How to Play Blind Man's Buff

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Blind Man's Buff is a boisterous catching game for four or more players in which one blindfolded player must locate, catch, and correctly identify a fellow player using touch alone. Simple to explain in seconds, it rewards sharp senses, quick movement, and a good memory for voices and silhouettes.

It suits a cleared living room, a garden, or any open indoor space free of hazards. Children take to it immediately, and adults find it genuinely competitive. No equipment beyond a blindfold is needed, which makes it one of the most accessible party games in the traditional canon.

A little history

The game is documented across Europe from at least the sixteenth century, appearing in written records and illustrations under various names including "Blindman's Bluff" and "Colin-Maillard" in France. Its origins before that period are unclear. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was well established as a parlour and outdoor pastime in Britain, and it appears in period literature and household guides as a standard item of family entertainment. The name "Buff" is widely held to derive from an old word for a blow or buffet, referring to the light shoves players traditionally gave the blindfolded catcher.

Setting up

1. Clear the play area completely of furniture edges, steps, and any objects that could cause a trip or fall. Safety check this before every round.
2. Agree the boundaries of the play area and make sure every player knows them. A smaller space makes the game livelier; a larger space makes it harder for the catcher.
3. Choose the first blindfolded player, either by a volunteer, a coin toss, or a quick counting-out rhyme.
4. Fit the blindfold securely so the wearer cannot see downward or to the sides. Ask the player to confirm they cannot see before play begins.
5. Stand the blindfolded player in the centre of the play area. The remaining players spread out around them.

How to play

1. Once the blindfold is confirmed secure, a nominated player spins the blindfolded catcher gently on the spot three times to disorient them, then steps away.
2. All other players move freely within the agreed boundaries. They may not leave the play area.
3. The blindfolded catcher moves through the space trying to locate and physically catch a player.
4. Players who are not caught may move to avoid the catcher but may not run. Brisk walking is the standard rule indoors. Outdoor games may permit faster movement by prior agreement.
5. Players must not deliberately lead the catcher toward hazards or push the catcher. Light verbal taunting to attract attention is permitted and traditional.
6. If the catcher is about to walk into a boundary or a hazard, any player must call out a warning such as "Stop" or "Wall". The catcher stops, is gently repositioned facing into the play area, and continues.
7. When the catcher successfully grabs hold of a player, that player must stand still. The catcher may feel the player's face, hair, clothing, and build using both hands. No speaking is allowed by either player at this point unless the rules have been varied.
8. The catcher announces the name of the player they believe they are holding.
9. If the identification is correct, the identified player becomes the new blindfolded catcher. The old catcher removes the blindfold and joins the free players.
10. If the identification is wrong, the catcher releases the player, remains blindfolded, and continues trying to catch and identify someone.
11. A round ends when a successful identification is made. Play continues for as many rounds as agreed, or until the group decides to stop.

Winning and scoring

In its traditional form Blind Man's Buff is not a scored game and has no single winner. The aim is simply to pass the blindfold on as quickly as possible. If a competitive format is preferred, players keep a count of how many rounds they spent as the blindfolded catcher across the session. The player with the fewest rounds in the blindfold at the end wins. In the event of a tie, those players share the result.

The fine points

The most common dispute is whether a wrong guess obliges the catcher to release the caught player immediately or allows a second guess. The standard ruling is one guess only: the catcher releases the player straight away and resumes searching. Allowing a second guess slows the game considerably and is generally agreed to be poor form. If a caught player speaks, laughs, or makes a distinctive sound before the catcher has guessed, most groups rule that the catcher may use that as part of their identification, since silence is the caught player's responsibility.

A second frequent issue is boundary violations. If the catcher steps outside the agreed boundary, they are silently guided back to the centre and the round continues without penalty. If a free player steps outside the boundary to avoid being caught, they automatically become the next blindfolded catcher regardless of whether they were caught or identified. This rule discourages boundary-cheating effectively. On the question of whether the catcher may lift or remove the blindfold partially: this is not permitted under any circumstances and should be stated clearly before the first round.

How to win more often

• Listen before you move. Players shuffle their feet, adjust their weight, and breathe audibly. Pause after the spin and locate sounds before stepping anywhere.
• Work the perimeter. Free players naturally drift toward the edges of the play area to stay away from the catcher. Crossing the space diagonally often produces a catch faster than circling.
• When caught, control your breathing and stand as neutrally as possible. Distinctive posture, jewellery, or a strong-smelling product will give you away before the catcher's hands reach your face.
• As a free player, avoid speaking or whispering near others. If the catcher hears a voice, they will move toward the group, reducing everyone's space.
• Remember who you have already caught incorrectly. Eliminating known voices and builds from your mental list helps you guess correctly on the next successful grab.

Variations

Vocal Blind Man's Buff

In this version, once the catcher grabs a player, they may not use touch at all. Instead, they call out a word or short phrase, and the caught player must repeat it back. The catcher identifies them by voice alone. This works particularly well with a larger group where physical identification is too easy, and it levels the playing field for younger children playing alongside adults.

Squeak, Piggy, Squeak

A seated variation well suited to smaller indoor spaces. All players sit in a circle on chairs or cushions. The blindfolded player is given a cushion and moves to stand in front of a player chosen by feel. They place the cushion on that player's lap, sit on it, and say "Squeak, Piggy, Squeak". The seated player must squeak or make a short animal sound, disguising their voice as best they can. The catcher guesses who it is. Correct guess and the roles swap; incorrect guess and the catcher moves on to try another player.

Team Blind Man's Buff

Suitable for larger gatherings of eight or more. Players split into two equal teams. Each team takes turns providing the blindfolded catcher, who must catch and correctly identify a member of the opposing team. Correctly identifying an opponent scores one point for the catcher's team. An incorrect guess or catching a teammate scores one point for the opposing team. The first team to ten points wins. This format adds genuine tactical interest because players must decide how close to the catcher to move.

Outdoor Buff

Played in a garden or park with clearly marked boundaries, this version allows brisk walking rather than slow movement, making the game more physically active and appropriate for older children. A rope or cones mark the play area. The core rules remain identical, but players may call out taunts and clap their hands to attract the catcher, and the catcher may request one clap from any player before beginning their search. This request can be made twice per turn.

Blind Man's Buff: frequently asked questions