Balderdash

1 Overview

Balderdash is a bluffing party game for 2 to 6 players (best with 4 to 6) published by Mattel. The Dasher draws a card and reads an obscure word, movie title, initialism, person's name, or unusual law. Every other player invents a fake but convincing definition. All answers are shuffled with the real one and read aloud. Players vote for the answer they believe is correct. Points go to players who guessed right, players whose fake answers fooled others, and (occasionally) the Dasher.

Balderdash rewards creative writing, plausible bluffing, and reading your opponents. The funniest bluffs and most convincing fakes produce the most memorable game nights.

2 Components

• Card deck with 5 categories per card
• Score track board
• Player pawns
• Answer sheets and pencils (or use paper)
• Die

3 Setup

1. Place the score board in the center. Each player puts their pawn on Start.
2. Choose a starting Dasher (the player who reads the clue and collects answers).
3. The Dasher role rotates clockwise each round.
4. Give each non-Dasher player an answer sheet and pencil.

4 Gameplay

1. The Dasher rolls the die to determine which category is used this round.
2. The Dasher draws a card and reads the clue for that category aloud (a strange word, initialism, name, etc.). Do not read the real answer yet.
3. All other players write a convincing fake answer on their sheet and pass it to the Dasher secretly.
4. The Dasher also writes down the real answer from the card.
5. The Dasher shuffles all answers (real and fake) and reads each one aloud, assigning a letter (A, B, C...) to each.
6. Each player votes for the answer they believe is real. The Dasher records votes.
7. The Dasher reveals the real answer. Score the round.
8. The Dasher role passes left. Repeat.

5 Scoring

First player to reach the finish space on the score track wins. Most groups set a target of 10 to 15 points or play a set number of rounds.

6 The Five Categories

7 Strategy Guide

Write Plausible, Not Funny

The instinct for new players is to write something funny. Resist it. Funny answers get laughed at and not voted for. The best fake answers are dry, technical, slightly boring, and formatted like real definitions. "A traditional Scandinavian fishing technique" beats "when you put cheese in your ear."

Match the Real Answer's Style

Pay attention to how real answers in that category tend to be phrased. Words have dictionary-style definitions. Laws have legal phrasing. Movies have plot-synopsis structure. Mirroring that style makes your fake blend in.

Read the Other Players

After a few rounds you'll learn each player's writing style and tell-tales. The player who always uses "archaic" in their definitions probably wrote the one that says "an archaic form of..." Vote against your own tells before others spot them.

Vote Strategically When Unsure

If you genuinely cannot identify the real answer, vote for the answer most likely written by the weakest bluffer at the table. Alternatively, vote for the most boring, dry answer -- real definitions are usually less colorful than fake ones.

8 FAQ