A node participating in a network of nodes that solve a distributed constraint problem. The nodes have mutually constrained sub-problems of the constraint problem. The node receives values or decisions from neighbor nodes. Those values or decisions allow the sub-problems of the neighbor nodes to be solved. Some received values or decisions correspond to a first ordering of the nodes, and some received values or decisions correspond to a second ordering of the nodes. Attempts are made to solve the sub-problem of the node as constrained by the values or decisions of the neighbor nodes. Results of the attempts are communicated to neighbor nodes, where for a given value or decision the node to which the corresponding attempt result is communicated depends on which of the orderings the given value or decision corresponds to. An attempt for one context can be affected by attempts in another context.