Password

One of the all-time greatest party games, Password requires an ingenious blend of logical thinking and creativity. Usually played in teams of two, it can also be played by a group of single competitors.

Players - Two or more

Start & Object of the Game

- Players get three scraps of paper apiece and write a password along with their initials on each scrap. The scraps are placed in a bag, hat, or cup.

- To guess a secret word - the password - based only on one-word clues provided by a teammate.

The Play

Player A from Team 1 selects one of the scraps. If the scrap is marked with his partner’s initials, he returns it and selects another. He shows the word on the scrap to both members of Team 2, but not to his partner, Player B.
Player A now gives his partner a one-word clue to the password. For example, if the password were SANDWICH, the first clue might be BREAD.
Player B thinks of words related to the clue and tries to guess the secret word. He might guess WHEAT.
The exchange continues between Player A and Player B:
“The clue is BREAD.”
“Is the password WHEAT?”
“No. The clue is SUBMARINE.” “Is the password ROLL?”
“No. The clue is HERO.”
“Is the password SANDWICH?” “Yes! You got it!”

All clues must meet the following criteria:

- They must be only one word.
- They cannot contain any part of the password. For example, SCIENCE cannot be used as a clue to SCIENTIST, and HAM cannot be used as a clue to HAMMER.
- They cannot be accompanied by any sort of hand motion or pantomime.
- They can be accompanied by informative facial expressions and verbal intonation. If LEMON was the password, the clue word FRUIT could be pronounced through tightly puckered lips.
- They cannot rhyme with the password.
- They can be presented only once.
A score is tallied after each round of clues and guesses.

scores

Scores

A team can score anywhere from 0 to 10 points for each password, depending on how many clues are required. The fewer the number of clues needed, the higher the score. The number of points and the number of clues are as follows:

If the password has not been guessed after 10 clues, the team scores zero, and the password is revealed.

Strategy

Play alternates between Team 1 and Team 2 and from player to player. Scores are totaled after 12 rounds to determine the winning team.

Variations

Censored Password
The rules are the same as the basic game, except that on the scraps of paper, players accompany each password with a list of three words that are forbidden as clues. For example, if the word were HOSPITAL, a player might list DOCTOR, NURSE, and SURGERY as off-limits clues.

Teamless Password (Four or More Players)
For each round, one player is the password-maker, one is the clue-giver, and the others are the guessers. The number of players determines the number of rounds in a game.
The password-maker turns his password over to the clue-giver.
The clue-giver announces the first clue. At this point, any one guesser can call “Me!” and be selected to take a guess. There is no obligation for anyone to take a guess. If a wrong guess is made, that guesser cannot guess again unless every other guesser has taken one guess. After a wrong guess, but before the next clue is given, another player may choose to make a guess.
There are a maximum of five clues given for any password. If a correct guess is made within a five-clue round, the guesser and the clue-giver each score 1 point. If no correct guess is made, the password is revealed and the clue-giver loses 1 point and the password-maker scores 1 point. There is no penalty for a wrong guess.

Kids word games download

Bookmark and Share:

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks