Secret Signals: Will your teammate read your mind?

Facing off in teams of two, you have to pick up your partners signal to win the game! Or will you be able to figure out your opponents secret signal to steal their point?

 

Secret Signals is a relatively easy game to comprehend with a good balance of game aspects that makes it fun for everyone! It’s also a nice way to bring together a group of people since it is usually played with four people and one deck of cards, so if you ever find yourself in that situation, try it out!

 

Are you nimble enough to pick up on your opponents signal? Let’s find out…

 

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Players: 4-8, paired in teams of 2

Gear: A standard 52-deck of cards

 

 

PREPARATION

 

Divide players into teams of two.  Each pair should quietly discuss and agree on a secret signal that only they know.  See Selecting a Secret Signal below.  When all players are ready, everyone can return to the table, but partners sit across from each other.

 

The dealer (randomly chosen), shuffles the deck and deals four cards to each player, then places four cards face up in the center where everyone can reach them. 

 

 

HOW TO PLAY

 

Your individual goal is to collect four-of-a-kind, meaning four 3’s, four Ace’s, or four Kings, etc.  You collect cards by replacing the cards in your hand with the cards on the table.  This means that you can have a maximum of four cards in your hand at all times.

 

For example, let’s say you have a 4 of Clubs, an Ace of Diamonds, a 7 of Clubs, and a 4 of Hearts in your hand.

 

Since you already have two 4’s, it would be in your best interest to try and collect more 4’s. If there was a 4 of Diamonds on the table, then you should discard your 7 of Clubs, and then proceed to pick up the 4 of Diamonds. Now, you would have three 4’s in your hand, and the 7 of Clubs would be on the table that is available to be picked up.

 

 

 

There are no turns! When the dealer says “GO!”, it is just a wild frenzy of people picking up and throwing down cards as they try to snatch the cards they want.  As people reach and grab for what they need, the cards are going to get bent and beat, so don’t use any precious decks!

 

 

WHEN THE FRENZY STOPS

 

When no one wants the cards on the table, the crazy grabbing will slowly calm down.  When this happens, the dealer will remove the cards from the table; they are officially out of the game. Then, they place four new cards face up, and the wildness begins again after they say “GO!”

 

This process repeats until the match ends.

 

 

 

ENDING A MATCH

 

Where do the signals come into play?

 

When you have successfully gotten four-of-a-kind, you now have to signal it to your partner.  Using the agreed upon signal, the only way the match can end is if your partner notices you giving them the signal.  They then shout “Game!”  IMPORTANT: If you collect four-of-a-kind, YOU do not shout “Game!”, your partner does.  This means that some communication and teamwork is necessary.

 

ALSO: If someone yells “Game!”, the dealer must first check to make sure their partner has four-of-a-kind.  If they don’t, then the opposing team immediately gets a point. 

 

This means that while you are fervently collecting and switching cards, you must also keep an eye on your partner so that you can call “Game!” if they give you the signal!

 

Usually, the team that shouts “Game!” first wins a point, but their opponents have a chance at redemption.

 

 

 

If the losers are able to guess what the signal was correctly, then THEY earn the point instead of the original winning team.  The opponents get one chance, and their final guess must be as specific as possible.

 

An example from The Games Bible: “If the guess is something to do with the hands and your signal is gather all cards into one hand, then ask the guessers to be more specific.” 

 

 

Winning the Game!

After each point is won, shuffle all the cards together and play another match.  The first team to earn 5 points wins the game! Depending on how long you wish to play for, feel free to change this!

 

 

SELECTING A SECRET SIGNAL

 

Here are some general rules and guidelines for picking your Secret Signal

• Both players on a team much use the same signal.  One player may not do a different signal than the other
• Signals cannot be verbal.  They must be visual or aural
• Signals must be performed within view of other players, eg. you aren’t allowed to nudge someone under the table
• Decoy signals are not allowed, eg. blatantly tugging your ear just before using your real signal

 

• Subtle signs are usually the best because they’re harder to identify, such as:
  • tapping the top of your cards with your finger
  • switching cards from one hand to another
  • fanning cards vs. closing them
  • flaring your nostrils (I can’t do this lol)
  • spinning your earring or ring
  • biting your lip

 

 

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Author’s Note

Unlike many of the games I have posted about recently, I actually have played this game! It was several years ago with my family and I don’t think I explained the rules very well then… oops.  However, if the group understands it well enough, then it can be a very enjoyable experience! There are a lot of components, each making this game unique and entertaining.  I especially enjoy the chaos of swapping out cards, much like the card game Spoons, or Throw Throw Burrito. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find time to get my dorm mates together to play a group activity in quite some time so perhaps I will suggest this, as it is short and sweet! Also, there are only a few blog posts left… I’m sad that our time together will be ending soon but hopefully you have learned much, and can pass some of these games to your friends!

