Paper games to play in school

Almost everyone who went to school in South Asia remembers a torn notebook page folded into four chits. It was played on the last bench, in free periods and on long bus rides, and it is still one of the best games for a few minutes with friends.

▶ Play free now

How to play with a notebook page

Tear a page into four slips and write the four roles with their points. Fold them the same way so nobody can tell them apart, then toss them on the desk. Everyone picks one and reads it secretly. The guesser announces themselves and has to find the thief by looking at faces. Everyone opens their chit and you add up the scores on the same page.

Good for a free period

A round takes about a minute and stops whenever the teacher arrives. It helps new classmates get talking, too: you have to look people in the eye to play.

For teachers

It works as an ice-breaker, for practising simple addition with the scores, and for talking about how we read other people. Each group needs only four slips. You can print ready-made chits from any of our game pages.

Now you’ve left school

CHITPLAY brings the game back for anyone who misses it, whatever their age. Invite old classmates with a link and play from wherever you all are now.

Pick the version you grew up with

• Raja Rani Chor Police (India)
• Raja Wazir Chor Sipahi (Pakistan)
• Raja Mantri Chor Sipahi (Nepal)
• Raja Mantri Chor Police (Bangladesh)
• Tonosama to Dorobo (Japan)
• Mafia Game (South Korea)
• Jingcha Zhua Xiaotou (China)
• Mafia: Commissar (Russia)
• Cops and Robbers (USA)
• King, Queen, Bobby & Robber (United Kingdom)
• Räuber und Gendarm (Germany)
• Gendarmes et Voleurs (France)
• Polícia e Ladrão (Brazil)
• Policías y Ladrones (Mexico)

Questions