Objective
That’s Not a Hat is a fast-paced and fun card game where the goal is to keep track of the cards in play and successfully bluff your opponents. The aim is to have the fewest penalty points at the end of the round.
Setup
- Shuffle all cards and place them as a face-down draw pile in the center of the table.
- Each player receives a reference card with a value of 0, placed face-up in front of them.
Number of Players
The game can be played with 3 to 8 players.
Gameplay
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Revealing Cards: The starting player draws a card from the draw pile, looks at it secretly, and passes it to the player on their left with a random claim, e.g., "This is a dog."
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Passing and Bluffing: The next player decides whether to believe the claim or not:
- If they BELIEVE the claim, they do not reveal the card, take it, and pass it on to the next player claiming it to be something else, e.g., "This is a lemon."
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If they DO NOT BELIEVE the claim, they reveal the card.
- If the claim was false, the player who made the claim receives a penalty point.
- If the claim was true, the doubting player receives a penalty point.
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End of a Round: When the draw pile is exhausted, the round ends. The player with the fewest penalty points wins the game.
Special Features and Strategies
- Bluffing: Successful bluffing is key. Try to convince other players that you have a certain card, even if it’s not true.
- Memory: Remember which cards have been passed and in what order to adjust your strategy.
- Risk Assessment: Wisely decide when to risk a bluff and when it’s better to doubt.
Conclusion
That’s Not a Hat is an entertaining game that requires both memory and deception skills. It’s perfect for players who enjoy bluffing and are looking for a short yet thrilling game.