 

 

Analysis

Secret Signals is such a fantastic game because it applies each of these vital game characteristics so well.  Usually games have specific strong areas, but there is a decent amount involved in this game, so be prepared to think and enjoy!

Creativity: There is so much about this game that is imaginative since you have to create multiple signals as the game progresses.  Making each one a little more subtle and trying to prevent your opponents from noticing is a massive part of the game, and that takes a good amount of continuous creativity.

Luck: You might be desperately trying to find that last 4, but it’s unfortunately at the bottom of the deck.  If you can picture the mad house of cards being grabbed, then I think you can understand the major role that luck plays.  You don’t always get the card you want, and overall, it can be hard to do anything helpful!  There’s also so much chance about how fast the other team might find four-of-a-kind compared to your team, so those odds the game considerably too.

Strategy: If you thought luck was important, then you’re going to be surprised to find out how much strategy is involved!  A lot of what you do effects other players and that can be manipulated easily.  Also, you have to decide how much of your time and energy is going to be invested into getting a four-of-a-kind yourself, vs. keeping an eye on your partner for the signal, vs. watching the other team to try and catch their signal in case they finish before you! There’s a lot going on, and certain strategies can help.

 

Tips & Strategies

• • Choose a subtler signal.  This will make it harder for the opponent to guess it.  Check out Selecting a Secret Signal to see some ideas from The Games Bible. 
  • Try to remember what other are grabbing
    • If you think your partner is trying to get 8’s and you have one, switch it out for a random card so that they can pick up your 8
    • If you notice an opponent going for 2’s, keep one in your hand so that they won’t ever get four-of-a-kind
  • KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUR OPPONENTS SIGNAL
  • Remember which cards are discarded. You don’t want to be waiting around for the last 5 if it was discarded after the first match
  • When choosing your signal, make sure it’s not something you’ll do subconsciously, like biting your nails, and tucking your hair behind your ear, or else your partner will call ‘Game!” prematurely.

 

Variations: Try this out next time you play!

• This is not really a variation of Secret Signals but a game very similar.  Spoons has a lot of the same fundamentals and is a bit easier to grasp.  I highly recommend checking out this fast-paced “everyone for themselves” game if you liked Secret Signals.

 

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day!

 

 

This is Mysterium, my absolute FAVORITE board game ever!! My favorite used to be the classic game Clue, but when I played this for the first time this past year, I fell in love.  It is actually very similar to Clue, except the players work together as Psychics to determine a murderer.  One player is the Ghost and guides the Psychics by giving them visions periodically.  You’re supposed to set the mood like a seance, making it is the perfect game for Halloween!! I love it so much and if you have the ability to, check it out!!

 

 

Credits

I cannot stress enough the importance of Leigh Anderson’s fantastic book The Games Bible for inspiring these blog posts.  Her book has hundreds of amazing ideas, from icebreakers, family games, and weekend getaways.  This blog would not be possible without all the hard work she put into writing the book so my source for ideas and research are from her book.

Sources

• Anderson, Leigh. The Games Bible. Workman Publishing Company, 2010.
• Anderson, Leigh. “The Games BIBLE: The Ultimate Gamebook… Book by Leigh Anderson.” ThriftBooks, www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-games-bible-the-ultimate-gamebook-for-grown-ups-307-games-to-put-the-fun-back-in-parties_leigh-anderson/571781/#edition=5740103&idiq=12407424.
• https://bicyclecards.com/how-to-play/spoons/
• https://www.explodingkittens.com/collections/all/products/throw-throw-burrito-original-edition?gclid=CjwKCAjw_L6LBhBbEiwA4c46uv9Lex9_iu7cgtOcOPCufKOY21g4-R9OQer9AeTuS__lp3klgFYGVhoCpH8QAvD_BwE
• https://www.ultraboardgames.com/mysterium/game-rules.php

Image Sources

• Four Aces
• Mysterium
• Four 4’s
• Cards on the Table
• Guessing