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Psychiatrist

One player, the Psychiatrist, leaves the room. Everyone else agrees on a secret rule for answering questions, like answering as if they were the person on their left. The Psychiatrist comes back and asks anyone anything until they can name the rule.

Set up · 1 of 2

Pick someone to be the Psychiatrist and send them out of the room.

Set up · 2 of 2

Everyone else picks a secret rule for how they'll answer questions. For your first game, use one from the list below.

How to play · 1 of 4

Ask anything

The Psychiatrist comes back and asks people questions, one at a time: "What did you have for breakfast?" "Where did you grow up?"

How to play · 2 of 4

Answer by the rule

Everyone answers following the secret rule, and tells the truth wherever the rule allows.

How to play · 3 of 4

Shout "Psychiatrist!"

If someone gets the rule wrong, anyone can shout "Psychiatrist!" Then everyone gets up and switches seats, which makes rules about where people sit much harder to spot.

How to play · 4 of 4

Diagnose

The Psychiatrist can guess the rule at any time. Keep going until they get it, then someone else takes a turn.

How to win

Nobody keeps score. If your group wants a winner, count how many questions each Psychiatrist needs. Fewest wins.