How to play Cheat

Cheat (also called I Doubt It) is the card game where lying is part of the rules. Everyone tries to get rid of their cards by playing them face down as the next number, and nobody has to tell the truth. The trick is knowing when to bluff and when to call "Cheat!" on someone else. Play against two to five computer players (Duke, Trixie, Monty, Goldie and Sal), or with family over a link, each on their own phone, with the pile on the TV.

The deal

One standard deck of 52 cards, three to six players. All the cards are dealt, so some players may have one card more than others.
You go first, and the first play is aces.

A turn

Plays go in order: aces, 2s, 3s and so on up to kings, then aces again. Each player plays the next number.
Tap 1 to 4 cards in your hand and tap Play. They go face down on the pile, and you say they are the number for this turn: "two 7s".
Everyone can see how many cards you put down. Nobody can see which ones, so the cards can be anything.
If you have none of the number, you still have to play: that is when you bluff.

Calling Cheat

After every play, each other player decides: Cheat! or Let it go. Everyone decides at the same time and nobody sees the others' choice.
If anyone calls, the cards just played are turned over. If any of them is not the number that was said, the player who played them takes the whole pile into their hand.
If they were all true, the player who called takes the whole pile instead.
If more than one player calls, the one sitting closest to the left of the player counts.
Either way the count goes on: the next player plays the next number.

Winning

The first player with no cards left wins, as long as their last play survives. If someone calls Cheat on your last cards and they were not true, you take the pile and keep playing.

Tips

Count what you hold. If you have three 9s and someone says they played two 9s, they are cheating.
Watch the cards that get turned over. When a player takes the pile, you know some of the cards they now hold.
Bluff with your far numbers. You will need some numbers again soon. Bluff with the ones you will need last, and keep the ones coming up.
Call more when the pile is small. A wrong call costs you the whole pile, so be surer when it is big.
Always check the last play. A player who would go out on this play is worth calling unless it is very likely true.

Today's deal

The Daily Deal is one game against three computer players, with the same cards for everyone. Going out first is best, and the fewer plays it takes you, the better; otherwise it counts how many cards you had left. Compare it with everyone else's today; your first try of the day is the one that counts.

Questions

Can I lie about how many cards I play? No. Everyone sees how many cards go down, so the only lie is about the number on them.

Can I play more than four cards? No, from one to four. There are only four of each number in the deck, so a claim of more could never be true.

Do I have to call Cheat? No. Every time, you choose: Cheat! or Let it go. The table waits for your answer.

How strong are the computers? Easy calls at random and often misses a sure lie. Normal plays the truth when it can, bluffs with the card it needs last, remembers recent turns and calls when a lie looks fairly likely. Sharp remembers the whole game, notices who lies more than the others and calls only when it is nearly sure, or when you are about to go out. At a table of four against three Normal players, Easy wins about 12% of games, Normal 26% and Sharp 47%.

Can I play with family? Yes. Choose "Play with friends", pick three to six players and send the link, or read out the four-letter table code. Everyone sees only their own cards, the computer fills open seats, and you can put the table on a TV.

Do I need an account? No. Your game is saved in this browser, so you can close the page and come back.