Policías y Ladrones: play the indoor chit game online
Mexico's chit game
The 4-player paper chit game Policías y Ladrones, free in your browser for all ages. Four players, four folded chits: the Police has to catch the Robber.
Also known as
- Policías y Ladrones
- Policías y ladrones
- Juego de policías y ladrones
- Rey Reina Policía Ladrón
- Policías y rateros
How to play Policías y Ladrones
- Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: King, Queen, Police, Robber.
- The Police reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face.
- The Police studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Robber.
- Everyone opens their chit and scores: Somebody can’t stop giggling. It’s usually the Robber, but not always! The Police decides who to arrest. If the Robber escapes, they win 1000.
- Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Roles and points
| Role | Local name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 King | Rey | 1000 |
| 👸 Queen | Reina | 800 |
| 👮 Police | Policía | 500 |
| 🦹 Robber | Ladrón | 0 if caught · 1000 if not |
The special rule
Somebody can’t stop giggling. It’s usually the Robber, but not always! The Police decides who to arrest. If the Robber escapes, they win 1000.
Alguien no aguanta la risa… ¡casi siempre es el Ladrón, pero no siempre! La Policía decide a quién arrestar. Si el Ladrón escapa, gana 1000.
Scoring example
One round of Policías y Ladrones. Mateo is the Police. What everyone scores if the Robber is caught, and if Mateo accuses Diego instead:
| Player | Chit | Robber caught | Wrong guess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diego | 👑 Rey (King) | 1000 | 1000 |
| Sofía | 👸 Reina (Queen) | 800 | 800 |
| Mateo | 👮 Policía (Police) | 500 | 0 |
| Valeria | 🦹 Ladrón (Robber) | 0 | 1000 |
Cómo jugar Policías y Ladrones con papelitos
Cuatro papelitos doblados: Rey, Reina, Policía y Ladrón. Cada quien saca uno. El Policía se descubre y tiene que adivinar quién es el Ladrón. Si acierta, gana 500 puntos; si falla, el Ladrón se lleva 1000. Ojo: alguien siempre se ríe, y casi siempre es el Ladrón.
Print the chits
Playing with real paper? Print this page, cut out the four chits, fold them and shuffle.
Questions
How do you play Policías y Ladrones?
Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: King, Queen, Police, Robber. The Police reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face. The Police studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Robber. Everyone opens their chit and scores: Somebody can’t stop giggling. It’s usually the Robber, but not always! The Police decides who to arrest. If the Robber escapes, they win 1000. Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Is Policías y Ladrones 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 Policías y Ladrones 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 Policías y Ladrones 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 Policías y Ladrones 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 Policías y Ladrones?
King (Rey), Queen (Reina), Police (Policía), Robber (Ladrón).
What is Policías y Ladrones also called?
Policías y Ladrones, Policías y ladrones, Juego de policías y ladrones, Rey Reina Policía Ladrón, Policías y rateros.
Can we play Policías y Ladrones on one phone?
Yes. Choose Single Phone and pass it around: each person secretly opens their own chit, then the Police takes the phone to make the catch. Two to four people can play.
Can I play Policías y Ladrones 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 Policías y Ladrones 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 Policías y Ladrones at home?
Tear a page into four slips, write King, Queen, Police, 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 Policías y Ladrones?
King 1000, Queen 800, Police 500. The Robber gets 0 when caught and 1000 when not caught.
Can you cheat in Policías y Ladrones?
In CHITPLAY the Police 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 Policías y Ladrones
- As the Robber: act exactly like everyone else. Don't over-explain and don't go too quiet.
- As the Police: 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.
- Someone always giggles. It's usually the Robber, but a smart Robber might make someone else laugh.