What you need
One standard deck for three to ten players; use two decks for bigger groups.
Object of the game
Be the first to get rid of all your cards.
Setup and deal
- 1Deal the whole deck out as evenly as possible.
How to play
- 1Play goes in sequence of ranks: the first player plays one or more cards face down and announces them as aces, the next player as twos, then threes, and so on, wrapping from king back to ace.
- 2You must play at least one card, and you may lie about what you play.
- 3Any player may call “Cheat!” after a play. Turn the cards over: if they were not all the announced rank, the player who played them takes the whole pile. If they were honest, the challenger takes the pile.
How the game ends
- The first player to get rid of all their cards—and survive any challenge on that last play—wins.
Common variations
- Some versions let you play the same rank, one higher, or one lower, instead of a fixed sequence.
- The Russian Verish’ Ne Verish’ and Finnish Valepaska are close relatives.
Tips for your first game
- Tell the truth when you can—it makes your lies more believable.
- Challenge late in the game, when a player is about to go out.
- Keep track of how many cards of the current rank you hold: if you have three kings and someone claims to play two, they must be lying.
Cheat FAQ
What happens if you call Cheat wrongly?
You pick up the whole discard pile yourself.
How many cards can you play at once in Cheat?
Any number from one upward, as long as you announce them as the current rank.
How many people can play Cheat?
Three to about ten with one deck; shuffle two decks together for larger groups.