How to Play Cheat

This game is absolutely crazy. It’s as fun as it is confusing! 

In this post, we’re going to teach you exactly how to play Cheat. By the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll be an absolute pro! 

Everything You Need to Know About How to Play Cheat

 

The Objective

First off, let's talk about the objective of the game. 

The goal of Cheat is to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards by playing them face down in the center of the table. 

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not quite. You see, in Cheat, players are allowed to lie about the cards they play, so things can get a little tricky.

You’ve got to get rid of all of your cards, no matter what it takes!

Gameplay

To start the game, you'll need a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Shuffle the deck and deal them evenly to each player. The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and they start by placing one or more cards face down in the center of the table and announcing what they have played. For example, they might say, "I'm playing two Aces."

The next player then has to play one or more cards of the same rank, and so on. 

If a player doesn't have the rank of card they claim to be playing, they can try to get away with playing a different rank, hoping that the other players won't notice. 

This is where the lying comes in.

But be warned - if a player thinks that another player is lying, they can call "cheat." 

This is the crazy part of the game, where you have to take the risk. 

You see, if the player was lying, they have to pick up the entire pile of cards in the center of the table. 

But if the player was telling the truth, then the player who called "cheat" has to pick up the pile. 

It's a super risky move, because if you’re wrong, you’ll just end up with a massive pile, but it can pay off if you're right, and get seriously ahead of the game! 

The game continues in this way, with players taking turns playing cards and calling "cheat" when they suspect that another player is lying. 

The first player to get rid of all of their cards is declared the winner.

Top 3 Strategies You Should Know Before Playing a Game of Cheat

Hold onto your high-value cards: 

One strategy to use in Cheat is to save your high-value cards for later in the game. This means holding onto cards like Aces, Kings, and Queens until there are fewer cards left to play. 

This way, you have a much better chance of getting rid of all your cards and winning the game. Of course, this strategy is risky because other players may call you out, but it's definitely worth considering if you're dealt some good cards early on.

Watch other players carefully: 

It's important to pay close attention to what other players are doing in Cheat. Try to notice if they're hesitating before playing a card or if they're making eye contact with other players. 

These are often signs that a player is lying, and you may want to call "cheat" on them. On the other hand, if a player seems confident and straightforward, they may be telling the truth. So your intuition can really come in handy here too!

Bluff, but don't overdo it: 

Bluffing is a big part of Cheat, but it's important to use it sparingly. If you lie too much, other players may catch on and call "cheat" on you more often. 

Instead, try to mix in some truthful plays with your bluffs. For example, if you've been bluffing for a few turns, try playing a card that you know is true to throw other players off. 

This can keep them guessing and increase your chances of winning.

Now, don't worry if you're not great at bluffing - it takes some practice. But that's part of the fun of Cheat - you never know who's telling the truth and who's not!