Räuber und Gendarm: play the indoor chit game online
Germany's chit game
The 4-player paper chit game Räuber und Gendarm, free in your browser for all ages. Four players, four folded chits: the Gendarme has to catch the Robber.
Also known as
- Räuber und Gendarm
- Räuber und Gendarm Spiel
- Räuber und Polizei
- König Königin Gendarm Räuber
How to play Räuber und Gendarm
- Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: King, Queen, Gendarme, Robber.
- 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 Robber.
- Everyone opens their chit and scores: A witness gives the Gendarme a tip, but witnesses are sometimes wrong! Then comes the arrest. If the Robber escapes, they get 1000.
- Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Roles and points
| Role | Local name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 King | König | 1000 |
| 👸 Queen | Königin | 800 |
| 👮 Gendarme | Gendarm | 500 |
| 🦹 Robber | Räuber | 0 if caught · 1000 if not |
The special rule
A witness gives the Gendarme a tip, but witnesses are sometimes wrong! Then comes the arrest. If the Robber escapes, they get 1000.
Ein Zeuge gibt dem Gendarm einen Tipp, aber Zeugen irren sich manchmal! Dann wird verhaftet. Entkommt der Räuber, bekommt er 1000.
Scoring example
One round of Räuber und Gendarm. Felix is the Gendarme. What everyone scores if the Robber is caught, and if Felix accuses Lukas instead:
| Player | Chit | Robber caught | Wrong guess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lukas | 👑 König (King) | 1000 | 1000 |
| Lena | 👸 Königin (Queen) | 800 | 800 |
| Felix | 👮 Gendarm (Gendarme) | 500 | 0 |
| Hanna | 🦹 Räuber (Robber) | 0 | 1000 |
So spielt man Räuber und Gendarm mit Zetteln
Vier gefaltete Zettel: König, Königin, Gendarm und Räuber. Jeder zieht einen. Der Gendarm gibt sich zu erkennen und muss den Räuber finden. Ein Zeuge gibt ihm einen Tipp, der aber nicht immer stimmt. Richtig geraten: 500 Punkte für den Gendarm. Falsch geraten: Der Räuber bekommt 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 Räuber und Gendarm?
Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: King, Queen, Gendarme, Robber. 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 Robber. Everyone opens their chit and scores: A witness gives the Gendarme a tip, but witnesses are sometimes wrong! Then comes the arrest. If the Robber escapes, they get 1000. Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Is Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm?
King (König), Queen (Königin), Gendarme (Gendarm), Robber (Räuber).
What is Räuber und Gendarm also called?
Räuber und Gendarm, Räuber und Gendarm Spiel, Räuber und Polizei, König Königin Gendarm Räuber.
Can we play Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm 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 Räuber und Gendarm at home?
Tear a page into four slips, write King, Queen, Gendarme, 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 Räuber und Gendarm?
King 1000, Queen 800, Gendarme 500. The Robber gets 0 when caught and 1000 when not caught.
Can you cheat in Räuber und Gendarm?
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 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 Räuber und Gendarm
- As the Robber: 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 Robber.
- Witnesses are right about two times in three, so trust the tip but check the faces too.