Spoof (game)

Also see spoof for other meanings.

The game of Spoof is a guessing game designed to pick someone for an unpopular task, such as buying the next round of drinks.

Any number players can play, although it gets hard with more than ten (and the penalty for losing may be excessive). Each player needs three small objects, typically small coins.

The players stand or sit in a rough circle so that everyone can see everyone else's face. Each player holds his or her hands concealed from the other players and places zero, one, two, or all three of his or her small objects in one hand, closing the fingers round the objects to hide them and to make a fist. As each player does this they hold out the fist that hides their chosen number of objects, and take it in turns to guess the total number of objects concealed in the outstretched hands.

No player is allowed to guess the same total as anyone else, so it may be an advantage to go first. On the other hand, hearing previous calls can give you a clue to the correct total. The first call should rotate round the circle on each turn.

When everyone has called a number, all the players reveal their objects. If any player has called the correct total then they drop out, and the rest of the players continue to another round. The last player left in gets to do the unpopular task.

The call of "Spoof!" is sometimes used to mean "zero".

The minimal possible total is zero on each round. The maximum possible total is three times the number of players in the round. If a player accidentally or deliberately calls an impossible total, they are normally made to call again.

It is vitally important not to give any visible signals at Spoof, and not to allow your objects to clink in your hand as you hold them out (this reveals that you are not holding none).

This game is unrelated to that invented by the music hall and pantomime actor Arthur Roberts.