How to Play Duck Duck Goose

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

Duck Duck Goose is a classic chasing and tagging game for six or more players. One child circles a group of seated players, tapping each head in turn and building suspense until they suddenly call 'goose', triggering a sprint back to the empty seat. It is fast, unpredictable, and reliably brilliant for groups of children who need to burn energy.

The game requires no equipment, no preparation beyond a patch of flat ground, and no literacy or numeracy. That simplicity makes it a staple of playgrounds, school PE lessons, birthday parties, and family gatherings worldwide. Rounds last seconds, everyone is back in the game almost immediately, and the tension of waiting to be called the goose never quite goes away.

A little history

The origins of Duck Duck Goose are not precisely documented. Games of a similar structure, in which one player circles a seated group and selects a chaser, are found across many cultures and are traditionally thought to be very old. A well-known Scandinavian variant called 'Anka Anka Gås' follows the same pattern, and some folklorists note structural similarities to other European circle-chase games, but a definitive single origin has not been established. By the twentieth century the game was firmly embedded in North American and British playground culture.

Setting up

1. Choose an open, flat playing area with enough room for players to run freely around the outside of the group.
2. All players except one sit in a circle on the ground, cross-legged or with legs out in front, facing inward.
3. Leave a consistent gap of roughly 60-90 cm between each seated player so the tapper can walk comfortably around the outside.
4. Decide how the first tapper is chosen. Common methods include a volunteer, the youngest player, or a quick round of 'eenie meenie'.
5. The chosen tapper stands up and moves to the outside of the circle. All other players are now ready to play.

How to play

1. The tapper walks clockwise (or anticlockwise, agreed before play begins) around the outside of the seated circle.
2. As the tapper passes each seated player, they lightly tap that player on the head or shoulder and say 'duck'.
3. The tapper may tap as many players as they like, saying 'duck' each time. There is no minimum or maximum number of ducks before calling goose.
4. At a moment of the tapper's choosing, they tap one player and say 'goose' instead of 'duck'. That player immediately becomes the goose.
5. The goose jumps up as quickly as possible and chases the tapper around the outside of the circle in the same direction of travel the tapper was using.
6. The tapper runs around the circle and tries to reach the goose's vacated seat before being tagged.
7. If the tapper reaches the empty seat and sits down safely, they are safe. The goose becomes the new tapper and the round restarts from step 1.
8. If the goose tags the tapper before the tapper sits down, the tapper must sit in the centre of the circle (sometimes called 'the pot' or 'the mush pot'). The goose returns to their seat, and the same tapper must try again.
9. A tapper sitting in the centre is released as soon as another player is sent there to replace them.
10. Play continues for as many rounds as the group wishes, or until a set time limit is reached.

Winning and scoring

Duck Duck Goose is traditionally played without a points system or a single winner. The aim for each tapper is simply to steal a seat without being tagged, and the social reward of avoiding the centre is sufficient. In informal play, the game ends when the group decides to stop. For a competitive version, count how many times each player ends up as tapper more than once consecutively (i.e., fails to steal a seat). The player with the fewest failed attempts at the end of a fixed number of rounds wins. With younger children, declaring everyone a winner after a set time is the most practical approach.

The fine points

The most common dispute is whether the chase must go in the original direction of the tapper's walk, or whether either player may reverse. The standard ruling is that both players must run in the same direction the tapper was originally walking. This prevents collisions and makes the outcome fairer. A second common argument concerns what counts as a valid tag: a clear, deliberate touch on any part of the body is sufficient; a brush of clothing that neither player clearly feels should not count. If genuinely disputed, the tapper remains in or goes to the centre as the cautious default.

Tappers sometimes walk so slowly or pause for so long that the game stalls. A reasonable house rule is that the tapper must call 'goose' within two full laps of the circle at most. Similarly, if a tapper repeatedly picks the same goose, other players may call this out and ask the tapper to restart. The tapper is also not permitted to reach back and tag the goose before the goose has fully stood up: the chase begins only once the goose is on their feet.

How to win more often

• As tapper, vary your pace and rhythm. Walking steadily for a long stretch then suddenly speeding up just before calling 'goose' gives you a head start when the chase begins.
• Tap several players in a row quickly, then slow right down. Seated players relax when the tapper slows, giving you an extra fraction of a second when you finally call 'goose'.
• Choose a goose who is seated a little further behind you in the direction of travel, so you have maximum distance to cover before they can catch you.
• As the goose, spring to your feet the instant you hear your word. Every tenth of a second spent sitting is distance you will not recover.
• If you are seated, stay alert even after the tapper has passed you. Tappers occasionally double back or move erratically to catch players off guard.

Variations

Duck Duck Splash

A warm-weather version played outdoors. The tapper carries a cup or small container of water. Instead of tapping and saying 'duck', they tap gently. When they choose the goose, they tip the water over that player's head before running. The goose, now wet, must still give chase. The game plays identically otherwise and is best reserved for hot days and willing participants.

Tom Tit Tot (British Circle Chase)

A traditional British circle-chase variant in which the tapper drops a handkerchief or small object behind a seated player rather than calling a word. That player must notice the object behind them, pick it up, and chase the tapper before the tapper sits down. Players who fail to notice the object in time may be sent to the centre. This version rewards attentiveness as much as speed.

Fruit Salad Goose

Each seated player is assigned a fruit name rather than playing as an anonymous duck. The tapper walks around calling out different fruit names at random. When a player hears their fruit called, they must stand and chase. This variation works well for slightly older children as it adds a memory and listening element, and also allows the tapper to call two fruits at once, sending two chasers after them simultaneously.

Grandma's Footsteps Hybrid

The seated circle is removed. Instead, all players stand at one end of a space and one tapper stands at the far end with their back turned. Players creep forward silently. At any moment the tapper may spin around and call 'goose', pointing at any player who is visibly moving. That player must race the tapper to a central marker. Whoever reaches it first wins the round and becomes the next tapper. This version suits a longer playing area and slightly older children.

Duck Duck Goose: frequently asked questions