Tonosama to Dorobo: play the indoor chit game online
Japan's chit game · 殿様と泥棒
The 4-player paper chit game Tonosama to Dorobo (Tonosama to Dorobo), free in your browser for all ages. Four players, four folded chits: the Constable has to catch the Thief.
Also known as
- Tonosama to Dorobo
- 殿様と泥棒
- 泥棒ゲーム
- The Lord and the Thief
- 紙くじゲーム
How to play Tonosama to Dorobo
- Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: Lord, Retainer, Constable, Thief.
- The Constable reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face.
- The Constable studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Thief.
- Everyone opens their chit and scores: The Constable gets one character clue that clears an innocent, then picks the Thief from the last two. If the Thief escapes, they take 1000.
- Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Roles and points
| Role | Local name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 🏯 Lord | 殿様 | 1000 |
| 🎎 Retainer | 家老 | 800 |
| 🔎 Constable | 岡っ引き | 500 |
| 🦹 Thief | 泥棒 | 0 if caught · 1000 if not |
The special rule
The Constable gets one character clue that clears an innocent, then picks the Thief from the last two. If the Thief escapes, they take 1000.
岡っ引きは手がかりを一つもらい、無実の人を一人はずせます。残り二人から泥棒を当てよう。泥棒が逃げ切ったら1000点！
Scoring example
One round of Tonosama to Dorobo. Haruto is the Constable. What everyone scores if the Thief is caught, and if Haruto accuses Kenta instead:
| Player | Chit | Thief caught | Wrong guess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenta | 🏯 Tonosama (Lord) | 1000 | 1000 |
| Yui | 🎎 Karō (Retainer) | 800 | 800 |
| Haruto | 🔎 Okappiki (Constable) | 500 | 0 |
| Sakura | 🦹 Dorobō (Thief) | 0 | 1000 |
殿様と泥棒の遊び方
四枚の紙に殿様・家老・岡っ引き・泥棒と書いて、たたんで一枚ずつ引きます。岡っ引きが名乗り出て、泥棒が誰かを当てます。ヒントで一人は無実とわかります。当たれば岡っ引きに500点、外れたら泥棒に1000点。
Print the chits
Playing with real paper? Print this page, cut out the four chits, fold them and shuffle.
Questions
How do you play Tonosama to Dorobo?
Four players each draw a folded paper chit. Each chit hides one role: Lord, Retainer, Constable, Thief. The Constable reveals their chit. Nobody else says who they are: everyone keeps a straight face. The Constable studies the faces and accuses one player of being the Thief. Everyone opens their chit and scores: The Constable gets one character clue that clears an innocent, then picks the Thief from the last two. If the Thief escapes, they take 1000. Play 3, 5, 7, 10 or 20 rounds. The highest total wins.
Is Tonosama to Dorobo 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 Tonosama to Dorobo 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 Tonosama to Dorobo 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 Tonosama to Dorobo 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 Tonosama to Dorobo?
Lord (殿様), Retainer (家老), Constable (岡っ引き), Thief (泥棒).
What is Tonosama to Dorobo also called?
Tonosama to Dorobo, 殿様と泥棒, 泥棒ゲーム, The Lord and the Thief, 紙くじゲーム.
Can we play Tonosama to Dorobo on one phone?
Yes. Choose Single Phone and pass it around: each person secretly opens their own chit, then the Constable takes the phone to make the catch. Two to four people can play.
Can I play Tonosama to Dorobo 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 Tonosama to Dorobo 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 Tonosama to Dorobo at home?
Tear a page into four slips, write Lord, Retainer, Constable, 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 Tonosama to Dorobo?
Lord 1000, Retainer 800, Constable 500. The Thief gets 0 when caught and 1000 when not caught.
Can you cheat in Tonosama to Dorobo?
In CHITPLAY the Constable 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 Tonosama to Dorobo
- As the Thief: act exactly like everyone else. Don't over-explain and don't go too quiet.
- As the Constable: 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 clue clears one innocent, so you're down to two. Look for the one avoiding your eyes.