncertain choice remains, the value is banked. This guard does not mean1000×stake is reachable in every mode.
Why Use the Free Virtual-Coin Demo?
The demo is free and original to this guide. Every round deducts a virtual stake; settings and refill remain locked during it. Settled wallet and fractional carry persist; reload ends an unfinished round without refunding that stake. Refill restores1000 coins when the balance is below the smallest stake.
Setting Limits and Responsible Play
Choose a time limit and a virtual-coin budget before starting. Stop when the limit is reached. There is no real-money version offered here, and no commercial game equivalence is claimed. Adults18+ only; no cash value or prizes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the hazard placement random?
Yes. One legal layout is sampled uniformly. The row-and-column restriction does not remove randomness.
What is the house edge?
The initial3% reduction gives exact97% expected return for permitted policies.
How do I reset my demo balance?
Refill restores1000 free coins when the balance cannot fund the smallest stake, outside an active round.
Can I cash out at any time?
After a safe reveal, collect is available. The game also settles when no eligible uncertain choice remains.
Is this the official Protegel site?
No. This is an independent guide with its own free virtual game and no commercial links.
Explore the free virtual-coin demo and its conditional odds.
