Up Jenkins
One team hides a coin under their hands. The other clears hands away one by one, saving the coin for last.
the best bit: a row of perfectly innocent faces, one of them lying
- Players
- 6–16 (best with 8–12)
- Time
- 15–30 min
- Learn in
- A minute
- Mood
- Lively
- Format
- Teams
The 30-second version
Two teams sit across a table. One team secretly passes a coin around under the table, then slams their hands down flat with the coin hidden under one. The other team points at hands to lift, one at a time. If the hand with the coin is the last one left, they score. If it turns up sooner, the hiding team scores.
read this, then walk through the steps below once.
Grab these
Set up
- Split into two teams and sit on opposite sides of a table.
- Each team picks a captain. Give one team the coin.
How to play
-
Pass it under
The hiding team passes the coin back and forth under the table while the other team watches their faces.
-
"Up Jenkins!"
The other team's captain shouts "Up Jenkins!" Every hider raises their fists above the table, with the coin still hidden in one.
-
"Down Jenkins!"
The captain shouts "Down Jenkins!" Every hider slams their hands flat on the table. Listen for the clink.
-
Clear the table
The captain points at hands one at a time: "Take that one." That player lifts their hand off the table. Teammates can advise, but the captain decides.
-
Score
If the hand with the coin is the last one on the table, the guessing team scores a point and takes the coin. If it turns up sooner, the hiders score and keep it.
How to win
The first team to 10 points wins.
From experience…
- Slam hard. A loud table covers the sound of a coin.
- Hiders: everybody look guilty, all the time.