Gendarmes et Voleurs: play the indoor chit game online
France's chit game
The 4-player paper chit game Gendarmes et Voleurs, free in your browser for all ages. Four players, four folded chits: the Gendarme has to catch the Thief.
Also known as
- Gendarmes et Voleurs
- Gendarmes et voleurs
- Jeu gendarmes et voleurs
- Roi Reine Gendarme Voleur
- Gendarme et voleur
How to play Gendarmes et Voleurs
- Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: King, Queen, Gendarme, Thief.
- The Gendarme reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face.
- The Gendarme studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Thief.
- Everyone opens their chit and scores: The Gendarme looks for the Thief among the other three. In the last round every point counts double! If the Thief escapes, they win 1000.
- Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Roles and points
| Role | Local name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 King | Roi | 1000 |
| 👸 Queen | Reine | 800 |
| 👮 Gendarme | Gendarme | 500 |
| 🦹 Thief | Voleur | 0 if caught · 1000 if not |
The special rule
The Gendarme looks for the Thief among the other three. In the last round every point counts double! If the Thief escapes, they win 1000.
Le Gendarme cherche le Voleur parmi les trois autres. Au dernier tour, tous les points comptent double ! Si le Voleur s’échappe, il gagne 1000.
Scoring example
One round of Gendarmes et Voleurs. Hugo is the Gendarme. What everyone scores if the Thief is caught, and if Hugo accuses Lucas instead:
| Player | Chit | Thief caught | Wrong guess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas | 👑 Roi (King) | 1000 | 1000 |
| Chloé | 👸 Reine (Queen) | 800 | 800 |
| Hugo | 👮 Gendarme | 500 | 0 |
| Manon | 🦹 Voleur (Thief) | 0 | 1000 |
Comment jouer à Gendarmes et Voleurs avec des papiers
Quatre papiers pliés : Roi, Reine, Gendarme et Voleur. Chacun en tire un. Le Gendarme se dévoile et doit trouver le Voleur. S’il a raison, il gagne 500 points ; sinon, le Voleur gagne 1000. La dernière manche compte double.
Print the chits
Playing with real paper? Print this page, cut out the four chits, fold them and shuffle.
Questions
How do you play Gendarmes et Voleurs?
Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: King, Queen, Gendarme, Thief. The Gendarme reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face. The Gendarme studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Thief. Everyone opens their chit and scores: The Gendarme looks for the Thief among the other three. In the last round every point counts double! If the Thief escapes, they win 1000. Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Is Gendarmes et Voleurs 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs?
King (Roi), Queen (Reine), Gendarme (Gendarme), Thief (Voleur).
What is Gendarmes et Voleurs also called?
Gendarmes et Voleurs, Gendarmes et voleurs, Jeu gendarmes et voleurs, Roi Reine Gendarme Voleur, Gendarme et voleur.
Can we play Gendarmes et Voleurs on one phone?
Yes. Choose Single Phone and pass it around: each person secretly opens their own chit, then the Gendarme takes the phone to make the catch. Two to four people can play.
Can I play Gendarmes et Voleurs 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs at home?
Tear a page into four slips, write King, Queen, Gendarme, Thief 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 Gendarmes et Voleurs?
King 1000, Queen 800, Gendarme 500. The Thief gets 0 when caught and 1000 when not caught.
Can you cheat in Gendarmes et Voleurs?
In CHITPLAY the Gendarme 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 Thief'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 Gendarmes et Voleurs
- As the Thief: act exactly like everyone else. Don't over-explain and don't go too quiet.
- As the Gendarme: 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 Thief.
- The last round counts double. A comeback is always possible.