No.253
Bluff (Doubt)
Japanese name: ダウト
Materials
- A standard 52-card deck, without jokers
How to play
- Deal the whole deck and agree who starts and the direction of play. Explain that only within this game may players put down a different rank while claiming it is the required one.
- The first player announces, for example, “One ace,” and places 1–4 cards face down. The next turn requires twos, then threes, progressing by one rank each turn to kings, then back to aces.
- You may play other ranks even without the required one. Anyone suspicious can call “Doubt” before the next player puts cards down. Reveal only the cards just played.
- If even one revealed card has the wrong rank, its player takes the entire centre pile. If every card is the correct rank, the challenger takes the pile instead.
- Resume with the player after the person whose cards were checked, using the next scheduled rank. Allow a challenge opportunity even after a final card. End once a player is confirmed to have no cards; rank the others from fewest remaining cards to most.
Ways to adapt
Older primary school children: begin with one card per turn. Secondary school students and adults: 1–4 cards per turn.