Cockroach Poker Game

Cockroach Poker is a quirky bluffing game where players try to avoid collecting cards of the same critter. Despite its name, the game isn’t really about poker—it's all about bluffing, featuring cockroaches, rats, and stink bugs instead of queens and aces!

Game Objective

The goal is to avoid being the first player to collect four cards of the same critter. This game is perfect for 2–6 players aged 8 and up, with each round taking around 15–30 minutes.

Game Components

• 64 cards featuring eight different critters, with eight copies of each type.

Game Setup

1. Shuffle the deck and deal all cards to the players.
2. Players start with a hand of cards and take turns bluffing about their card types.

How to Play

1. Play a Card: On your turn, pick a card from your hand, place it face down, and slide it to any other player while declaring a critter type, e.g., "Stink bug."

2. Receiving the Card: The chosen player can:

   • Accept and Guess: Say "true" or "false" to guess if the declared critter type is correct, then flip the card. If correct, the giver keeps the card; if wrong, the receiver must keep it.
   • Peek and Pass: Secretly look at the card, then pass it to another player with either the same critter type or a new one. This continues until everyone but the last player has seen the card, who must then accept and guess.

End of Game

The game ends when:

• A player has no cards left to pass, or
• A player collects four cards of the same critter type.

In either case, that player loses, and all others win!

Quick Facts

• Players: 2–6
• Playing Time: 15–30 minutes
• Recommended Age: 8+