Cops and Robbers: play the indoor chit game online
USA's chit game
The 4-player paper chit game Cops and Robbers, free in your browser for all ages. Four players, four folded chits: the Sheriff has to catch the Robber.
Also known as
- Cops and Robbers
- Cops and Robbers game
- Mayor Banker Sheriff Robber
- Paper slip detective game
How to play Cops and Robbers
- Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: Mayor, Banker, Sheriff, Robber.
- The Sheriff reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face.
- The Sheriff studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Robber.
- Everyone opens their chit and scores: The Sheriff gets two shots. Catching the Robber on the first try is worth 500, on the second try 250. Miss twice and the Robber escapes with 1000.
- Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Roles and points
| Role | Local name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 🎩 Mayor | Mayor | 1000 |
| 💰 Banker | Banker | 800 |
| 🤠 Sheriff | Sheriff | 500 |
| 🦹 Robber | Robber | 0 if caught · 1000 if not |
The special rule
The Sheriff gets two shots. Catching the Robber on the first try is worth 500, on the second try 250. Miss twice and the Robber escapes with 1000.
Scoring example
One round of Cops and Robbers. Tyler is the Sheriff. What everyone scores if the Robber is caught, and if Tyler accuses Jake instead:
| Player | Chit | Robber caught | Wrong guess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jake | 🎩 Mayor | 1000 | 1000 |
| Emily | 💰 Banker | 800 | 800 |
| Tyler | 🤠 Sheriff | 500 | 0 |
| Ashley | 🦹 Robber | 0 | 1000 |
Print the chits
Playing with real paper? Print this page, cut out the four chits, fold them and shuffle.
Questions
How do you play Cops and Robbers?
Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: Mayor, Banker, Sheriff, Robber. The Sheriff reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face. The Sheriff studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Robber. Everyone opens their chit and scores: The Sheriff gets two shots. Catching the Robber on the first try is worth 500, on the second try 250. Miss twice and the Robber escapes with 1000. Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Is Cops and Robbers free to play online?
Yes. ChitPlay is free, runs in any modern browser on phone or computer, and needs no download or sign-up.
How many players does Cops and Robbers need?
The classic game needs exactly four players. In CHITPLAY you can play with three computer players, invite up to three friends on their own phones, pass a single phone around, or just watch.
Is Cops and Robbers only for children?
No. Children, teenagers, parents and grandparents all play it. It takes a minute to learn, and bluffing is just as much fun at any age.
Is Cops and Robbers a good indoor game?
Yes. On paper all you need is a page and a pen, so it works at home, in a classroom, on a train or during a power cut. Online you only need a phone.
What are the roles in Cops and Robbers?
Mayor (Mayor), Banker (Banker), Sheriff (Sheriff), Robber (Robber).
What is Cops and Robbers also called?
Cops and Robbers, Cops and Robbers game, Mayor Banker Sheriff Robber, Paper slip detective game.
Can we play Cops and Robbers on one phone?
Yes. Choose Single Phone and pass it around: each person secretly opens their own chit, then the Sheriff takes the phone to make the catch. Two to four people can play.
Can I play Cops and Robbers on my phone?
Yes. ChitPlay works on Android and iPhone browsers. Tap 🔄 to play in landscape, and add it to your home screen to play like an app, even offline.
Which languages can I play Cops and Robbers in?
The game and the voices are in English. The players' chat bubbles can also be shown in Hinglish, Roman Urdu, Roman Nepali, Roman Bangla, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Russian, German, French, Portuguese or Spanish, all written in Latin letters.
How do you make the chits for Cops and Robbers at home?
Tear a page into four slips, write Mayor, Banker, Sheriff, Robber on them with the points, fold them and shuffle. Or print the ready-made chits on this page.
How many points does each role get in Cops and Robbers?
Mayor 1000, Banker 800, Sheriff 500. The Robber gets 0 when caught and 1000 when not caught.
Can you cheat in Cops and Robbers?
In CHITPLAY the Sheriff can press 🤫 Cheat to try to peek at a chit. Seven times in ten nobody notices, and you see one innocent player's chit, never the Robber's. Three times in ten you are caught: you see nothing, you lose 100 points, and the table lets you hear about it. Computer players try it too.
Tips to win Cops and Robbers
- As the Robber: act exactly like everyone else. Don't over-explain and don't go too quiet.
- As the Sheriff: watch who looks away, laughs too much, or rushes to say “it's not me”.
- As a royal: acting a little nervous can pull suspicion away from the real Robber.
- You get two shots: use the first to test your hunch, then watch how everyone reacts.